This book addresses fire safety of combustible façade systems which has gained much attention in recent times due to several major fire accidents across the world where combustible façade systems had a significant role in enhancing the growth of fire. The Grenfell tower (London) fire is one of the most severe accident in this category. The book covers basic design and functional aspects of commonly used façade systems along with the materials typically used in such systems. Subsequently, it discusses the currently available testing methods at component level, intermediate level, and system level. It also provides detailed case studies of six full-scale real fire façade fire experiments that have been jointly carried out by IIT Gandhinagar and Underwriters Laboratories at the full-scale façade testing facility established at IIT Gandhinagar. The book will enable designers and decision makers to make better assessments regarding fire safety of existing and upcoming façade systems. It also serves as a guide to deciding which testing methods are more appropriate under certain conditions.

Autorentext
Dr. Gaurav Srivastava is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar. His research interests lie in assessment of structural and non-structural building components subjected to fire. He has led several studies in this area. While some of these studies aimed at fundamental research and development, others dealt with contemporary industrial issues. Prior to joining IIT Gandhinagar, he received his doctoral degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota and worked at the University of Notre Dame.
Dr. Pravinray Gandhi is Director of Research at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. with focus on fire safety. He has worked on research on a number of areas including smoke detection, fire growth and fire suppression. He has also contributed to the development of new fire performance test standards, fire hazard assessment methods, and has served on ASTM, NFPA, and IEC standards bodies as a subject matter expert.

Inhalt

1. Introduction

a. Use of façade systems in buildings across the world b. Concerns about fire safety of façade systems (discussion of façade fire incidents)

c. Use of façade systems in different climatic conditions d. Use of façade systems in India along with fires involving facades in India

2. Aspects of design of façade systems

a. Types of façade systems

b. Main parameters considered for design

c. Combustible vs. non-combustible façade systems

d. Functional requirements of façade systems (wind, rain, fire, energy)

e. Cladding and fire-stop 3. Materials used in combustible façade systems and their properties (thermal and fire properties such as conductivity, heat release rate, toxicity of gases of combustion)

a. Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) b. Fiberboards (MDF)

c. Aluminium (frames) d. Thermal insulations polymer based insulation systems used beneath exterior cladding

4. Component vs. system-level performance a. Existing testing methods

i. Component level

ii. Intermediate level

iii. System level

b. Limitations of existing methods and need for full-scale test setups c. Development of full-scale real fire façade testing facility at IITGN

&nb...