Effects of opening edge treatment and EPS thickness on EPS external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) facade reaction-to-fire performance based on JIS A1310 standard facade fire test method

摘要

External thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) are quite common in constructions. However, the combustible insulation core induces serious fire disasters, especially considering thermoplastic expanded polystyrene (EPS) has been widely used as insulation core. Most of EPS ETICS building fire is caused by window spreading fire. The window opening edge treatment plays an important role in EPS ETICS fire prevention. Presently, in order to investigate optimal opening edge treatment and EPS thickness effects on EPS ETICS reaction-to-fire performance, fagade fire tests based on JIS A1310 standard fagade fire test method were carried out by testing a series of EPS ETICS specimens varying EPS thickness, opening edge treatment methods and heating intensity. It is found that back-wrapping is a good opening edge treatment method. When the EPS ETICS specimen is treated by back-wrapping opening edge treatment method, the peak temperature, EPS burn area, time (20 minutes) averaged temperature, and heat flux density become low. The time (20 minutes) averaged temperature of each position from T1 to T5 versus EPS thickness is linear at heating intensity 300 or 600 kW. The averaged ratio of EPS burn area above opening (S_a) and below opening (S_b) is approaching 3.058.