Structural Protection

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Very large residential and commercial structures, including logistical warehouses, data centres and high-rise buildings, are becoming increasingly common in cities and towns all over the world.

At the same time, the risk of fire in these buildings continues to be a cause for global concern¹. Compared to the 1950s, fires in modern structures can develop much, much faster – as the combustible load in buildings is now much higher.

ROCKWOOL structural protection products are designed, engineered and tested to keep steel and concrete – two of the most popular materials for large constructions – protected against fire.

The stone wool used at the heart of every ROCKWOOL product is a natural fire barrier², while our dedicated fire range is especially designed to maximise this protection.

This can make the difference between a building containing a fire, to being on fire itself.

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Why do we need structural protection?

Steel and concrete structures require the utmost standards of protection against the risk of fire, for the safety of their occupants as well as the surrounding buildings and people.

Steel is a sturdy and stable material, but at temperatures above 500°C it loses its structural integrity. As the backbone of a building, exposure to temperatures this high could cause the building to collapse. A normal fire in a building can initiate temperature rises from 20 to 800°C in minutes.

The safety of a building’s occupants is paramount in case of fire, and every second counts. By adopting adequate fire protection, it’s possible to hold off structural disintegration, buying more time to rescue those inside.

Maintaining the structure of a building during the event is also important. By containing the fire before it causes collapse, the building and its surroundings can be saved.

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Effective structural protection can prevent a building from suffering severe damage, or even collapsing. Its ability to safeguard human lives, meanwhile, is invaluable.

When it comes to fire safety in large buildings, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for achieving the right quantities.

We have detailed fire resistance and application reports that outline what’s needed for a particular build to provide the most effective protection. Contact your local offices for more information.

For more details on technical specifications, visit our ROCKSPEC Specification Toolkit.

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Why choose ROCKWOOL solutions?

Our range of products are fire-resilient and provide dimensional stability to structures, even at extremely high temperatures. If the worst happens, they can keep steel structures standing for longer to increase the chance of escape.

Stone wool is extremely fire-resilient – it can withstand temperatures above 1000°C. It also retains its shape and strength in all conditions, so isn’t affected by changes in temperature, humidity or compression³.

ROCKWOOL insulation slabs work to contain and prevent the spread of fire, helping to retain structural integrity. What’s more, stone wool doesn’t contribute to the emission of toxic smoke, which is one of the most dangerous threats to occupants⁴.

The range of ROCKWOOL structure protection products offer increased fire safety of up to three hours. This allows time to control and contain a fire without risking the building’s collapse.

Our products are non-combustible and compliant with building regulations in all territories.

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Our fire resistance solutions will significantly reduce the risk that there is not enough time for occupants to leave the building. Not only by preventing the spread of a fire, but also by not producing any kind of toxic gasses – as smoke inhalation is the most common cause of death in house and building fires. They also allow the fire brigade to control the fire without the building collapsing, as we can offer increased fire safety of up to 180 minutes.

Rob Kooiker

ROCKWOOL Group Product Manager

Case studies

The Eibsee Cable Car Station takes half a million visitors per year to the top of Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. In operation since 1963, plans to renovate finally culminated in an extensive project in 2017.

The challenge

At 2,950m in altitude, a solution was sought that would answer the challenge of transporting and installing the right materials. Protecting this steel construction from the potentially devastating effects of fire at this height was crucial.

The solution

Non-flammable ROCKWOOL stone wool insulation boards were installed in an area of 1,200 square metres. They were delivered by cable car up the mountain and unloaded by cranes. Their lightweight nature made fitting boards overhead a much simpler process, while their fire resilient properties made them the perfect choice for preventing the spread of flames.

The results

The new and improved station is now capable of better protection against fire than ever before. Its stone wool insulation will last the lifetime of the build.

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It was necessary to choose a material that could be easily and precisely adjusted on site. The original idea of using spray plaster would simply not have been possible due to the number of visitors in the station during installation.

Thomas Urbaniak

Installer at Fink Isoliertechnik GmbH

Applications

Installation

All our structural protection solutions are easy to install – and guided with a clear installation manual for professional installers.

Due to the vital role ROCKWOOL products play in fire resilience, mounting and installing must always be performed by skilled craftspeople.
The exact mounting and application method as written in our documentation should be met.
Installers should consult the installation manual to ensure the job is carried out correctly. This will offer the optimum levels of protection.

Inspiration and guides for professionals

Get 16 renovation cases

This case study bundle includes:

29 pages of our best 2018-19 projects
Acoustic renovation in both public buildings and private
Bringing new life into old buildings with facade panels
Improving fire safety and wellbeing in high-rises and historical buildings
Reducing noise and flooding with innovative stone wool solutions

Sustainability and energy efficiency

ROCKWOOL products are an innovative way to contribute to safer cities. Stone is one of the world’s most abundant resources, and we use its natural properties to create fire-resilient, safe and sustainable products. Stone wool lasts the lifetime of a building, and can be recycled and put to further use⁵.

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By deploying these solutions to new and existing builds, we can not only help make buildings fire-resilient, but whole cities safer. Addressing these challenges with existing products like stone wool means reducing waste and contributing to circular economic models too⁶.

8 facts about the circularity of stone wool

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Financial support

Financial support for fire safety renovations in the form of tax incentives or local grants may be available in your region. Contact your local offices for more information.

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