Fire safety inspections might seem like an afterthought or just an annoying part of running a commercial or industrial building, but they’re critical for safety. Not only do they ensure your building is compliant with local fire codes and speed up any potential insurance claims, but they also help protect people and the property itself.
While they clearly serve an important role, ensuring your structure passes inspection is a responsibility you should take very seriously. One area that is often overlooked, but can play a major role in fire safety, is the selection of fire-safe building materials.
This is where fire-rated and insulated metal panels can come into play. These prefabricated wall panels act as lasting fire barriers that also double as effective insulators. This guide explains the important role insulated metal wall panels (IMPs) can play in enhancing fire safety and facilitating successful fire inspections. We’ll also take a look at ROCKWALL Fire Rated Panels and ISOWALL Insulated Panels, which are two of the best options on the market today.
What Do Fire Inspectors Look For?
Before we delve into how the right IMPs can help your building pass a fire safety inspection, let’s examine what these professional inspectors are looking for.
For starters, they’ll want to ensure that there are proper fire separations between high-risk areas of the building, as well as the presence of building materials with valid fire resistance ratings. Once the building has been assessed for code-compliant wall materials in all high-risk areas, they’ll check to ensure there are no gaps in the walls and ceilings, as well as making sure all flammable materials are kept away from open heat sources.
They’ll also check to ensure that all fire suppression equipment, such as sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers, is well-maintained and easily accessible.
How Can Insulated Metal Panels Make a Difference?
Since they feature metal exteriors and fire-resistant insulating core materials, IMPs provide lasting fire resistance, as well as effective thermal and structural performance. Here’s how they can help your building pass fire safety inspections:
They Have Built-In Fire Resistance
Well-made IMPs feature non-combustible cores that act as a fire-resistant barrier. Not only does this help contain fires and prevent them from spreading, but it also helps prevent heat from passing through from one side of the wall to the other.
This added layer of fireproofing can significantly slow the spread of a fire, which can give occupants valuable time to evacuate and first responders the time they need to arrive on the scene.
The best panels also have certified fire ratings. These fire resistance ratings are measured by the number of hours that a wall can withstand direct exposure to flames without losing its structural integrity. In other words, you can choose the level of fire resistance your specific project requires.
They Can Be Installed to Have Seamless Finishes
Since they are pre-fabricated and easy to install, IMPs offer a smooth and seamless finish, which prevents the passage of heat through gaps in the wall. This is one of the things that fire inspectors will look for, so having fire-rated materials that sit flush is a huge advantage.
Additionally, these seamless finishes help ensure they maintain lasting thermal performance. The best options are even smooth and easy to clean, making them a practical fire safety material suitable for use in hygienic environments, such as industrial kitchens and food-prep facilities.
Lasting Structural Integrity
While stopping the spread of flames is one of the most important components of fire safety, another is ensuring that the building maintains its structural integrity. Not only does this allow occupants to evacuate while the fire is being dealt with, but fire-related collapses also significantly increase the spread of a fire.
Since the best IMPs are designed for lasting performance with minimal maintenance, their heavy-duty steel facings and high-strength cores ensure you do not have to worry about fire-related collapses.
Best Practices for Using IMPs for Fire Safety
While choosing the right panels is always essential, you must ensure that they’re installed correctly.
You should also ensure that you choose the correct panel thickness, taking into account the risks associated with your industry. If it is a high-risk industry, you’ll want to select IMPs that have a higher fire resistance rating.
It’s also essential to avoid mixing your fire-rated panels with non-rated building materials. Once installed, keep all documentation handy so you can present it to fire safety inspectors.
Choose ROCKWALL and ISOWALL Panels
If passing fire safety inspections is a concern, you will want to choose the best options on the market.
ROCKWALL Fire Rated Panels and ISOWALL Insulated Wall Panels are both engineered to provide lasting fire resistance and thermal performance. With varying panel thicknesses certified to have between 1 and 3 hours of fire resistance, you know you have selected a building material that can actually withstand the test of time. Plus, they have high R-values, ensuring you save money on energy costs.
Ensure your building is code-compliant and, more important, fire safe. Select wall panels that are certified, designed to last, and meet the highest standards.