Fire safety has become an important consideration for any commercial construction project. From complying with industry regulations to ensuring that your building is a safe place to work, it’s important that you make every effort to maximize fire safety. One of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to enhance fire safety is to incorporate fire-resistant wall panels into your structure.
Thanks to their unique construction, these prefabricated wall panels provide effective fire resistance, helping to slow the spread of flames long enough for occupants to evacuate and first responders to arrive on the scene. However, fire-rated panels are rated with differing levels of fire resistance.
To help you choose the right option, we’ll explain fire resistance ratings and highlight one of the standout options on the market today: ROCKWALL Fire-Rated and Insulated Panels.
What Are Fire Resistance Ratings?
A fire resistance rating is an accurate measure of the amount of time a building component can withstand direct exposure to fire without losing its structural integrity and igniting.
Typically, these ratings are presented as the number of hours the material can offer legitimate fire resistance. For example, you might see a 1-hour fire-rated wall panel or a 3-hour fire-rated panel, depending on the thickness, quality, and material composition of the panel.
The ratings themselves are determined through standardized tests conducted by third-party organizations, including CAN/ULC S101 in Canada and ASTM E119 in the United States. These impartial fire resistance and endurance tests check how well a material can withstand direct exposure to flames and prevent dangerous levels of heat transfer.
Why Do They Have Different Fire Resistance Ratings?
You might assume that everyone wants the highest possible fire rating, but panels and other building materials are available with different ratings, allowing property owners to choose the materials that actually meet their needs.
Whether they need to comply with specific building or industry codes, just want to ensure occupants will have sufficient time to evacuate, or protect sensitive materials and equipment that need added fire safety, the building can be customized to the unique needs of the owner.
In addition, panels with longer fire ratings tend to be thicker, so thinner panels with a lower fire rating might be more appropriate options for certain applications. Going with the highest rating isn’t always the most appropriate choice.
How to Choose Fire-Rated Wall Panels
Since every build will have unique requirements, you should always consider the following when choosing fire-rated wall panels:
Relevant Regulations and Your Fire Safety Requirements
Consider all relevant safety codes and regulations, then choose panels that match those needs. You can also choose the level of fire resistance you want for the type of structure you are building. Codes and regulations should be considered minimum; if you wish to add fire resistance to protect building occupants, assets, and the structure, you can always opt for a higher-rated panel.
Quality of the Panels and Materials
While fire ratings are standardized, the panels’ quality is not. Always choose panels from a reliable manufacturer and panels made with a non-combustible core material, like mineral wool or rockwool. You will also want to choose panels that look good and are made to last.
High Thermal Performance
Since most wall panels with a fire resistance rating are also designed to provide insulation, you’ll want to choose an option with a high R-value, which is the rating given to a material’s thermal performance. So, not only do you get added fire safety, but you also save money on your heating and air conditioning costs, which can reduce the overall cost of your investment.
Ease of Installation and Maintenance
Try to choose panels that are designed to be installed quickly and easily without impacting quality. This can reduce your installation costs and the time it takes to complete the build. Again, choosing the right panels can reduce operational costs.
Choose the Best Fire-Rated Panels
ROCKWALL Fire-Rated and Insulated Panels are engineered to provide lasting fire resistance and outstanding thermal performance. With the option to choose 1, 2, and 3-hour rated ROCKWALL Panels, you can select the option that meets your needs.
They also have a non-combustible mineral wool core that provides excellent fire resistance and an R-value of 4.1 per inch. With steel facings, CFIA acceptance for sanitary requirements, and an easy-to-install design, they’re one of the best options on the market today!
To request a sample and learn more about what ROCKWALL Fire-Rated Panels can do for you, click the link below: