Passive Fire Protection

TENMAT's COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF EN TESTED FIRE RATED AIR VALVES

Recessed ceiling air valves are widely used in both domestic and commercial buildings. Once a hole is made in a ceiling for an air valve, the integrity of the construction and its ability to perform in a fire is reduced significantly. Ceiling air valves, if left unprotected, allow a fire to spread rapidly through a building. Ceilings must be fire protected in accordance with Approved Document B of the Building Regulations, which states the ceiling must be firestopped to reinstate the original fire rating.

 

TENMAT offer a full range of Fire Rated Extract & Supply Ceiling Air Valves, available in all sizes and tested to the latest EN test standards. The TENMAT Firefly Fire Rated Ceiling Air Valves are a unique and highly cost effective alternative to air valves with fusible link fire dampers. 



Fire Rated Ceiling Air Valve Before Fire

Fire Rated Ceiling Air Valve After Fire



In a fire situation, the integral intumescent material rapidly expands to seal off the air valve and reinstate the fire resistance rating of the ceiling. This limits the risk of fire and heat spread throughout the building. The Fire Rated Ceiling Air Valve is installed as normal with air flow through the air valve unaffected. The product also requires no maintenance unlike many fusible link fire dampers.



It is now standard practise to install fire rated downlights in order to reinstate the fire performance of a ceiling. It is common for fire rated downlights to be installed, but yet in the same ceiling there is an unprotected ceiling air valve. This means that in the event of a fire, the unprotected Ceiling Air Valve would act as an open passage for the fire to spread through.

Rule of thumb is, if you have fire rated Downlights you will need Fire Rated Air Valves.

by Mark Davies

Passive Fire Protection

TENMAT FIRE SLEEVES CE MARK APPROVED

TENMAT has obtained CE Mark status for the range of TENMAT Firefly 109 Fire Sleeves.

The range includes the TENMAT Firefly 109 Vent Duct Fire Sleeve which is the only CE Marked product designed specifically to firestop PVC ventilation ducting.

The CE marking shows compliance with all relevant EU legislation meaning the product can be supplied and installed throughout the EU without restriction.

Within the UK, the 1 July 2013 will see the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) coming fully into force where it will be mandatory for construction products covered by a Harmonised European Standard (hEN) to have CE marking.

TENMAT has implemented CE Marking status well in advance of any legislative requirements relating to fire stop penetration seals. This provides specifiers, suppliers and installers with the peace of mind that the product will meet the latest legislative requirements for a firestopping component and can be used in confidence.

The CE Marking follows significant investment in a detailed testing program at Chiltern International Fire which saw the products fire tested to the most stringent EN 1366-3 fire resistance tests, including Uncapped/Uncapped (U/U) testing, in various construction types.

In addition to the fire resistance testing, the products have also undergone extensive Initial Type-Testing (ITT) and Factory Production Control (FPC) Inspections and will be under on-going surveillance of factory production controls by the Notified Body, BM Trada, to confirm the continued consistency and quality of the product.

The range includes the Firefly 109 Pipe Fire Sleeves for use on Copper, Steel, Cast Iron and various Plastic Pipes up to 160mm and the Firefly 109 Vent Duct Fire Sleeves for use on all common rectangular and circular PVC ventilation ducting.

Firefly 109 Vent Duct Fire Sleeve installed

Firefly 109 Pipe Fire Sleeve fitted on pipe

For full details on available sizes and approved applications, please refer to the relevant Product Data Sheets and Installation Instructions or contact TENMAT.

by Christopher Thompson