Passive Fire Protection

ROCKWOOL fire protection solutions can slow the spread of flames, contain fires locally and stop them from spreading further.

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Passive Fire Protection

ROCKWOOL fire protection solutions can slow the spread of flames, contain fires locally and stop them from spreading further.

Robust stone wool insulation is therefore a key component in fire-resilient buildings, as its fibres are non-combustible and can resist temperatures above 1,000°C.¹

Discover how ROCKWOOL fire resilient products could help raise the safety of occupants and buildings in your next project.

Find Inspiration, guides and reports

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Why do we need passive fire protection?

Urbanisation and climate change have posed new challenges to the modern way of living. Buildings are built higher, in closer proximity to each other and sometimes construction moves at a swift pace.

Hazards such as fire risk can be increased as a consequence. This could be caused by:

A failure in installation of a fire barrier, designed to stop flames spreading internally.
The use of combustible materials during the construction stage.
Closely located buildings that facilitate the spread of fire from a building to another.

As for renovation projects, the same consideration should be made, especially with the Energy Performance Building Directives (EPBD) now demanding constructors to consider fire safety when renovating buildings.²

When building and renovating, protecting people’s lives in the event of a fire is a vital consideration.

Relevant resources

Calculator and savings

Installing fire resilient products in new build and renovation products can provide long-term cost savings. With added protection against fire damage to buildings, this can help reduce future repair expenses.

Use our ROCKWOOL U-value calculator to determine the thermal performance of the building's walls/roofs and possible cost savings. For more details on technical specifications, visit our ROCKSPEC Specification Toolkit.

Learn about energy efficiency

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Why choose ROCKWOOL solutions?

Key benefits of ROCKWOOL insulation include:

Fire resistance – ROCKWOOL non-combustible insulation can withstand temperatures of 1000°C – ensuring a building fire can handle excess heat.³
Slows spread of flames – average-sized modern rooms contain more combustible plastics, meaning fires develop 5-10 times faster than 50 years ago. Stone wool is non-combustible, preventing rapid spreading of flames.
Prevents fire developing – ROCKWOOL insulation works to contain fire and prevent its spread, helping save lives and stop further property damage.⁴
Robust – by confining fire to a certain section of the building, ROCKWOOL’s insulation ensures that fire will not spread to neighbouring units – saving nearby flats or buildings from damage.⁵
Safer emissions – during a fire, our insulation doesn’t contribute significant quantities of toxic smoke – lowering the risk of smoke inhalation.⁶

Robust – by confining fire to a certain section of the building, ROCKWOOL’s insulation ensures that fire will not spread to neighbouring units – saving nearby flats or buildings from damage.⁷
Safer emissions – during a fire, our insulation doesn’t contribute significant quantities of toxic smoke – lowering the risk of smoke inhalation.⁸

ROCKWOOL fire protection solutions:

Do not produce any significant toxic smoke
Protect structures from damage
Help give occupants more time to escape

ROCKWOOL’s products contribute positively to safety and property protection, which are an essential part of resilient societies.

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Case studies

The project

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a sporting complex in Stratford East London, housing a world-class digital campus: Here East.

Laing O’Rourke converted the former Olympic Press Centre into new office, restaurant and university facilities in 2016.

The challenge

Fire safety was an important consideration during this renovation. Contractor company Roseville was tasked with solving the difficulties of installing air sealing and fire stopping products in the intricate building structure.

They chose ROCKWOOL seal strips and fire sealant solutions, using approximately 1,300 linear metres to reinforce the fire resilience of linear joints and service tunnels, such as fire exit routes.

The result

Risk of fire spreading minimised
Fire escape routes secured
People and investments protected

Find more case studies

Olympic Park Stadium, Acoustic Capabilities

ROCKWOOL was able to deliver products with long-lasting firestopping performance we needed to achieve on this type of development – also being reliable and easy to install.

Arthur Nelmes

Divisional Director, Passive Fire Protection, Roseville

Applications

Insulation

Structural Protection | ROCKWOOL Asia

ROCKWOOL structural protection products are built to withstand extreme heat, making them an essential addition to fire safety strategy.

Insulation

Steel Structure Fire Protection | ROCKWOOL Asia

ROCKWOOL products can offer substantial fire protection for steel building structures, including steel beams. Safeguard your construction.

Insulation

Fire Penetration Test

Fire penetration products can prevent flames and smoke spreading through gaps and unsecured elements in your building.

Installation

When installing ROCKWOOL fire protection solutions in a construction or renovation project⁸:

Measure the installation space – plan ahead by getting accurate dimensions of the areas you’re installing products in.
Consider existing insulation – when installing insulation on top of existing products, particularly during renovation work, avoid squashing or compressing.
Work out how much product you’ll need – knowing what dimensions and sizes you’ll need can ensure you purchase the right amount for your job.

For instructions on installing specific products, visit our local pages.

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

In many countries, around 40 percent of energy is used to power commercial and residential buildings.⁹

The fire protection qualities of ROCKWOOL products not only improve the safety of buildings, but also reduce energy consumption through strong thermal bridging and heat loss performance.

That’s because they act as an effective energy storage system, regulating temperatures and reducing the need for heating and cooling. At the same time, this provides us with more comfortable living spaces that occupants can thrive in.¹⁰

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Our focus on energy efficient products has economic benefits too. Heating and cooling buildings can amount to 16 percent of EU consumers’ bills

Renovating buildings with energy-efficient insulation products can save up to 70 percent on heating costs – as well as having a huge impact on people’s health and wellbeing.¹¹ ¹²

By committing to our environmental responsibilities, our fire protection products also grow the circular economy. They are recyclable and can be re-used for different projects when needed. Find out more from our sustainability report.

Learn about Net Zero Energy Buildings

The materials we use when renovating buildings must be sustainable, support energy efficiency and be fire safe – using non-combustible materials.

Andrei-Mircea Corches

REGULATORY AFFAIRS PARTNER, FIRE SAFETY AT ROCKWOOL GROUP