;
1/4

Flat Roofs

Managing fire risk in the fifth facade

Download whitepaper

The concept of the roof as the fifth façade, to highlight the increasingly important role it plays in the overall architectural design of the building, has gained traction in recent years.

Primarily driven by Part L of the Building Regulations and the use of insulation to achieve low U-values through the building fabric, the function of the roof has evolved far beyond delivering a watertight structure.

The consequence of this is increased fire risk in the roof, which can have ramifications that extend beyond the cost of building reconstruction to far reaching socio-economic impacts.

Whitepaper

In a new whitepaper, ROCKWOOL examines all the key factors which are contributing to fire risk in flat roofs and addresses how specifiers and roofing contractors can help to mitigate these.

‘Flat Roofs: Managing Fire Risk in the Fifth Façade’ will help you to understand: 

  • Fifth façade and fire risk
  • The real cost of roof fires
  • Roofs and regulations
Fifth Facade Campaign, Landing Page Download Button

Download your copy of the whitepaper now: ‘Flat Roofs: Managing Fire Risk in the Fifth Façade’.

Flat roofs: Managing fire risk in the fifth facade
PDF
3.1 MB

Fifth façade and fire risk

The roof is one of the most vulnerable parts of the building envelope when it comes to fire risk. The whitepaper explores some of the most common causes of roof fires, including:

  • Arson
  • Hot works
  • Fire spread
  • Plant failure
  • Lanterns / fireworks
Fifth Facade Campaign Assets

The real cost of roof fires

While Approved Document B of the building regulations sets minimum performance standards to ensure the safe passage of exit for building occupants, it does not provide any design guidance on how to protect the integrity of the building. Where fire takes hold within a building and can be contained, damage to the property and contents can often be minimised. This is not the case when fire spreads to the roof. Using high profile case studies, the whitepaper delivers insights into the wider socio-economic impact of roof fires and offers guidance on how these can be prevented.

Fifth Facade Campaign Assets

Roofs and regulations

Introduced to Approved Document B in 2019, BROOF (t4), is the recognised fire classification which assesses spread of fire but is not a measure of combustibility. This has led to some industry confusion in relation to achieving regulation compliance in flat roofs – particularly where non-combustible insulation should be used as part of fire compartmentation in the building spaces below.

Going into technical detail, the whitepaper provides expert advice on how to navigate regulation compliance and shares best practice guidance on futureproofing building performance.

Fifth Facade Campaign Assets

Download your copy

Download your copy of the whitepaper now: ‘Flat Roofs: Managing Fire Risk in the Fifth Façade’.

Download whitepaper
Fifth Facade Whitepaper Illustration

CPD: The Fifth Facade

20230324_RW-UK_PHO_11
Continuing Professional Development

CPD: The Fifth Facade

ROCKWOOL has launched a new CPD focusing on the importance of the roof as the 'fifth facade' in relation to fire. This CPD will take a look at relevant regulations and standards and show how these can be met using the different solutions available.

Technical Bulletin: Fire Classification of Bonded Insulation Materials

Technical Bulletin: Fire Classification of Bonded Insulation Materials

This new ROCKWOOL Technical Bulletin is designed to support specifiers and contractors with compliance for bonded construction materials and composite products, especially those applied to construction elements attached to the façade such as upstands, balconies and terraces.

These elements fall within the ban on combustible materials in the external walls of relevant buildings over 18m*. The technical bulletin covers and clarifies:

  • Application-specific details of the 2018 ban on combustible materials
  • Euroclass reaction-to-fire classifications
  • Euroclass implications for bonded insulation materials and composite products

* In England, Approved Document B provides new guidance on residential buildings over 11m. Separate rules apply for buildings in Scotland over 11m.

Download the technical bulletin

UB34 Technical Bulletin
Download
Technical Bulletin: Fire Classification of Bonded Insulation Materials
PDF
132.2 kB
HARDROCK® UB34
View product

ROCKWOOL Group