Fire Testing / Fire Safety

Structural insulated panel systems (SIPs) are being increasingly used in the UK. The market is driven by the ease and speed of construction and the energy efficiency of the system. Structural insulated panels are prefabricated lightweight building units, used as principal load bearing components in residential and light industrial construction. They are currently used for residential single or multi-occupancy buildings up to four storeys high.


Sustainable Buildings Division of Communities and Local Government commissioned BRE to carry out a project titled ‘The Performance in Fire of Structural Insulated Panel Systems’.


The following conclusions can be drawn from the four large-scale fire tests undertaken on building systems:

• Structural insulated panel systems tested as part of this project are capable of achieving the requirements of the Building Regulations in relation to B2 internal fire spread (linings) and B3 internal fire spread (structure).
• The mode of failure of the systems tested as part of this project was excessive deflection of the... 

Click here to read the whole report.


Department for Communities and Local Government
© Crown Copyright, December 2010

Fire Safety

The standard finish for interior walls and ceilings is dry lining using one layer of 12.5mm plasterboard with fire-tape on the joints. This achieves a Class 1 fire rating.
The optimum Class 0 (zero) fire rating is achieved if two layers of plasterboard are attached.
Panels have passed the rigorous fire endurance tests. The solid-core panel construction eliminates the chimney effect that causes fires to spread rapidly through hollow conventional-built walls. The super-bonding, insulating foam we use is non-toxic and chemically inert.