New brochure on structural fire protection
During construction planning, fire protection frequently falls behind on other requirements. This is not least due to the fact that the fire protection required for masonry structures cannot be calculated at present but is dependent on previous comparative fire resistance tests – in contrast to other issues of building physics. Here, the new technical brochure of KLB provides remedy: The brochure offers planners the possibility to examine construction materials regarding their fire protection suitability and to determine their conformity with valid standards. Parameters and calculations give information about load limits and minimum wall thicknesses. Classified as „non-combustible“ and „fire resis-tant“, KLB masonry blocks made of lightweight concrete fulfil the fire protection requirements in the normal wall thicknesses – even in load-bearing function. Hence, fire insurance premiums are correspondingly lower than for other construction methods.
Standards regarding fire protection
A large number of rules and regulations is concerned with the subject of fire protection. EN 1996-1-2, for example, deals with structural fire design (referred to as „hot design“ in Germany) and thus complements Eurocode 6: Part 1-1. Eurocode 6 stipulates general rules for reinforced and unreinforced masonry structures – the design without an event of fire (referred to as „cold design“ in Germany). Part 1-2 refer to building structures and building components within the scope of EN 1996-1-1, EN 1996-2 or EN 1996-3 and are or have been designed and constructed in accordance with these standards. Hence, in particular, non-structural interior and exterior walls as well as load-bearing separating or non-separating interior and exterior walls are considered.
Masonry and building components of KLB primarily consist of porous lightweight concrete and normal concrete. If normal mortar or lightweight mortar is used for construction, they are subject to the regulations of Eurocode 6. The situation is different with KLB-Planstein masonry units. National technical approvals are required to classify them in fire resistance classes. The brochure lists the minimum wall thicknesses of all approved KLB masonry units in tabular form.
From the verification to the wall thickness
The wide variety of applications range from non-loadbearing, separating walls made of standardized lightweight concrete masonry blocks to masonry made of KLB hollow blocks with integrated insulation.