Three companies, each expert in their own area, have collaborated to produce a timber framed glass floor, suitable for both domestic and commercial use. Known as Triplelite Fire Floor System incorpora…
Three companies, each expert in their own area, have collaborated to produce a timber framed glass floor, suitable for both domestic and commercial use. Known as Triplelite Fire Floor System incorporating Pilkington Pyrostop, the floor has achieved a 30/30 fire rating with a most impressive overrun. The companies involved are Kommerling UK, provider of the specialist sealant used in the construction of the floor panels; Pilkington, manufacturer of Pyrostop, and Glazeguard, manufacturer of the Triplelite loaded floor panels and the completed frame and glass composite system. Chris Davis, technical director at Glazeguard, explains more; Sustainability of construction materials is a key driver in the use of the timber framed structures and the environmental consequence and lifestyle quality of natural daylight is pivotal in the use of glass as a building material of the future. Achieving this fire rating on the new floor panels will make glass flooring a truly viable option for both domestic and commercial architects who are looking for an innovative and aesthetic alternative for flooring. All three companies collaborated in the development stages of the Triplelite Glass Load bearing Fire resistant floor system Triplelite Fire Floor Insul 30/30. The finished floor incorporates 45 minutes of fire insulation and 45 minutes of integrity, with 1.7 Wm2K of thermal insulation and 5.0Kn of uniform load bearing performance. Meeting the requirement to combine at least five separate onerous performance criteria into one product demonstrates the extreme fire and load bearing performance, alongside the structural and environmental benefits of glass engineering. All this has been made possible by the clarity and high performance chemical bonding provided by the Kommerling acrylic resin product, Kodiguard S 696. Extremes of temperature can have a detrimental affect on many resins, commented Phil Turley, Glass Products manager at Kommmerling. We have worked closely with Chris and Pilkington to ensure that our resin, Kodiguard S 696, can withstand the rigours of such testing without any compromise on the quality of its seal. Achieving this rating will generate increased opportunities for Glazeguard“s range of glass floors. The test at Chiltern International Fire Ltd. was for assessment purposes and follows the highly successful fully loaded steel framed test on 14 March 2005 and timber framed test 30 June 2008 at Building Research eEstablishment (Watford). The addition of a thermally insulated system with a 30 minute fire insulated performance completes the Triplelite Fire Floor Portfolio which now incorporates 30/30 and 60/60 floors for both internal and external use and with both steel and timber frames. All floors in the range are tested to full commercial floor loadings in accordance with BS 6399. 5.0Knm2 / 4.5 Kn and are fully compliant with: EN 1365:2000, EN 12543 pt 1 – 6, EN 14449 and EN 12510.