With September 25 Fire Protection Week Izocam, the leader of the insulation industry in Turkey, draws attention to the importance of correct insulation in order to be protected from fires that may occur in buildings.
Izocam especially emphasizes that places such as buildings, offices, schools, dormitories, public buildings, factories, industrial buildings, hospitals, shopping malls and gymnasiums where people congregate should be built in accordance with the "Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire".
In our country, the week following September 25 is celebrated as Fire Protection Week every year. Leading the insulation industry in Turkey for 56 years, Izocam draws attention to the importance of insulation due to Fire Protection Week. While the flames suddenly increase during the fire, the buildings with the right materials for insulation do not ignite and the toxic smoke creation is prevented. Due to this, smoke poisoning cases, one of the most vital issues caused by fire, are prevented.
The fires that started in our forests in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions and reached the city centers in the past months brought the fire risks that may arise in our residences and workplaces to the agenda in a very painful way.
According to the data of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Fire Brigade Department, a total of 22 thousand 543 fires occurred in 2019 only in Istanbul. In the first 7 months of 2020, covering the January-July period, this figure was recorded as 11 thousand 458. 37.2 percent of the fires were caused by cigarettes and 28.99 percent by electricity.
Emphasizing that while fires are so much in our living spaces, fires that may occur in buildings where uninsulated or wrong insulation materials are used are a great danger for all of us and fire safety is of vital importance, Izocam General Director Murat Savcı noted that the insulation made with mineral wool-based insulation material saves time for the fire escape and the fire brigade's arrival to the scene, and prevents the cases of poisoning in the fire. Murat Savcı said; “One of the most important solutions provided by insulation is fire safety. The rapidly developing construction, new industrial projects and urban transformation in recent years should be evaluated as an opportunity for the increase of fire safety structures.
Fireproof glasswool and stonewool products selected in accordance with the Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire should be indispensable choices… Fire insulation also varies according to the height and location of the buildings. The regulation stipulates the use of A1 or A2-s1, d0 class non-combustible insulation materials such as mineral wool in plastered exterior thermal insulation system applications for fire safety in buildings of 28.5 meters and higher. In the case of using plastic products, there is a requirement to apply fire barriers. In addition, according to the regulation, the use of Class A materials, which are classified as non-combustible, between floors in high-rise buildings has been made mandatory. Glasswool and stonewool, which are resistant to high temperatures, provide high protection in fire insulation.”
Noting that the issue of fire safety is among the most important agenda items of Izocam's R&D studies, Murat Savci said, "We express at every opportunity that the use of insulation materials with high fire resistance in buildings is very important, and we focus on fire resistance measurements in our work. We know that in case of possible fires, non-combustible insulation materials such as glasswool and stonewool will prevent the rapid spread of fire and reduce the loss of life and property.
Certified expertise in fire safety
Izocam products provide high fire resistance, increasing the fire safety of buildings, while reducing the risk of loss of life and property. All of Izocam's Stonewool Facade Board, Izocam Stonewool Terrace Roofing Board, Izocam Mineral Ceiling Board and Izocam Tekiz Stonewool Roof and Facade Panel products are class A fireproof.
Since the ventilation gap formed between the coating material and the load-bearing construction in curtain wall systems will act as a chimney in case of fire, the insulation material to be used in terms of fire safety should be selected from the A class "non-combustible materials" group such as stonewool. Made of stonewool, Izocam Exterior Board is used in curtain wall systems, behind facade coatings such as granite, marble, aluminum and glass, for heat and sound insulation as well as for superior fire safety.
Izocam Terrace Roof Board, which is an uncoated stonewool board on both surfaces, provides fire safety along with heat and sound insulation on metal and wooden roofs of all types and slopes, and on traditional terrace roofs that are walkable or non-walkable.
Izocam Mineral Ceiling Board, one of Izocam's fire safety products, was developed for ceiling insulation of floor car parks. This product, which is 100 percent fire resistant, is used in the insulation of car park ceilings, which has become mandatory in accordance with the "Parking Regulation" issued by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization and entered into force on January 01, 2019.
Emphasizing that places such as buildings, offices, schools, dormitories, public buildings, factories, industrial buildings, hospitals, shopping malls and sports halls where people live in groups, should be built in accordance with the "Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire", General Director of Izocam Murat Savci said that in terms of fire safety, such buildings should be built with mineral wool insulated panels. Savci said, “We are producing mineral wool insulated panels under the brand name of İzocam Tekiz, in accordance with the criteria of the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) in our Tekiz facility. These panels are preferred in buildings where high fire safety is required or in buildings where flammable and combustible materials are stored. Thanks to the mineral wool insulated panels, the metal outer shell and the 'A' incombustibility class mineral wool layer used as the insulation filling, it appears as a fire-resistant composite system.
In the tests carried out by Efectis Era Avrasya Test ve Belgelendirme A.Ş., İzocam Tekiz Stonewool Insulated Panels have been certified as “EI60” with 60 minutes fire resistance and “E120” fire resistant panel certificate within the integrity criteria, as a result of the evaluation in integrity and insulation criteria. Izocam Tekiz Stonewool Roof Panel, which is expected to carry loads unlike facade panels, has the 'REI120' panel certificate with 120 minutes fire resistance, as it successfully meets all the load bearing, integrity and insulation criteria.
Tekiz Combi Panel, which is in the BROOF (t2) class with its fire resistance, was entitled to receive the FM certificate issued by the independent test arm of FM Global, an international risk and insurance management company, and is the first and only product among membrane panels produced in Turkey with FM certificate. The FM certificate guarantees that the product in question has passed tests such as impermeability and UV resistance, as well as fire safety, and that the building is at minimum risk, and products with this certificate are especially preferred in important industrial projects such as factory investment or renovation.