First in Their Class: Innovative Design Solutions for Schools of the Future

When selecting materials for school construction - smart, safe, durable materials will provide sustainable solutions for healthy environments.
This course is no longer active
[ Page 9 of 13 ]  previous page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 next page
Sponsored by Boral Roofing, The Carpet and Rug Institute, CertainTeed Gypsum, Horton Automatics, Nana Wall Systems, Inc., Petersen Aluminum Corporation, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, ROXUL® The Better Insulation, SAFTI FIRST, and Wenger Corporation
Celeste Allen Novak, AIA, LEED AP

Charting Performance-Safety, Durability and Environmental Targets

Smoke Prevention

Case Study: Toronto Four-Alarm Fire

At 5:30 a.m., on October 29, 2010, a four-alarm fire broke out on the roof of York University's Toronto Track and Field Center. According to the National Post,8 there were "concerns that the propane tanks inside the building could explode." There were 36 fire trucks and 108 firefighters called to the scene, according to Captain David Eckerman from the Fire Prevention office, City of Toronto. The fire was confined to the roof and the first material to ignite was the exterior roof covering. Additional harm or injuries may have occurred if the roof insulation had not been made of a noncombustible material. Stone wool unlike other types of insulation does not ignite when exposed to flame or contribute to the spread of fire.


Roofing insulation stands up to an intense four-alarm fire at York University in Toronto, Canada. Noncombustible stone wool insulation prevented the fire from spreading, avoiding damage to property and possibly any human loss.

Photo courtesy of Courtesy of Roxul Inc.


The roofing consultant on this project, Pinnacle Group Inc., is dedicated to environmental responsibility and has specified stone wool products for many years because of their combined benefits of durability, fire safety and insulation qualities. As Brandon Hexham, BA, RRO, GRP, vice-president of the company and roof consultant on this job stated, "Pinnacle Group Inc. strongly supports the use of stone wool insulation as part of a roofing system and we have specified stone wool on numerous projects over the past 10 to 15 years. On a recent project (a local university) where a fire broke out along the perimeter of the roof, it was the installed stone wool insulation that stopped the fire from spreading and destroying the entire roof and the building contents. The superior fire performance of this product saved the owner an immeasurable amount of money and damage to the building."

Noncombustible, fire-resistant, energy-efficient stone wool roof insulation provides additional benefits for the prevention of fire. Unlike many other insulation materials, stone wool will not burn and will not release lethal toxic smoke, or cyanide gasses into the atmosphere when exposed to fire. The spread of toxic smoke in a fire can lead to more fatalities than those from the fire itself. According to Dave Lawlor of Roxul Inc., "When designing schools for children, we need to plan for safety, including noncombustible insulation that doesn't emit lethal toxic gases, such as cyanide, if there is a fire."

Roof performance includes many factors: longevity, warranties, insurance rates, energy efficiency but most importantly, fire safety. Most if not all accredited testing organizations in North America, measure the quantity of smoke developed during combustion and not the toxicity of the smoke itself.

One of the most widely accepted testing organizations for fire-resistance is FM Approvals. Roofing materials are classified by a number of test laboratories by class. Class 1 is the highest recognized standard, which includes testing for flame spread (ASTM E 108) and flame exposure below the roof deck. The FM 4470 NCC (noncombustible core) classification is an optional test targeting just the insulation component. It consists of three test methods, ASTM D 482 relating to ash content, ASTM E 2085 testing for flammability, and ISO 1716:2002 testing "heat of combustion" or energy released from the product. Most insulation products can meet the Class 1 standard, however stone wool insulation meets the more stringent testing methods of FM 4470 NCC (Noncombustible core) Rated Roof Insulation.

Stone wool has added material benefits as a non-directional fiber that is excellent for sound absorption. This product is mold and mildew resistant, and it is easy to install as well as maintain. It is used as an integral component for the excellent acoustic performance of interior and exterior walls and roof systems. Stone wool has been successfully used as an insulation solution for institutions along highways and near airports to reduce sound transmission.

This material has dimensional stability and maintains its R-value over time, unlike insulation that degrades, shrinks, or prematurely oxidizes as will some foam insulation products. Thermal resistance values range from 3.5 to 4.2 hr.ft2.F/Btu as measured at 75 °F according to ASTM C 518 (C 177). It will often outlast the membranes that cover it and provide the longevity that institutional buildings require.

Stone wool products are a sustainable solution, having a high-recycled content, reusability, and can even be recycled where facilities exist. This insulation is made from natural stone and steel slag. This slag is a manufacturing by-product of the steel industry, which is used as a raw material in the stone wool manufacturing process. Some stone wool manufacturing facilities have been able to recycle all of their production waste materials back into the manufacturing process, creating a zero-waste-to-landfill strategy; making both environmental and economic sense.

In addition, a lifecycle analysis of stone wool shows that the energy it costs to make this insulation will pay back that energy and CO2 used in its manufacturing within four to five months of service.

 

[ Page 9 of 13 ]  previous page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 next page
Originally published in Architectural Record
Originally published in January 2011

Notice

Academies