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Exterior cladding systems fire testing

The vertical spread of fire up the exterior of a multi-storey building is managed by limiting ignitability of cladding systems and components. The cladding or facade system needs to resist fire from within the building, or from a neighbouring building.

Grenfell Tower tragedy video

Video Grenfell Tower tragedy prompts new testing (Source: RNZ, Phil Pennington, Reporter)

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The vertical spread of fire up the exterior of a multi-storey building is managed by limiting ignitability of cladding systems and components. The cladding or facade system needs to resist fire from within the building, or from a neighbouring building.

Download Fire performance of Exterior cladding systems [PDF]

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System components

The external cladding system includes all relevant components assembled in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions - from external weathered face to internal finished face.

Testing accreditations

BRANZ is accredited by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) for testing the fire performance of products, materials and systems using the following test methods.

*Application for IANZ Accreditation is pending.

Download IANZ certificate of accreditation (PDF, 176KB] for the full scope of our accreditations.

New Zealand test methods

  • ISO 5660.1 Reaction to fire tests – Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate – Part 1: Heat release rate (cone calorimeter method)
  • ISO 5660.2 Reaction to fire tests – Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate – Part 2: Smoke production rate (dynamic measurement)
  • AS/NZS 3837 Method of test for heat and smoke release rates for materials and products using an oxygen consumption calorimeter
  • ASTM E 1354 Standard test method for heat and visible smoke release rates for materials and products using an oxygen consumption calorimeter
  • BS 8414.2* Fire performance of external cladding systems – Part 2. Test method for non-loadbearing external cladding systems fixed to and supported by a structural steel frame

Australia test methods

  • BS 8414.2* Fire performance of external cladding systems – Part 2. Test method for non-loadbearing external cladding systems fixed to and supported by a structural steel frame

*Application for IANZ Accreditation is pending.

Download IANZ certificate of accreditation (PDF, 176KB] for the full scope of our accreditations.

Schematic of BS 8414 test specimen

Code compliance

The results from these tests can be used to determine if the fire performance meets the following requirements set by the Building Codes of New Zealand and Australia.

New Zealand

  • NZBC Acceptable Solution C/AS2 5.8.1
  • MBIE guidance Fire performance of external wall cladding systems, December 2018
    • BR 135 Fire performance of external thermal insulation for walls of multistorey buildings: Annex B
    • AS 5113 Fire propagation testing and classification of external walls of buildings

Australia

  • AS 5113 Fire propagation testing and classification of external walls of buildings

Updated: 8 November 2024