Installers are often faced with the challenge of maintaining fire barrier integrity when passing services through raised access floors. AIM – Acoustic & Insulation Manufacturing’s new technical solution combines its Raised Access Floor Barrier (RAFB) with Rockwool Ablative Batts to provide a tested, cost-effective solution.
RAFBs prevent the passage of flame and smoke through underfloor cavities for at least the period of fire rating specified. The AIM RAFB is used to subdivide large uninterrupted cavities, maintain partition fire ratings when aligned under a partition, reduce flanking transmission of sound through underfloor voids and create plenum chambers.
However, passing services, including cable trays and pipes, through the RAFB can compromise the barrier’s vital primary function if not completed in line with the manufacturer’s standard tested details.
Now, AIM provides installers, specifiers, fire consultants and RAF system holders with a solution. When penetration is required to pass services through the AIM RAFB, two Rockwool FirePro® Coated Batts, the same height as the AIM RAFB, are placed on either side of the barrier. The services are passed through both the RAFB and ablative batts with any small gaps around the penetrating component filled with Rockwool FirePro® Acoustic Sealant, pipe sleeves and pipe closers.
The AIM RAFB is tested to BS EN 1366-4 and the principles of TR31 and can provide up to 120 minutes integrity and insulation. The addition of Rockwool Ablative Batts, to allow services to penetrate the barrier, does not denigrate or reduce the overall fire resistance of the AIM RAFB.
Without this assessment, the installer would need to seek approval from a competent person, such as a fire engineer, to run services through the RAFB or, which is most common, they replace the whole barrier with a full run of Ablative Batt, which is an expensive response.
“The many services required in modern offices are usually run through raised access floors, so must pass through dedicated fire barriers,” explains Ian Exall, AIM’s commercial director. “AIM’s improved technical solution for accommodating services combines our RAFB with Rockwool Ablative Batts. It is tested and cost effective compared with building the whole fire barrier from an Ablative Batt.”
An additional advantage of AIM’s new solution is that the services do not need to be installed as the barrier is installed. The Ablative Batt and services can be installed at a later date providing a retrofit solution.
AIM sells the Rockwool Ablative Batt along with the AIM RAFB, but installers can also source the batt from their usual sources.
AIM’s RAFB also reduces airborne transmission of sound by up to 51dB Rw when tested with an access floor system. Made from high density Rockwool stone wool slab faced with impervious foil facing on both sides, it is available cut to size or in slabs for cutting on site.
CLICK HERE fo the AIM RAFB datasheet
