FIRE PACK DECORSYSTEMS.COM.AU
COMPLIANCE IS KEY
“It’s just one of those things that I get different information on from all sides! It can be a real headache to determine what’s to standard and what's not.” - Architect We get these comments time and time again. The Australian Building Code and Fire Certification is complex and can be very confusing. However, recent tragedies including the Grenfell and Lacrosse tower fires have highlighted the importance of specifying compliant materials. With half a century of experience dedicated to developing compliant acoustic systems, Decor Systems have a range of products options to suit any building class and area without compromising on aesthetics. In this pack, you can find details on our approach to testing, what each test means and most importantly, the fire certificates for each of our products. If in doubt, or if you have any questions, you can call or email one of our experts.
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So, what's Decor System's approach to Fire Testing? Decor Systems has fire tested its range of acoustic products in accordance with the National Construction Code (NCC) Specification C1.10-4 to AS ISO 9705-2003 as outlined in the Building Code of Australia. These tests govern how the surface lining materials perform in the event of a fire. The test imitates a genuine fire situation and encompasses exposing the panels to a 100kW fire for 10 minutes; the fire’s output is then increased and the material is exposed to 300kW for a further 10 minutes. The results are broken down into Groups 1, 2 and 3 which are determined by when the flashover point is reached. The lower the Group Number, the better the material performs in a fire. For example a Group 1 performs best when exposed to fire.
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Understanding Group Ratings What is a Group 1 Fire Rating? No flashover* point reached during the length of the test (this is the best possible rating). What is a Group 2 Fire Rating? Flashover point is reached between 10 and 20 minutes. For most applications, materials classified as Group 2 and Group 3 are permitted for use as a finish, surface, lining or attachment to a wall or ceiling, in accordance with the table on the following page. What is a Group 3 Fire Rating? Flashover point reached between 2 and 10 minutes. As noted above, for most applications, materials classified as Group 2 and Group 3 are permitted for use as a finish, surface, lining or attachment to a wall or ceiling, in accordance with the table on the following page. *A FLASHOVER IS THE NEAR-SIMULTANEOUS IGNITION OF MOST OF THE DIRECTLY EXPOSED COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL IN AN ENCLOSED AREA
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And what about non-combustible materials then? The Building Code of Australia (BCA) through Clause A1.1 defines non-combustibility as a material not deemed combustible as determined by AS 1530.1 - Combustibility tests for Materials. The BCA C1.9 (e) states: The following materials may be used wherever a non-combustible material is required: (i)Plasterboard. (ii) Perforated gypsum lath with a normal paper finish. (iii) Fibrous-plaster sheet. (iv) Fibre-reinforced cement sheeting. (v) Pre-finished metal sheeting having a combustible surface finish not exceeding 1 mm thickness and where the Spread-of-Flame Index of the product is not greater than 0. (vi) Sarking-type materials that do not exceed 1 mm in thickness and have a Flammability Index not greater than 5. (vii) Bonded laminated materials where— (A) each lamina, including any core, is non-combustible; and (B) each adhesive layer does not exceed 1 mm in thickness and the total thickness of the adhesive layers does not exceed 2 mm; and (C) the Spread-of-Flame Index and the Smoke-Developed Index of the bonded laminated material as a whole do not exceed 0 and 3 respectively. DecorLux and DecorSlot perforated fibre cement sheets are manufactured from Fibre Cement, which is deemed non-combustible. However, to avoid any doubt, DecorLux has been fire tested to AS 5637 and achieved a Group 1 rating. We're thorough like that.
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Calculating the Group Rating you need in a few simple steps 1. Identify the building classification 2. Identify the area within that building classification that your product is required in and whether it is a wall or ceiling and sprinkled or unsprinklered 3. Refer to the Decor Systems Group Rating matrix to see what products are available in the Group Rating you require.
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Calculating the Group Rating you need Use the table on this page and the following page to calculate the Group Rating you need. First. identify the Building Class below, then identify the rating required for that Building Class. BUILDING CLASS 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
9a
9b
9c
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DESCRIPTION A building containing two or more sole-occupancy units each being a separate dwelling. A residential place for long term or transient living for a number of unrelated persons (e.g. boarding house, hostels, etc.). A dwelling in a building that is Class 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 if it is the only dwelling in the building. An office building used for professional or commercial purposes, excluding buildings of Class 6, 7, 8 or 9. A shop or other building for the sale of goods by retail or the supply of services direct to the public (e.g. cafe, restaurant, kiosk, hairdresser, etc.). A building which is a carpark (7a) or a building for the storage and display of goods or produce for sale by wholesale (7b). A laboratory, or a manufacturing plant. A building of a public nature such as health care or aged care buildings. A health care building, including those parts of the building set aside as a laboratory. An assembly building, including a trade workshop, laboratory or the like, in a primary or secondary school, but excluding any other parts of the building that are of another class. An aged care building.
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Identify the Group Rating required for the Building Class and location within the building
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So what Decor Systems products have what ratings? Most Decor Systems products are comprised of more than one variable element including a substrate and finish. The combination of these elements determines the fire rating. We test our products as a full systems that includes the substrate (e.g. MDF), the finish (E.g SmartLook laminate) and the acoustic backing too. Some products can achieve higher ratings when using Fire Shield or you may accept a Group 3 Fire Rating for certain applications where compliant in order to use a particular finish in your design. The best thing to do is talk to a project consultant early on. We're not perfect at everything but when it comes to acoustics and fire certification, we're experts. The following table outlines what products have what fire rating.
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NON-COMBUSTIBLE
GROUP 1
GROUP 2
GROUP 3
Product
Substrate
Finish
Product
Substrate
Finish
Product
Substrate
Finish
Arktura
Metal
Assorted
Arktura
PET
Assorted
DecorSlat
SmartLook
Cewood
Wood wool
NA
Cewood
Wood wool
NA
FR MDF Solid Timber (with fire shield)
DecorLux
Fibre Cement
Raw, DecorImage
DecorEagle
FR MDF
SmartLook
DecorLux
Fibre Cement
Raw, DecorImage
DecorSlat Max
FR MDF Solid Timber (with fire shield)
DecorMetl
DecorSlat Aluminium
DecorSlot
Vogl
Metal
Aluminium
Fibre Cement
Plasterboard
Powdercoated, woodgrain Powdercoated, Anodised
DecorMilano FR MDF
SmartLook
DecorSlot
Raw, DecorImage
Fibre Cement
DecorStyle
FR MDF
SmartLook
Raw, DecorImage
DecorTrend
FR MDF
SmartLook
NA
DecorZen
FR MDF
SmartLook
Vogl
Plasterboard
NA
DecorTile (in selected profiles)
FR MDF
SmartLook
Product DecorZen, Decor Trend, DecorStyle, DecorTile
FR MDF
SmartLook
DecorZen
FR MDF
Natural Timber Veneer
DecorStyle
FR MDF
Selected Natural Timber Veneers
DecorMilano
FR MDF
Paint Finish
Finish
MDF
SmartLook Natural Timber Veneer Paint Finish
Plywood
Natural Timber Veneer
DecorArti
MDF
SmartLook Natural Timber Veneer Paint Finish
DecorLini
MDF
SmartLook, Paint Finish, Natural Timber Veneer
DecorEagle
MDF
SmartLook, Paint Finish, Natural Timber Veneer
DecorMilano
MDF
SmartLook, Paint Finish, Natural Timber Veneer
Plywood
Natural Timber Veneer
MDF
Raw Paint Finish
SmartLook
DecorLini
Substrate
DecorTone
Selected Solid Timber
PRODUCT RATING MATRIX DECORSYSTEMS.COM.AU
DecorZen Micro
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MDF
Laminates
NON-COMBUSTIBLE Substrate
Finish
Arktura
Metal
Assorted
Cewood
Wood wool
NA
DecorLux
Fibre Cement
Raw, DecorImage
DecorMetl
Metal
Powdercoated, woodgrain
DecorSlat Aluminium
Aluminium
Powdercoated, Anodised
DecorSlot
Fibre Cement
Raw, DecorImage
Vogl
Plasterboard
NA
PRODUCT RATING MATRIX
Product
Non-combustible products are suitable for any building class and area.
Suitable for any building class and area
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GROUP 1 Substrate
Finish
Arktura
PET
Assorted
Cewood
Wood wool
NA
DecorEagle
FR MDF
SmartLook
DecorLux
Fibre Cement
Raw, DecorImage
DecorMilano FR MDF
SmartLook
DecorSlot
Fibre Cement
Raw, DecorImage
DecorStyle
FR MDF
SmartLook
DecorTrend
FR MDF
SmartLook
DecorZen
FR MDF
SmartLook
Vogl
Plasterboard
NA
DecorTile (in selected profiles)
FR MDF
SmartLook
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PRODUCT RATING MATRIX
Product
Group 1 rated products are suitable for any building class and area.
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GROUP 2 Substrate
Finish
DecorSlat
FR MDF Solid Timber (with fire shield)
SmartLook
DecorSlat Max
FR MDF Solid Timber (with fire shield)
DecorLini
FR MDF
SmartLook
DecorZen
FR MDF
Natural Timber Veneer
DecorStyle
FR MDF
Selected Natural Timber Veneers
DecorMilano
FR MDF
Paint Finish
PRODUCT RATING MATRIX
Product
SmartLook
Group
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FIRE FAQ | All your questions answered Q: Do drilled, slotted, or routed panels influence the fire rating? A: Yes, the amount open space impacts the fire rating which is why our certifications may not apply to all types of perforation. Q: Which is more Fire Retardant - higher or lower Group numbers? A: Group 1 products have the best fire performance. Q: How can I achieve the look of natural timber with a Group 1 Fire Rating? A: Applying Fire Shield can allow you to obtain a natural timber look whilst still achieving a Group 1 Fire Rating. Q: Is a higher or lower group number better? A: The fire hazard properties of different materials are classified as Material Group Numbers, which come in a range from Group 1 to Group 4. The lower the Group Number, the better the material performs in a fire. Q: Are the accessories you supply also fire resistant for example DecorSorb, BJ2, DSB? We test our panels as a system i.e. the face finish (i.e. SmartLook, Timber Veneer), the core or substrate (i.e. Fire Rated MDF) and the DecorSorb on the rear. With regard to mounting accessories such as BJ2 and DSB, BJ2 is aluminium and therefore non-combustible and DSB is made from Fire Rated MDF and is tested as part of the complete system.
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FIRE FAQ | All your questions answered Q: Are your certificates NATA certified? A: We have written documentation from the CSIRO that NATA accreditation is not required. Furthermore, the Code is clear. Section A5.2 (d) of the National Construction Code states that a ‘professional engineer’ who is registered with the National Engineering Register is qualified to sign the fire certificates. Benjamin Hughes-Brown is one of Australia's foremost experts in BCA compliance for wall materials and provides a step by step guide to minimise risk of BCA noncompliance to ensure your building project is safe to occupy. As required by Section A5.2 (e), Benjamin is included on the National Engineering Register. Refer https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/ner/portfolio/QUluU1RtamRPQ1RSdWZwTkl5YmtTdz09 Put simply, the certificates we have conform to the NCC. Our Managing Director has had discussions with the Australian Building Codes Board concerning the misinterpretations of the NCC by those who are expected to be aware of what is in the code. This is of concern to key players in the construction industry. We are preparing a detailed submission to the ABCB and will be including Case Studies demonstrating where the standards have been incorrectly applied. If your certifier still requires clarification, please ask them to call us, we will be happy to speak to them.
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FIRE FAQ | All your questions answered Q: Is it a requirement of the NCC that fire testing facilities be NATA accredited? A: No. The code is quite clear about this. Section A5.2 of the code states that a fire test report may be issued by either: 1. An accredited testing laboratory, or 2. A professional engineer. A professional engineer is defined by the NCC who is listed on the National Engineers Register (NER). This is referenced on page 639 of the code. Please contact us if you require additional information as to this. Certifiers have an obligation to interpret the code correctly, and we are happy to support them in this.
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FIRE CERTIFICATES For a fire certificate for your submission without a watermark, please contact a project consultant.
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DECOREAGLE
DECOREAGLE HAS A GROUP 1 CERTIFICATE WHEN SPECIFIED WITH A FIRE RATED MDF SUBSTRATE AND SMARTLOOK FINISH.
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DECORSTYLE
DECORSTYLE HAS A GROUP 1 FIRE CERTIFICATE WHEN SPECIFIED WITH A FIRE RATED MDF SUBSTRATE AND SMARTLOOK FINISH.
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DECORTREND
DECORTREND HAS A GROUP 1 CERTIFICATE WHEN SPECIFIED WITH A FIRE RATED MDF SUBSTRATE AND SMARTLOOK FINISH.
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DECORLUX & LUX MAX
DECORLUX HAS A GROUP 1 CERTIFICATE AND IS ALSO NON-COMBUSTIBLE.
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VOGL
VOGL HAS A GROUP 1 CERTIFICATE AND IS ALSO NONCOMBUSTIBLE.
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ARKTURA
ARKTURA HAS PET CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. SOME OF THE ARKTURA RANGE IS ALSO NONCOMBUSTIBLE.
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CEWOOD
CEWOOD HAS A GROUP 1 FIRE CERTIFICATE AND IS ALSO NON-COMBUSTIBLE.
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DECORSLAT
GROUP 2 WITH FIRE RATED MDF AND SMARTLOOK FINISH OR SOLID TIMBER WITH FIRE SHIELD APPLIED.
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DECORSLAT MAX
GROUP 2 WITH FIRE RATED MDF AND SMARTLOOK FINISH OR SOLID TIMBER WITH FIRE SHIELD APPLIED.
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DECORZEN
DECORZEN HAS A GROUP 1 CERTIFICATE WHEN SPECIFIED WITH FIRE RATED MDF SUBSTRATE AND SMARTLOOK FINISH.
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DECORZEN
DECORZEN HAS A GROUP 2 CERTIFICATE WHEN SPECIFIED WITH FIRE RATED MDF SUBSTRATE AND NATURAL TIMBER VENEER.
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DECORLINI
DECORLINI HAS A GROUP 2 CERTIFICATE WHEN SPECIFIED WITH A FIRE RATED MDF SUBSTRATE AND SMARTLOOK FINISH.
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DECORTILE
OUR DECORZEN CERTIFICATE CAN BE USED FOR DECORTILE
DECORTILE GROUP 1 OR 2 DEPENDING ON THE SUBSTRATE AND FINISH SELECTED.
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1800 835 035 LETSTALK@DECORSYSTEMS.COM.AU
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