A fire at Wharfedale hospital in Otley, West Yorkshire was prevented from spreading throughout the £15 million building thanks to Kingspan’s insulated fire performance wall panels.
Combustible building materials stored on the ground floor of the hospital were set on fire by an arsonist, while the hospital was under construction. The ground floor was open with the cladding starting at first floor level. Much of the exterior cladding was exposed to direct flames up to 10 metres high from the ground floor fire along with smoke and heat damage.
An independent investigation by Tenos reveals how Kingspan’s Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) approved insulated wall panels did not ignite, demonstrating their impressive fire performance capabilities that helped to minimise fire damage and prevent it from spreading.
The Tenos report concludes that ‘the panels did not ignite, did not promote fire spread within the core or to the eaves and did not significantly contribute to the products of combustion.’
ABI (Association of British Insurers) states that LPCB approved panels can be classified as a non-combustible building system. This fire confirms that Kingspan’s LPCB approved panels will react as non-combustible building systems in a real fire scenario. They have been shown to cause no spread of fire within the core, no flaming droplets, low smoke emissions and they present no additional risk for fire fighters.
Kingspan’s LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board) approved insulated wall panels are widely specified and installed in hospitals and large scale buildings because they represent safer, faster construction and have an excellent fire record, safeguarding against the risk of fire.
Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal opened the state-of-the-art hospital on 26th January 2005. Some of the new facilities include an occupational therapy department, a day surgery ward, and radio and physiotherapy departments.
