Intumescent Fireblocking in Facade Assemblies

Designed to maintain the performance of ventilated
rainscreen systems and building code requirements

Extinguishing the Chimney

In modern construction, the need for exterior cladding and ventilated rainscreen systems has become an essential has become an essential design for high performance building envelopes and the increasing energy efficiency needs in today’s buildings. However, this construction practice has inadvertently created a serious fire protection threat – a chimney effect within the exterior cavity.

Exterior cavities are another compartment in the exterior wall, which require their own fire performance considerations. Recognizing this, building codes, like 2022 NYC Construction Code, now mandate fireblocking in the exterior cavity (space between the cladding and exterior sheathing), when using both combustible and noncombustible cladding materials.

Solving the Rainscreen Conundrum

Fireblocking is required to fully compartmentalize the exterior cavity. Using traditional fireblocking materials, the exterior cavity would be entirely blocked, even during normal operations. With this blockage it allows for:
 
  • Poor Water Management
  • Blocked Air Movement
  • Raising Humidity Levels, resulting in condensation buildup
The consequences of this would eliminate all benefits of using a high performance rainscreen system.
 
We want high-performance AND fire control. How do we resolve this impossible conflict?

When there is no fire,
we don’t need to block it!

Introducing the FF102/50

Tenmat’s Intumescent Fire Block for Ventilated Rainscreen Systems are rigid, highly expansive intumescent strips, designed to maintain the open ventilated cavity in normal conditions – dissipating water and allowing for ventilation. In the event of a fire, the strips will expand to seal off the cavity and form an effective fire block.
 
The FF102/50 can be mechanically fixed both horizontally and vertically within ventilated cavities behind the rainscreen or cladding systems.
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Meet the FF102/50Plus

The FF102/50Plus intumescent fire block is also an ‘Open State’ Cavity Fire Barrier system made out of Tenmat’s FF102/50 Intumescent Fire Block and high density mineral wool backing. By combining mineral wool in various thicknesses and Tenmat’s high expansion intumescent material, Tenmat’s FF102/50Plus can be used for ventilated air cavities, ranging from 2”, up to 19″ and in assemblies where the exterior insulation needs to be interrupted for fire blocking purposes.  

The FF102/50Plus can be mechanically fixed both horizontally and vertically within ventilated cavities and concealed spaces behind the rainscreen or cladding systems.

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Key Features of Intumescent Fireblocking

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