Fireblocking in Façades: The Sunshine State Version.

Un“block” the magic between Central Florida’s Top Division Seven Architectural Expert and the United States’ leading passive fire protection manufacturer.

Hot, humid climate, extreme weather conditions, astronomical energy building costs are just a small reason why Floridians were searching for an optimal building practice that can combat these severe elements. As a result, leading construction professionals have opted in specifying ventilated rainscreen systems into their new development projects. With its ability to control moisture-related issues such as mold, mildew, and structural degradation, ventilated rainscreens are engineered to mitigate these problems by allowing air circulation between the building’s exterior cladding and its inner wall structure. With this airflow, it promotes a proper drying mechanism – eliminating the risk of trapped moisture.

In addition to its capability to thrive in humid climate, ventilated rainscreen assemblies are able to create a thermal buffer zone that permits the regulation of indoor temperatures – optimal for air-conditioned buildings in Florida’s sweltering summers. However, this system’s ventilated air cavity creates a major life safety hazard – the ultimate pathway for an active fire outbreak. In order to resolve this issue, building code officials have implemented stringent regulations that enforce fireblocking within this gap. As fireblocking technology was developed, one of the main complications was its inability to maintain the proper gap sizing – depreciating the moisture control and energy efficiency benefits of ventilated rainscreen systems.

When discussing the development of a fireblocking solution for façade applications, Tenmat’s on-site engineers brought up the question, “Why block the cavity when it doesn’t need to be blocked”? Thus, we engineered a solution that can 1) meet the fireblocking requirements of the most stringent building regulations, and 2) offer the full performance and benefits of a ventilated air cavity – meet Tenmat’s Intumescent Fire Blocks for Ventilated Rainscreen Systems.

So, how does Tenmat’s Intumescent Technology allow for full-scale performance of the cavity within a ventilated rainscreen system? An intumescent is a remarkable material that reacts and expands aggressively when exposed to heat. This expansion fills gaps, accommodates changes in an opening, and forms a high-performance fire barrier that lasts for extended periods. Unlike traditional solutions, intumescent technology allows construction professionals to create custom fireblocking solutions tailored to specific project requirements—be it application type, thickness, shape, expansion rate, or char formation—rather than relying on rigid, one-size-fits-all options.

At Tenmat, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with ventilated rainscreen experts and building code officials to develop optimal fireblocking solutions for façade applications. Our products are designed not only to meet but to exceed the demands of modern construction projects.

Tenmat’s FF102/50 Intumescent Fire Block

  • NFPA285 Fire Tested Component
  • Intertek Listed (SPEC ID: 55536)
  • UL Classified under the Exterior Wall System Component category (FWFX)
  • ASTM E84 (UL 723): Flame Spread: 0 Smoke Developed: 0
  • Continuous Free Air Space up to 2″ (50mm)
  • Allows for ventilation and moisture dissipation
  • Expands up to 25x of its thickness in case of a fire
  • Creates a fire block to prevent “chimney” effect
  • Fire & Age Tested

Tenmat’s FF102/50Plus Ventilated Fire Block

  • Creates a hidden fire barrier/fireblock behind the cladding
  • Allows for ventilation and moisture dissipation
  • UL Classified under the Exterior Wall System Component category (FWFX)
  • NFPA285 Fire Tested and Approved
  • Continuous Free Air Space from 2″ (50mm) up to 19.6″ (500mm)
  • Quick & Easy Installation
  • Fire & Age Tested
  • Prevents “chimney” effect

About Taylor Architectural Products:

Taylor Architectural Products is built on a strong commitment to delivering innovative architectural solutions to leading design professionals and providing hands-on educational support to general contractors. As a trusted partner, they specialize in rainscreen cladding systems, insulation, and weather-resistant barriers.

To connect with Taylor Architectural Products, please contact Bob Taylor.

Meet the Ford of the Façades Industry: Intumescent Fire Blocks for Ventilated Rainscreen Assemblies.

Discover why intumescent technology is the prime fireblocking solution for the growing states of Michigan and Indiana.

Detroit. Indianapolis. Fort Wayne. Ann Arbor. Grand Rapids. All of these major Great Lake cities have three things in common: they 1) are rapidly expanding, due to population growth, 2) have adopted the construction application of ventilated rainscreen systems, and 3) have been required to eliminate the chimney effect in these open-state cavities.

In modern ventilated rainscreen applications, its interior gap allows for a multitude of sustainability benefits, such as proper air circulation and moisture dissipation; however, this open cavity is a highly accessible route for heat, flames and smoke to rapidly travel throughout the building, both horizontally and vertically. With this form of accessibility, a fire outbreak can consume an entire building in a short time span – permitting individuals from having a sufficient evacuation timeframe.

To resolve this critical hazard, both building code officials and passive fire protection manufacturers have partnered together to formulate effective solutions to block off the pathway of the fire. However, one of the major disadvantages of these solutions is that it’s positioning greatly affects the functionality purposes of a ventilated rainscreen system.  Traditionally, this technology seals off the cavity opening entirely, and when a fire occurs, it is compartmentalized by the technology. However, with the technology sealing off parts of the ‘open state’ cavity – the advantages of proper air circulation and moisture dissipation are nearly diminished.

Engineered with the latest in intumescent technology, Tenmat’s Ventilated Fire Blocks and Barriers are designed to allow for the full efficiency of air circulation and moisture dissipation in an open cavity – while providing the appropriate level of fireblocking. Intumescent technology is a material which reacts and expands aggressively when exposed to heat – allowing for gaps and changes in an opening – such as a ‘open state’ cavity in a ventilated rainscreen assembly. With this technology, we designed our fireblocking solutions to be compacted to the level, where it allows for the proper functionality of an open-air’ cavity and when activated by heat, expands far enough to seal off the entire cavity. To learn more about Tenmat’s Intumescent Blocks and Barriers, please click here.

In the efforts to provide the developing Great Lakes area with accessibility to the latest firestopping technology and the top performing building envelope solutions, Tenmat and Lines Inc. have converged a partnership to allow for this opportunity. With over 30 years in the field, Lines Inc. has deep expertise in architecture, design, and construction materials. Our extensive experience has led us to proudly represent exceptional product lines, ensuring that we bring the best to your projects and help your vision come to life.

Specializing in rainscreen systems with the following components:
  • Passive Fire Protection
  • Insulation
  • Cladding
  • Thermal Breaks
  • Balconies/canopies

To directly contact Lines Inc, please contact either Greg Schneider here or Dane Schneider here.

Finding the Perfect Fit in Façades.

Tenmat announces partnership with Midwest Architectural Rep, Blue Line Building Products.

With the recent surge of US energy conservation code requirements, a vast amount of new construction projects have adopted the practice of ventilated rainscreen systems into their developing projects. With its wide range of energy efficient capabilities, ventilated rainscreen assemblies are an attractive, newly found construction practice – which has been rapidly adopted from all over the country. Unfortunately, this construction method produces a critical life safety hazard – the chimney effect.

In normal conditions, the ‘open state’ cavity allows for the structure to have proper ventilation and improvement in the overall building’s energy efficiency. However, in the event of a fire outbreak, this open void allows for the heat, flames, and smoke to travel vertically and horizontally throughout the structure – at an accelerated pace. As a result, recent building code adoptions have implemented a fireblocking requirement to eliminate this life safety hazard – protecting the lives and properties within our communities.

As a response, numerous forms of fireblocking technology have been developed to meet recent building code adoptions and resolve the issue of the chimney effect. However, a majority of these fireblocking solutions seal off the internal cavity of the assembly– which diminishes air ventilation, increases moisture dissipation, and decreases the building’s overall energy efficiency.

At Tenmat, we specialize in the development and manufacturing of intumescent technology – allowing us to meet the demands of construction professionals, based on application, thicknesses, shape, expansion rate and char formation after heat interaction. An intumescent is a material which reacts and expands aggressively when exposed to heat. In addition, this technology is designed to react and expand to fill all the gaps and changes in an opening, and therefore, can maintain a high-performance fire barrier for an extended duration. With this type of technology, it allows the construction application to shape a fireblocking solution to accommodate its demands rather than the opposing.

In the effort to protect growing communities and offer the latest in fireblocking technology, such as the Midwest, Tenmat has partnered with the architectural representative, Blue Line Building Products. With their dedication to finding the right product for the right applications, Blue Line BP offers the highest quality building envelope products and design-assist services in the rapidly growing Midwest.

Specialties Include:

  • Faux Wood Façades
  • Composite Stone
  • High Density Fiber Cement
  • HPL Panel Systems
  • Metal Panels
  • Porcelain Façades
  • Architectural Mesh

To contact Blue Line Building Products directly, please contact Matt Martino.

Resolving the “Cavity” between the East and West Coast.

Learn more about the blooming partnership of the US’s leading passive fire protection manufacturer and the Northwest’s top exterior technologies expert.

Exterior Cladding. Aluminum Panels. Rainscreen Systems. Façades. Recently, these terms have become popular in construction conversation, regardless of if you reside in the skyscrapers of Manhattan or the earthy, modern terrain of the Pacific Northwest’s cities. With its strong correlation to energy conservation and recently adopted energy codes, exterior cladding systems have been an attractive choice for construction development in cities, like NYC and Seattle.

But there’s one recurring issue in developing new façade-based structures – finding a fire-rated solution to accommodate stringent building regulations, life safety measures, and the benefits of energy efficiency. One of the most critical life safety hazards of a façade application is the interior cavity, designed to allow ventilation and energy efficiency, acts like an open chimney, in the unfortunate event of a fire. The void allows the fire to spread at an accelerated pace throughout the rest of the building – endangering lives and property. As a result, a variety of fireblocking solutions have been developed to reinforce this life safety hazard – however, when these solutions are implemented, they block off a majority of the cavity which greatly depreciates the level of energy efficiency, air circulation, and water drainage.

So, the question is “When there is no fire, why should the cavity be blocked”? In response, Tenmat has developed a variety of fireblocking solutions, which have been designed to enable the maintenance of an open ventilated cavity, preserve the energy conservation and building science benefits associated with cladding systems, while concurrently serving as a formidable fire barrier in the event of a building fire.

Here at Tenmat, we specialize in the development and manufacturing of intumescent technology – allowing us to meet the demands of construction professionals, based on application, thicknesses, shape, expansion rate and char formation after heat interaction. An intumescent is a material which reacts and expands aggressively when exposed to heat. In addition, this technology is designed to react and expand to fill all the gaps and changes in an opening, and therefore, can maintain a high-performance fire barrier for an extended duration. With this type of technology, it allows the construction application to shape a fireblocking solution to accommodate its demands rather than the opposing. Furthermore, Tenmat has worked closely with ventilated rainscreen professionals and building code officials to develop the optimal intumescent-composed fireblocking solutions for façade application.

Composed with a rigid, high expansion intumescent, Tenmat’s FF102/50 Intumescent Fire Block are used as fire blocks at slab lines, fire blocks around windows and as fire blocks at changes in occupancy (horizontally and/or vertically) and for larger openings, Tenmat’s VFB+ Ventilated Fire Barrier is composed of a high expansion intumescent seal fixed to TENMAT High Density Mineral Wool. Both of these intumescent solutions are designed to maintain the open, ventilated cavity in normal conditions, but will expand to seal off the cavity gap when exposed to heat. Therefore, the FF102/50 Intumescent Fire Block and the VFB+ Rainscreen Fireblock allow construction professionals to receive the full benefits of façade systems, while maintaining the appropriate level of life safety, in the event of a fire.

About Facades Northwest:

Facades Northwest is an architectural product representative, specializing in exterior technologies. Based in the Pacific Northwest, their primary business focus is to assist Architects, General Contractors and Owners in finding the right product and designing an exterior facade for their projects.

Facades Northwest partners with worldwide producers of building systems, leveraging the strength of each producer, for superior building envelope protection. As a part of the work they do, they provide value engineering, competitive alternatives and market leading technologies. Most importantly, they align multiple trades for specialization and time effective construction.

Specialties Include:
  • Phenolic Cladding
  • Rainscreen Façade Fiber Cement
  • Aluminum Panels
  • Weather Resistant Barriers
  • Structural Insulated Sheathing
  • Thermally Broken Subframing
  • Digitally Printed Aluminum Cladding
  • Sintered Stone Cladding
  • Stone Wool Insulation
  • Louvers and Sun Shades