CombustibleComponents

inExteriorWalls
BarryThorson,P.Eng.,C.P.,FEC
B.R.ThorsonConsultingLtd
CertifiedProfessional since1981
Chair APEGBCBuildingCodesCommittee19992005
CoChair BuildingPolicyAdvisoryCommittee
20032009
BCBCInterpretationCommittee 19992011
CombustibleComponents
inExteriorWalls
CurrentRequirements 3.1.5.5.,3.1.5.12.,3.2.3.8.
HistoryofCodeDevelopment
BCBuildingCodeInterpretationCommittee 980012
AppealBoardRuling BCAB#1682
WhatNext?
CurrentRequirements
3.1.5.5. tolimitflamespreaduptheverticalexterior
surfaceofabuildingfromafirewithinthebuilding
whichblowsouttheexteriorwindowopenings
3.1.5.12. toprotecttheinteriorofabuildingfroma
firehazardcausedbycombustibleinsulation,
includingfoamedplasticinsulation
3.2.3.8. toprotecttheexteriorbuildingfacetolimit
thespreadoffirefromaninsidefiretoanadjacent
building,andtolimitthepotentialforfirespreadfrom
anoutsidefirefromanadjacentbuilding
BrickVeneer NotTested
TestedAssembly
Article3.1.5.5.
Onlyappliestobuildingsthatarerequiredtobe
noncombustibleconstructionasdeterminedby
Subsection3.2.2.
Onlyappliestononloadbearingexteriorwalls
Appliestounsprinkleredbuildingsnotmorethan
3storeysinbuildingheight
Appliestosprinkleredbuildingsofanyheight
Cannotbeusedwhenspatialseparation
requirementsofSubsection3.2.3.restrictthearea
ofunprotectedopeningstolessthan10%
Article3.1.5.5.
Whatdoesitsay?
IfArticle3.1.5.5.isreadinisolationasastand
alonerequirement,hereiswhatitsays:
Ifanexteriornonloadbearingwallinabuilding
thatisrequiredtobenoncombustible
constructioncontainsanycombustible
componentslocatedanywherewithinthewall
assembly thenthewallmustbetestedto
CAN/ULCS134(fullscalefiretest)
WOW!!!!!
Article3.1.5.1.
WhatisNoncombustible?
DefinedinArticle1.1.4.2.ofDivisionAasmeetingthe
acceptancecriteriaofCAN4S114 Determinationof
NonCombustibilityinBuildingMaterials
AsperSentence3.1.5.1.(2)othermaterialsare
permittedtobeusedinanoncombustiblebuilding
whentestedinaccordancewithULCS135andmeets
variouscriterianotethesematerialsarecombustible
AsperSentence3.1.5.11.(1)gypsumboardcanbeused
inanoncombustiblebuildingwhenpaperlayerisnot
morethan1mmthickandFSR<25(combustible)
CAN4S114
WhatisNoncombustible?
3samplesareputinasmallfurnaceat750degreesC
for15minutes
Thematerialmustnotburnafter30seconds
Thematerialmustnotlosemorethan20%ofitsmass
Thematerialmustnotexceedatemperatureriseof
morethat36degreesChigherthanthemean
temperatureofthefurnace
Article3.1.5.5.
Whatcouldthismean?
Article3.1.5.5.doesnotexplicitlyexempttheusual
combustiblecomponentsthatarelistedinArticle
3.1.5.2.orSentences3.1.5.1.(2)and3.1.5.11.(1)
Paint,masticsandcaulking,includingfoamedplasticair
sealants,adhesives,vapourbarriers,sheathingpapers
If3.1.5.5.isreadinisolation Exteriornonloading
bearingwallsthatcontain6milpolyvapourbarrier,or
peel&stickmembranes,orgypsumboard,or
fiberglassinsulationwouldhavetobetestedto
CAN/ULCS134
OtherCombustibleMaterials
PermittedinNoncombustibleBuildings
3.1.5.2. Minorcombustiblecomponents
3.1.5.6. Nailingelements
3.1.5.10. Combustibleinteriorfinishes
3.1.5.11. Gypsumboard
3.1.5.15. Combustibleducts
3.1.5.16. Combustiblepiping
3.1.5.18. Combustiblewiring
3.1.5.21. DecorativeWoodCladding
Article3.1.5.5.
History
Article3.1.5.5.wasoriginallyintroducedinthe1990
NBCCentitledCombustibleCladding
Itpermittedtheuseofcombustiblecladdingonnon
loadbearingexteriorwallsinnoncombustible
buildingswhentestedtoCAN/ULCS134
ThewordingofArticle3.1.5.5.wasamendedinthe
1995NBCCtoreadCombustibleComponentsfor
ExteriorWalls
TheAppendixNoteA3.1.5.5.inthe1995NBCCwas
stillentitledCombustibleCladding
Article3.1.5.5.
History
TheoriginalintentofArticle3.1.5.5.wastopermit
combustiblecladding,includingEIFS,onnon
loadbearingexteriorwallsinnoncombustible
buildingsifthecladdingsystemistestedtoCAN/ULC
S134
Thechangeinwordinginthe1995NBCCwasnot
includedinthelistofproposedchangestothe1990
NBCC
Thischangeofwordinghascausedagreatdealof
aggravationsince1995
Article3.1.5.5.
LoadBearingWalls
Article3.1.5.5.doesnotapplytoloadbearingwalls
Theuseofcombustibleinsulationinexteriorload
bearingwallsisregulatedbySentence3.1.5.12.(3) i.e.
athermalbarrierisrequiredontheinsideface
Theuseoffoamedplasticinsulationintheexterior
wallofanybuildingmorethan3storeysinbuilding
heightisregulatedbyArticle3.2.3.8. theoutsideface
isprotectedwith25mmonconcreteormasonry,or
anothernoncombustiblematerialthatmeetscertain
criteriawhentestedtoCAN/ULCS101.
Article3.1.5.5.
SpatialSeparationWalls
WhenSubsection3.2.3.restrictstheareaof
unprotectedopeningstolessthan10%,theexterior
wallisrequiredtobenoncombustibleconstruction
withnoncombustiblecladding.
Article3.1.5.5.cannotbeusedforsuchwalls.
Theoriginalintentwastoprecludetheuseofany
combustiblecladdingonwallsclosetotheproperty
line,evenwhensuchwallscomplywithCAN/ULC
S134.
Article3.1.5.5.
OntarioBuildingCode
TheOntarioBuildingCodeamendedthe2005NBCC
tosaythatifanexteriorwallcomplieswithArticle
3.2.3.8.,thenitisdeemedtoalsocomplywithArticle
3.1.5.5.
AlthoughmanyAHJsagreewiththisconcept,the
NBCCandBCBCdonotexplicitlystatethis.
Sentence3.1.5.12.(3)
Protectstheinsidefaceonly
Firesoriginatinginsidethebuilding
Appliestobothcombustibleinsulationand
foamedplasticinsulationwithFSR>25and<500
Onlyprotectstheinsidefaceofanexteriorwall
Doesnotaddressprotectionoftheoutsideface
Thermalbarriertobe12.7mmgypsumboard,lath
&plaster,25mmthickconcreteormasonry,or
noncombustiblematerialthatmeetsCAN/ULC
S101M
Article3.2.3.8.
SpatialSeparations
Protectionofexteriorbuildingfaceonly
Doesnotaddressprotectionoftheinteriorface
Onlyapplieswhentheexteriorwallcontains
foamedplasticinsulation
Tolimitfirespreadfromafirethatoriginates
insidethebuildingtoaneighbouringbuildingon
anadjacentproperty
Tolimitfirespreadfromafirethatoriginatesina
neighbouringbuildingtotheexteriorbuildingface
ofthebuildingonourproperty
Article3.2.3.8.
ProtectionofExteriorBuildingFace
Onlyappliestobuildings>3storeys
25mmconcreteormasonry,or
Noncombustiblematerialthatmeetscertaincriteria
whentestedtoCAN/ULCS101
Ifanexteriorwallmeets3.1.5.5.thenitisdeemedto
alsomeet3.2.3.8.
History
3.1.5.5. 3.1.5.12. 3.2.3.8.
1977NBCC no yes no
1980NBCC no yes yes
1985NBCC no yes yes
1990NBCC yes yes yes
combustible
cladding
1995NBCC yes yes yes
combustible
components
2005NBCC yes yes yes
combustible
components
History
3.1.5.5. 3.1.5.12. 3.2.3.8.
1985BCBC no yes yes
1992BCBC yes yes yes
combustible
cladding
1998BCBC yes yes yes
combustible
components
2006BCBC yes yes yes
combustible
components
BCBCInterpretationCommittee
980012
Question DoesArticle3.1.5.5.applytotheentire
exteriornonloadbearingwallassembly?
Answer yes theentirewallassemblymustbetested
becausetheperformanceofsomeexteriorcladding
systemsmaydependonthewallassemblytowhich
theyareattached
BCBCInterpretationCommittee
980012
Question Iftheexteriornonloadbearingwall
assemblycontainscombustiblecomponentsthatare
otherwisepermittedbySubsection3.1.5.,isthewall
assemblyrequiredtocomplywithArticle3.1.5.5.
Answer No theCommitteeconsideredthatArticle
3.1.5.5.wasoneofmanyoptionsavailabletodesigners
tousecombustiblecomponentsinexteriorwalls.
Problem thispreviousinterpretationisbeing
reviewedbytheCommitteeinresponsetoBCAB#1682
since3.1.5.5.and3.1.5.12.dealwithdifferentfire
scenarios.
BuildingCodeAppealBoard
BCAB#1682 ExteriorWall
Sheetsteelcladding
Weatherbarrier(airgap)
Foamedplasticinsulation(25<FSR<500)
15.9mmTypeXGWB(exteriorgrade)
203mmsteelstudframing
15.9mmTypeXGWB(interiorgrade)
BCAB#1682
AppellantsPosition
ThewallassemblycomplieswithSentence3.1.5.12.(3)
Since3.1.5.12.(3)permitstheuseofcombustible
insulation,includingfoamedplasticinsulation,there
isnoneedtoalsocomplywithArticle3.1.5.5.
ThescopeofArticle3.1.5.5.islimitedtocombustible
claddingasindicatedbythetitleofAppendixNoteA
3.1.5.5.
ThisinterpretationisconsistentwithBCIC980012
BCAB#1682
BuildingOfficialsPosition
Article3.1.5.5.doesnotincludeanyexemptionsfor
Articles3.1.5.2.(minorcombustiblecontent),3.1.5.11.
(gypsumboard)or3.1.5.12.(combustibleinsulation)
Article3.1.5.5.isastandalonerequirementthatmust
bemetinadditiontoalloftheotherprovisionsof
Subsection3.1.5.
BCAB#1682
RulingoftheBoard
BothArticles3.1.5.5.and3.1.5.12.applytotheuseof
combustibleinsulationinexteriornon
loadbearingwallsinabuildingthatisrequiredto
benoncombustibleconstruction
SinceArticle3.1.5.12.onlyprovidesthermal
protectionontheinsideface,itdoesnotaddress
thespreadoffireontheexteriorfaceofthe
building
BrickVeneer NotTested
TestedAssembly
WhatNext?
WeneedacodechangetotheNBCC,BCBCandVBBL
Article3.1.5.5.shouldgobacktotheoriginalintentin
dealingwithcombustiblecladdingratherthan
combustiblecomponentswithintheentirewall
assembly
IfyoucomplywithArticle3.2.3.8.,youneednot
complywithArticle3.1.5.5.
Combustiblematerialsasdescribedin3.1.5.1.(2),
3.1.5.2.,3.1.5.6.,3.1.5.10.,3.1.5.11.,3.1.5.16,3.1.5.18.and
3.1.5.21.shouldbepermittedinexteriorwalls
Questions?