Protecta, a supplier of passive fire protection solutions, has embarked on an extensive test programme to ensure that its products are fully compliant to the latest stringent UK standards.
The company’s three core products – EX Mortar, FR Acrylic and FR Board, have all received full certification in the last month, along with complementary products such as collars and wraps that were tested as an integral part of the penetration seal testing.
Both these initial tests and the planned twelve month programme of testing of the wider range will be carried out by Exova Warrington fire. By the end of the programme it is envisaged that another 24 products from the range will have been awarded full certification.
Commenting on the certification programme, Dave Oram, international sales manager at Protecta, said, “The majority of our products already carry full European test certification. By investing in this additional programme of rigorous testing we will give specifiers, contractors and installers complete peace of mind and the knowledge that the products they are using not only meet, but in many cases exceed, the minimum performance requirements. There is no room for compromise or uncertainty when it comes to fire protection.”
To date we have only tested a few products from Protecta’s range for CERTIFIRE Approval but from the results obtained and in view of what I have seen in the laboratories, this appears to be a robust and high performing range of products that will be a welcome addition to the UK market,” commented Chris Johnson, principal certification engineer, Warrington Certification.
Examples of the recent test results include:
• EX Mortar achieves EI 120 with steel pipe 219mm diameter at a depth of 50mm (most other products require a 100mm depth).
• FR Acrylic achieves EI90 (E240) on cable penetration 14mm diameter, from one side only.
• FR Board achieves EI240 with a maximum size opening of 2,400mm x 1,200mm.
• Products from the Protecta range are currently being used on over 70% of all commercial and public buildings in Norway, including the Royal Castle and Opera House in Oslo, and over 50% of a similar market in Denmark and Sweden.
