Fire Rated Containment Safety Mesh
Fire is one of the common problems in a construction site. Due to the open nature of construction sites, abundance of possibly combustible materials, unpredictable and dangerous fire can quickly spread over a large area. Safety precautions include ensuring that all materials used in the construction site are fire retardant. A containment mesh used to enclose scaffolding from the inside, prevent falling objects, and provide safety for workers using the scaffold at height must be fire retardant. Though currently there are no Australian standard or industry guidance for containment mesh flammability performance, suppliers of containment netting are required to provide test results with a flammability index between 0 and 25, where zero is the least flammable. Adscaff flammability index score is 6 and has been thoroughly tested in the harshest production conditions possible. Adcsaff has zero possibility of fueling a fire.
The tests conducted to assess the suitability of adScaff containment mesh on construction sites were of four (4) types. These tests proved that adScaff containment mesh do not act as fire fuel source in the event of sparks or flames in proximity or direct contact with adScaff containment mesh. All four tests were conducted with a one metre x one metre product sample. Each test was repeated three times and yielded similar results. Each sample was installed approximately 30cm off ground level.
Industrial grade paper towel was placed on ground level directly under product samples.
Testing was conducted in a controlled factory environment without wind or breeze. These four test types were:
Grinder Test (As outlined in Australian Standards Suggested Test Procedure for Encapsulation Materials).
Oxy Text (As outlined in Australian Standards Suggested Test Procedure for Encapsulation Materials).
Blow Torch (Similar Guidelines to Suggested Test Procedure above with a more aggressive flame source).
Complete Destruction Testing.
Grinder Test
Sparks were directed at the test material for 60 seconds one metre from sample position. Sparks were then directed at sample form 500mm.
General Observation
Grinder sparks had no effect on containment mesh. Material was not charred or damaged in any way, visually or structurally.
Oxy Test -A
Oxy Flame was placed at lower banding of containment mesh with flame tip approximately 100mm from materials. Flame was kept at this distance for 60 seconds moving left and right of starting centre point approximately 60mm in either direction.
Oxy Text – B
Oxy Flame was place mid-level of containment mesh with flame tip approximately 100mm from material. Flame was kept at this distance for 60 seconds moving left and right of starting centre point approximately in either direction
Material maintained integrity and self-extinguishes. It melts, not burns. Debris droplets had extinguished prior to dropping.
Blow Torch
Blow Torch Flame was placed at lower banding of containment mesh with flame tip approximately 100mm from material. Flame was kept at this distance for 60 seconds moving left and right of starting centre point approximately 60mm in either direction. Material maintained integrity and self-extinguishes. It melts, not burns. It extinguished immediately after fire source was removed. Debris droplets had extinguished prior to dropping.
General Observation
Material shrinks away from ignition source and melts rather than burns. Spread of melt is not evident. Only areas affected are those which have been placed in the direct path of ignition source. Material integrity and strength is maintained around burn hole equating to no structural loss in containment strength.
Complete Destruction Testing
Blow Torch Flame was placed mid-level of containment mesh with flame tip approximately 100mm from material. Flame was kept at this distance for 60 seconds moving left and right of starting centre point approximately 60mm in either direction. It self-extinguished immediately after fire source was removed. It shrunk away from flame and melted. Droplet debris had extinguished prior to dropping.