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CombustibleComponentsinExteriorWalls
y BarryThorson,P.Eng.,C.P.,FECy B.R.ThorsonConsultingLtdy
CertifiedProfessional since1981y Chair
APEGBCBuildingCodesCommittee19992005y CoChair
BuildingPolicyAdvisoryCommittee20032009y
BCBCInterpretationCommittee 19992011
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CombustibleComponentsinExteriorWallsy CurrentRequirements
3.1.5.5.,3.1.5.12.,3.2.3.8.y HistoryofCodeDevelopmenty
BCBuildingCodeInterpretationCommittee 980012y AppealBoardRuling
BCAB#1682yWhatNext?
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CurrentRequirementsy 3.1.5.5.
tolimitflamespreaduptheverticalexteriorsurfaceofabuildingfromafirewithinthebuildingwhichblowsouttheexteriorwindowopeningsy
3.1.5.12.
toprotecttheinteriorofabuildingfromafirehazardcausedbycombustibleinsulation,includingfoamedplasticinsulationy
3.2.3.8.
toprotecttheexteriorbuildingfacetolimitthespreadoffirefromaninsidefiretoanadjacentbuilding,andtolimitthepotentialforfirespreadfromanoutsidefirefromanadjacentbuilding
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BrickVeneer NotTested
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TestedAssembly
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Article3.1.5.5.y
OnlyappliestobuildingsthatarerequiredtobenoncombustibleconstructionasdeterminedbySubsection3.2.2.y
Onlyappliestononloadbearingexteriorwallsy
Appliestounsprinkleredbuildingsnotmorethan3storeysinbuildingheighty
Appliestosprinkleredbuildingsofanyheighty
CannotbeusedwhenspatialseparationrequirementsofSubsection3.2.3.restricttheareaofunprotectedopeningstolessthan10%
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Article3.1.5.5.Whatdoesitsay?y
IfArticle3.1.5.5.isreadinisolationasastandalonerequirement,hereiswhatitsays:y
Ifanexteriornonloadbearingwallinabuildingthatisrequiredtobenoncombustibleconstructioncontainsanycombustiblecomponentslocatedanywherewithinthewallassembly
thenthewallmustbetestedtoCAN/ULCS134(fullscalefiretest)
yWOW!!!!!
- Article3.1.5.1.WhatisNoncombustible?y
DefinedinArticle1.1.4.2.ofDivisionAasmeetingtheacceptancecriteriaofCAN4S114
DeterminationofNonCombustibilityinBuildingMaterialsy
AsperSentence3.1.5.1.(2)othermaterialsarepermittedtobeusedinanoncombustiblebuildingwhentestedinaccordancewithULCS135andmeetsvariouscriterianotethesematerialsarecombustibley
AsperSentence3.1.5.11.(1)gypsumboardcanbeusedinanoncombustiblebuildingwhenpaperlayerisnotmorethan1mmthickandFSR
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CAN4S114WhatisNoncombustible?y
3samplesareputinasmallfurnaceat750degreesCfor15minutesy
Thematerialmustnotburnafter30secondsy
Thematerialmustnotlosemorethan20%ofitsmassy
Thematerialmustnotexceedatemperatureriseofmorethat36degreesChigherthanthemeantemperatureofthefurnace
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Article3.1.5.5.Whatcouldthismean?y
Article3.1.5.5.doesnotexplicitlyexempttheusualcombustiblecomponentsthatarelistedinArticle3.1.5.2.orSentences3.1.5.1.(2)and3.1.5.11.(1)y
Paint,masticsandcaulking,includingfoamedplasticairsealants,adhesives,vapourbarriers,sheathingpapers
y If3.1.5.5.isreadinisolation
Exteriornonloadingbearingwallsthatcontain6milpolyvapourbarrier,orpeel&stickmembranes,orgypsumboard,orfiberglassinsulationwouldhavetobetestedtoCAN/ULCS134
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OtherCombustibleMaterialsPermittedinNoncombustibleBuildingsy
3.1.5.2. Minorcombustiblecomponentsy 3.1.5.6. Nailingelementsy
3.1.5.10. Combustibleinteriorfinishesy 3.1.5.11. Gypsumboardy
3.1.5.15. Combustibleductsy 3.1.5.16. Combustiblepipingy 3.1.5.18.
Combustiblewiringy 3.1.5.21. DecorativeWoodCladding
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Article3.1.5.5.Historyy
Article3.1.5.5.wasoriginallyintroducedinthe1990NBCCentitledCombustibleCladdingy
ItpermittedtheuseofcombustiblecladdingonnonloadbearingexteriorwallsinnoncombustiblebuildingswhentestedtoCAN/ULCS134y
ThewordingofArticle3.1.5.5.wasamendedinthe1995NBCCtoreadCombustibleComponentsforExteriorWallsy
TheAppendixNoteA3.1.5.5.inthe1995NBCCwasstillentitledCombustibleCladding
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Article3.1.5.5.Historyy
TheoriginalintentofArticle3.1.5.5.wastopermitcombustiblecladding,includingEIFS,onnonloadbearingexteriorwallsinnoncombustiblebuildingsifthecladdingsystemistestedtoCAN/ULCS134y
Thechangeinwordinginthe1995NBCCwasnotincludedinthelistofproposedchangestothe1990NBCCy
Thischangeofwordinghascausedagreatdealofaggravationsince1995
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Article3.1.5.5.LoadBearingWallsy
Article3.1.5.5.doesnotapplytoloadbearingwallsy
TheuseofcombustibleinsulationinexteriorloadbearingwallsisregulatedbySentence3.1.5.12.(3)
i.e.athermalbarrierisrequiredontheinsidefacey
Theuseoffoamedplasticinsulationintheexteriorwallofanybuildingmorethan3storeysinbuildingheightisregulatedbyArticle3.2.3.8.
theoutsidefaceisprotectedwith25mmonconcreteormasonry,oranothernoncombustiblematerialthatmeetscertaincriteriawhentestedtoCAN/ULCS101.
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Article3.1.5.5.SpatialSeparationWallsyWhenSubsection3.2.3.restrictstheareaofunprotectedopeningstolessthan10%,theexteriorwallisrequiredtobenoncombustibleconstructionwithnoncombustiblecladding.y
Article3.1.5.5.cannotbeusedforsuchwalls.y
Theoriginalintentwastoprecludetheuseofanycombustiblecladdingonwallsclosetothepropertyline,evenwhensuchwallscomplywithCAN/ULCS134.
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Article3.1.5.5.OntarioBuildingCodey
TheOntarioBuildingCodeamendedthe2005NBCCtosaythatifanexteriorwallcomplieswithArticle3.2.3.8.,thenitisdeemedtoalsocomplywithArticle3.1.5.5.y
AlthoughmanyAHJsagreewiththisconcept,theNBCCandBCBCdonotexplicitlystatethis.
- Sentence3.1.5.12.(3)Protectstheinsidefaceonlyy
Firesoriginatinginsidethebuildingy
AppliestobothcombustibleinsulationandfoamedplasticinsulationwithFSR>25and
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Article3.2.3.8.SpatialSeparationsy
Protectionofexteriorbuildingfaceonlyy
DoesnotaddressprotectionoftheinteriorfaceyOnlyapplieswhentheexteriorwallcontainsfoamedplasticinsulationy
Tolimitfirespreadfromafirethatoriginatesinsidethebuildingtoaneighbouringbuildingonanadjacentpropertyy
Tolimitfirespreadfromafirethatoriginatesinaneighbouringbuildingtotheexteriorbuildingfaceofthebuildingonourproperty
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Article3.2.3.8.ProtectionofExteriorBuildingFacey
Onlyappliestobuildings>3storeysy 25mmconcreteormasonry,ory
NoncombustiblematerialthatmeetscertaincriteriawhentestedtoCAN/ULCS101y
Ifanexteriorwallmeets3.1.5.5.thenitisdeemedtoalsomeet3.2.3.8.
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History3.1.5.5. 3.1.5.12. 3.2.3.8.
1977NBCC no yes no1980NBCC no yes yes1985NBCC no yes yes
1990NBCC yes yes yescombustiblecladding
1995NBCC yes yes yescombustiblecomponents
2005NBCC yes yes yescombustiblecomponents
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History3.1.5.5. 3.1.5.12. 3.2.3.8.
1985BCBC no yes yes
1992BCBC yes yes yescombustiblecladding
1998BCBC yes yes yescombustiblecomponents
2006BCBC yes yes yescombustiblecomponents
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BCBCInterpretationCommittee980012y Question
DoesArticle3.1.5.5.applytotheentireexteriornonloadbearingwallassembly?y
Answer yes
theentirewallassemblymustbetestedbecausetheperformanceofsomeexteriorcladdingsystemsmaydependonthewallassemblytowhichtheyareattached
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BCBCInterpretationCommittee980012y Question
IftheexteriornonloadbearingwallassemblycontainscombustiblecomponentsthatareotherwisepermittedbySubsection3.1.5.,isthewallassemblyrequiredtocomplywithArticle3.1.5.5.y
Answer No
theCommitteeconsideredthatArticle3.1.5.5.wasoneofmanyoptionsavailabletodesignerstousecombustiblecomponentsinexteriorwalls.y
Problem
thispreviousinterpretationisbeingreviewedbytheCommitteeinresponsetoBCAB#1682since3.1.5.5.and3.1.5.12.dealwithdifferentfirescenarios.
- BuildingCodeAppealBoardBCAB#1682 ExteriorWally
SheetsteelcladdingyWeatherbarrier(airgap)y
Foamedplasticinsulation(25
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BCAB#1682AppellantsPositiony
ThewallassemblycomplieswithSentence3.1.5.12.(3)y
Since3.1.5.12.(3)permitstheuseofcombustibleinsulation,includingfoamedplasticinsulation,thereisnoneedtoalsocomplywithArticle3.1.5.5.y
ThescopeofArticle3.1.5.5.islimitedtocombustiblecladdingasindicatedbythetitleofAppendixNoteA3.1.5.5.y
ThisinterpretationisconsistentwithBCIC980012
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BCAB#1682BuildingOfficialsPositiony
Article3.1.5.5.doesnotincludeanyexemptionsforArticles3.1.5.2.(minorcombustiblecontent),3.1.5.11.(gypsumboard)or3.1.5.12.(combustibleinsulation)y
Article3.1.5.5.isastandalonerequirementthatmustbemetinadditiontoalloftheotherprovisionsofSubsection3.1.5.
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BCAB#1682RulingoftheBoardy
BothArticles3.1.5.5.and3.1.5.12.applytotheuseofcombustibleinsulationinexteriornonloadbearingwallsinabuildingthatisrequiredtobenoncombustibleconstructiony
SinceArticle3.1.5.12.onlyprovidesthermalprotectionontheinsideface,itdoesnotaddressthespreadoffireontheexteriorfaceofthebuilding
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BrickVeneer NotTested
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TestedAssembly
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WhatNext?yWeneedacodechangetotheNBCC,BCBCandVBBLy
Article3.1.5.5.shouldgobacktotheoriginalintentindealingwithcombustiblecladdingratherthancombustiblecomponentswithintheentirewallassemblyy
IfyoucomplywithArticle3.2.3.8.,youneednotcomplywithArticle3.1.5.5.y
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.and3.1.5.21.shouldbepermittedinexteriorwalls
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Questions?
Combustible Components in Exterior WallsCombustible Components
in Exterior WallsCurrent RequirementsBrick Veneer Not TestedTested
AssemblyArticle 3.1.5.5.Article 3.1.5.5.What does it say?Article
3.1.5.1.What is Non-combustible?CAN4-S114What is
Non-combustible?Article 3.1.5.5. What could this mean?Other
Combustible MaterialsPermitted in Noncombustible BuildingsArticle
3.1.5.5.HistoryArticle 3.1.5.5.HistoryArticle 3.1.5.5.Load Bearing
WallsArticle 3.1.5.5.Spatial Separation WallsArticle
3.1.5.5.Ontario Building CodeSentence 3.1.5.12.(3)Protects the
inside face onlyArticle 3.2.3.8.Spatial SeparationsArticle
3.2.3.8.Protection of Exterior Building FaceHistoryHistoryBCBC
Interpretation Committee98-0012BCBC Interpretation
Committee98-0012Building Code Appeal BoardBCAB #1682 Exterior
WallBCAB #1682Appellants PositionBCAB #1682Building Officials
PositionBCAB #1682Ruling of the BoardBrick Veneer Not TestedTested
AssemblyWhat Next?Questions?