Can UHPC Curtain Wall Panels Achieve a Class A Fire Rating?

As an inorganic material, UHPC curtain wall panels have combustion performance that fully meets the highest standard of Class A (A1) non-combustible materials—an inherent characteristic determined by their composition (cement, quartz sand, steel fibers, etc. are all non-combustible). All UHPC products produced by Qinglong Group have passed testing by the National Center for Quality Supervision and Testing of Fixed Fire Extinguishing Systems and Fire-Resistant Building Components, obtaining A1 Class non-combustible material test reports. However, the overall fire performance of the curtain wall must also take into account its "fire integrity" as a building exterior wall system, i.e., its ability to prevent flame penetration over a given period of time. Through reasonable construction design (such as increasing panel thickness and installing inter-story fire stops), UHPC curtain wall systems can achieve a fire resistance rating of over 1 hour, meeting the fire protection requirements for building exterior walls in the Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings (GB 50016). UHPC is a high-performance material that combines aesthetics with fire safety.

Non-Combustibility Is an Inherent Advantage of the Material

UHPC does not burn or release toxic smoke at high temperatures, providing valuable time for personnel evacuation. This stands in sharp contrast to many organic decorative panels and is a major advantage for its use in high-rise buildings and densely occupied places.

System Fire Integrity Is Achieved Through Construction Details

The fire resistance of a single UHPC panel is related to its thickness; a 20mm thick panel offers approximately 0.5 hours. By increasing the panel thickness to 25-30mm, or adding a fire-resistant backing board (such as rock wool board) to its rear side, the system fire resistance can be raised to 1 hour or even 1.5 hours.

Fire Stopping Is Key to System Fire Protection

At each floor level, continuous fire stopping (such as fire-resistant rock wool) must be installed in the cavity between the UHPC panels and the structure, with the thickness and density determined through calculation, to prevent flames and high-temperature smoke from spreading upward through the cavity.

Choosing a UHPC curtain wall means choosing peace of mind in fire protection. Qinglong Group provides a complete fire protection solution, from material certification to system construction.