What Are the Core Technical Indicators of Fire-Rated GRC Decorative Panels?

The core technical specifications of fire-resistant GRC decorative panels are the key quantitative basis for measuring whether they can safeguard building safety in a fire; these specifications together form a complete evaluation system for the material's fire performance. As the Qinglong Group, with 28 years of GRC R&D and engineering practice experience, we have systematically summarized the core technical specifications of fire-resistant GRC into four major dimensions—"combustion performance class, fire resistance rating, strength retention at high temperatures, and toxicity of combustion products"—in accordance with national standards and based on extensive experimental data. In major projects such as the Shenzhen Pingshan High-tech Zone Comprehensive Service Center (a Luban Award project), our Class A1 fire-resistant GRC panels successfully passed rigorous fire inspection and acceptance, providing reliable safety assurance for densely populated venues.

Combustion performance class is the qualifying specification for fire-resistant GRC. According to the national standard "Classification of Burning Behavior of Building Materials and Products" (GB 8624), GRC products are generally required to reach Class A1 or A2 within Class A (non-combustible materials). Class A1 is the highest grade, requiring an average furnace temperature rise of no more than 50°C, a sustained flaming time of 0s, and a mass loss rate of ≤50%. Qinglong fire-resistant GRC uses specially formulated low-alkali sulphoaluminate cement, selected aggregates, and heat-resistant glass fibre; all ex-factory products are provided with a Class A1 test report issued by a national authoritative testing institution, ensuring that the material itself does not ignite or spread flame.

Fire resistance rating is the time-based specification for evaluating how long GRC can continue to function as a building component in a fire. For GRC wall panels, roofing, and other elements that need to form fire compartments or load-bearing structures, the fire resistance rating (including integrity and thermal insulation) must meet design requirements, typically 1–3 hours. Qinglong has significantly enhanced the fire performance of its components by optimizing panel thickness, adding internal reinforcement layers (such as inorganic insulation cores), and using special high-temperature fibres. In standard fire resistance tests, our GRC fire-rated panels effectively prevent flames and high-temperature smoke from penetrating, and keep the average temperature rise on the unexposed face below 140°C within the specified time.

Mechanical property retention at high temperatures is critical to ensuring that GRC components do not collapse in a fire. The strength of ordinary materials drops sharply at high temperatures. Through a special formulation design, Qinglong fire-resistant GRC retains a flexural strength of more than 50% after one hour at 800°C, far superior to conventional GRC products. This is attributable to the heat-resistant glass fibre we use (zirconium content ≥16%) and special aggregates that remain dimensionally stable at high temperatures, ensuring the structural stability of the material in a fire.

Toxicity of combustion products is an important safety specification concerning the safe evacuation of occupants. High-quality fire-resistant GRC should release no, or only extremely low concentrations of, toxic smoke when burning or decomposing at high temperatures. The raw materials of Qinglong GRC are rigorously selected to ensure that its smoke toxicity grade reaches quasi-safe level 1 (ZA1), buying precious time for occupant evacuation in a fire. In summary, a complete set of technical specifications for fire-resistant GRC is the scientific cornerstone of its safe application in high-end public buildings.