As the technical requirements of building envelopes have evolved, fire performance has become a key criterion in the design of ventilated facades. Given this situation, analyses no longer focus solely on the individual reaction of materials, but also on the joint response of the entire building envelope under possible scenarios of external fire propagation.
In line with this approach, in 2019, FAVEKER-Gres Aragón developed a tiled ventilated facade system and voluntarily tested it using an international full-scale fire propagation test method based on the NFPA 285 standard, with the aim of evaluating the global performance of the assemblies against vertical and lateral fire propagation, staying ahead of the building requirements of various countries.
This test method provides a combined analysis of the reaction of the extruded tiles, mechanical anchorage system, metal substructure, rockwool insulation, and the components used to compartmentalize the air cavity. The certificate was issued by Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants (Dubai), an ISO/IEC 17065 accredited body.
Fire Performance as a Property of the Entire System
In a ventilated facade, fire safety depends not only on the individual reactions of each material but also on the joint interaction of all the components of the building envelope: the tile cladding, mechanical anchorage system, substructure, insulation, cavity barriers, and the geometry of the air cavity.
The cavity itself can give rise to certain dynamics, tied to air circulation and possible vertical fire spread. That is why, in the case of this kind of building envelope, the evaluation of the whole system is particularly important, since an analysis of the individual performance of each component does not provide insight into the system's actual joint fire response.
In Europe, SBI (Single Burning Item) tests can be used to assess the individual contribution of materials or components to fire growth. However, in complex systems such as ventilated facades, increasing priority is being given to analyzing the global performance of their assemblies, particularly regarding external fire propagation through the air cavity.
FAVEKER-Gres Aragón's approach is inspired by this global vision of systems, in which the materials, fastenings, compartmentalization, and performance of the air cavity are all designed in a coordinated manner.
Extruded Ceramic Tiles and Non-Combustible Materials
FAVEKER-Gres Aragón's ventilated facades are based on the use of extruded vitrified porcelain tiles, a mineral-based material rated A1 in accordance with the UNE-EN 13501-1 standard: the highest European fire rating given to non-combustible materials.
Not only do extruded porcelain tiles (fired at a high temperature of 1200 ºC) not contribute to the development of fire or to the building's fire load, but they also stand out for their dimensional stability, low water absorption, and high durability–qualities that are particularly important in ventilated facades exposed to changing environmental conditions.
Thanks to extruded manufacturing systems, tiles with optimized shapes and cross-sections can be developed and adapted to the specific needs of individual architectural projects, integrating technical performance and architectural definition within the same building envelope.
Compartmentalization and Control of the Chimney Effect
FAVEKER-Gres Aragón's ventilated facade systems integrate specific solutions to control the air cavity and compartmentalize the system in the event of a fire. These features include intumescent barriers that expand when exposed to heat, sealing off the air cavity, and limiting airflow to prevent vertical fire propagation due to the chimney effect.
Normally, these barriers remain open to ensure the hydrothermal performance characteristics of ventilated facades, as well as the continuous ventilation of the air cavity. These solutions are combined with mineral rockwool insulation and mechanical anchorage systems designed to guarantee stability, control of the building system, and its technical consistency.
With this integrated approach, ventilated facades are no longer regarded as a combination of individual components but as a coordinated building system in which materials, passive safety, hydrothermal performance, and technical coherence all form part of the same architectural solution.
