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THATCH FIRE PREVENTION
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Reducing the Fire Risk |
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There are a lot of fire safety products for thatch on the market, some are specialised products designed with thatch in mind, others are building products used on thatched properties. You need to asses your individual property and its risks and then make an informed choice on how you reduce those risks. Use common sense and take precautions.
Read the Thatch Advice Centre Fire Safety Leaflet as a starting point and then look at products to reduce the risk. Fire Sprays are applied to help prevent a fire starting. Fire barriers and alarms are protection and notification for when a fire has started. Obviously, we want to reduce the risk of a fire starting in the first place. If a fire has started you can have an alarm and in some cases suppress the fire until the fire service arrive. Certain insurers offer premium reductions and in some cases product discounts for customers.
Remember, thatch is not more likely to catch fire than other properties it is just harder to put out and makes more mess if it does. Thatch Fire prevention is the best course of action.
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Fire retardant sprays
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These are sprayed on the outside of the completed thatch, give protection from embers and sparks from chimney, bonfire and fireworks. They may also be sprayed on the internal surface of thatch. Be aware of recent information on potential health problems with Borate based products.
We recommend Magma Firestop fire retardant spray which is non Borate based, environmentally friendly, proven throughout Europe and is applied by certified personnel so that Treatment Certificates can be issued.
Re-application is required generally every 5 - 7 years due to the natural degradation of the thatch.
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Fire Barriers |
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There are various barriers available which all achieve different things due to their individual composition eg what they are made of. The aim is to provide protection over the rafters and underneath the thatch. This means that they can only be applied to a new roof or one that has been stripped down to timbers.
Solid boards
These are general building products used on thatched buildings. Solid boards are one way to meet the B4 building regulation of 'rafters being overdrawn with a minimum 1/2 hour fire resistant barrier'. A fire barrier must have both insulation and integrity to meet this fire resistant criteria.
The Dorset Model advocate use of a solid fire board (which may require additional insulation depending on your requirements). Be aware that these boards do not allow the thatch to breathe. Previously the regulations stipulated use of counter battens in order to allow air flow and now they don't. Presumably this is either because counter battens create a potential chimney effect if the roof does catch fire or because of the potential for dew points which could make the thatch damp on the inside - neither of which are preferable.
These boards are heavy and quite tricky to fit. It is easier on a new roof which is straight. Intumescent mastic it recommended on the joints. They generally give a 1 hour barrier.
Flexible barriers
There is a flexible, insulating 1/2 hour fire resistant barrier which meets the building regulations (has LABC System approval) and is also tested as micro-porous so is the most breathable fire barrier on the market to date. This was designed specifically for thatch.
THATCH-SAFE fire barrier has LABC Building approval (meeting the 1/2 hour fire resistant barrier criteria).
LABC Certification gives national approval as a system therefore this system must be allowed as an alternative to the Dorset Model in meeting the Building Regulations. It is 20mm thick, light and easy to fit, especially on non standard roofs or those with eyebrow windows, valleys etc.
There is a difference between the insulated fire barrier above and thinner 'material like' barriers (which hold back flames but not the heat). A simple test is to put your hand one side and the flame from a cigarette lighter the other. It is important to be aware that these material type barriers would require additional insulation over the rafters to really protect from fire and also are a non breathable membrane. Consider again the need for roofs to breathe.
Please be aware of thin barriers with no insulation not meeting Building Regulations - we have had homeowners in trouble with Building Inspectors where a thin barrier is applied, then the thatch and then they find out it is not approved. These are costly mistakes.
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Fire Systems and Monitors |
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Having the correct flue, swept chimney and burning good quality materials is an important first step. A warning sytem for when the heat is getting too high (thatch chars around 200 degrees) is important.
Joint Alarm and Fire Suppression systems
THATCH-SAFE Attix. This system is an alarm and fire suppressant system in one, designed to have a linear heat sensor around the chimney and at all risk areas in the roof eg ridge line, eaves etc. If activated it also sets off the fire suppressant (which is not water based) in the loft space. If not activated the system is understood to have a 20 year life.
Sprinkler systems - Systems which create a mist are now being looked at for thatched properties as ways to help in the event of a fire. Watch this space for more information.
Alarms and chimney monitors
There are several systems which offer heat warnings around the chimney area or with probes into the thatch around the chimney. There are also heat monitors for use with Woodburners, and systems to check flue temperatures.
There are a few alarms with a probe or heat sensor around the chimney area to give notification when heat is becoming critical.
If you need any more information, please contact us.
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