PVC Coated Fabric | Fire Performance of Different Tensile Membranes Fabric
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- May 12,2022
To compare the fire performance of different membranes, we have looked at the four main categories of tensile membrane materials. Within these tensile membrane categories, there is a huge range of different products from many manufacturers. Listed in the table below are some example results that show a typical material fire-testing performance for each main tensile membrane type. This can be used to determine appropriate material types for your projects.
The various membranes MakMax Australia works with will almost always have been subjected to Australian and International fire testing standards by the manufacturer. As a general guide, PTFE coated glass fibre membranes provide the best fire hazard properties, followed by ETFE foil, PVC polyester fabrics and finally woven HDPE shade cloth.
This is a guide only and within each product category, there will be a range of different results and performance outcomes.
| Membrane Type | HDPE | PVC | ETFE | PTFE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example Brand | Gale Pacific Commercial Heavy 430 | Mehler FR900N | AGC Fluon 200micron | Chuckoh FGT600 |
| Expected Lifespan | 10+ years | 20+ years | 40+ years | 50+ years |
| Fire Performance Indices | ||||
| Duration of Sustained Flaming¹ | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 |
| Flammability index²: | 21 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
| Spread of Flame Index³: | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Heat Evolved Index³: | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ignitability Index³: | 13 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Smoke Developed Index³: | 7 | 8 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Observations | Visible smoke, melting, flaming debris. | Visible smoke and melting. Will not propagate flame spread. | Self-expiring drops (will melt away from fire source but do not drip). Self-extinguishing immediately when the fire source is gone. | Will not propagate flame spread. |
| Recommendation | Usually not suitable for fire escape routes or adjoining buildings. | May be suitable for connecting to existing buildings, but usually not suitable for Type-A constructions or fire escape routes. | Often accepted for Type-A construction with performance solution from fire engineer, sometimes sprinkled and usually as an externally facing element. | Usually accepted for Type-A construction with a performance solution from a fire engineer. |
| ¹ AS 1530.1 Methods for Fire Tests on Building Materials, Components, and Structures. Part 1: Combustibility test for materials. ² AS 1530.2 Methods for Fire Tests on Building Materials, Components, and Structures. Part 2: Test for Flammability of Materials. ³ AS 1530.2 Methods for Fire Tests on Building Materials, Components and Structures Part 3: Simultaneous Determination of Ignitability, Flame Propagation, Heat Release and Smoke Release. | ||||
A Note on Non-Combustibility
Prior to the 2019 BCA, PTFE-coated glass fiber tension membrane materials were generally deemed non-combustible as the code permitted composite materials to be classified as non-combustible, providing the structural elements passed AS 1530.1 and any coatings were sufficiently thin. The glass fiber woven structural base cloth within PTFE fabric is non-combustible to AS 1530.1, but the PTFE coating is not, and the change in wording in the 2019 BCA is generally interpreted by certifiers and fire engineers to now not allow this material to be considered non-combustible.
Where non-combustible construction is required, a deemed to satisfy pathway is usually difficult to achieve, and PTFE-coated glass fiber membranes will normally need a performance solution to be used. Generally, in our experience, fire engineers and certifiers are familiar with PTFE-coated glass fiber membranes and based on the testing values to AS 1530 parts 1, 2, and 3 are usually happy to support a performance solution. PVC-coated fabrics have on occasion been given performance solutions that have allowed their use in areas requiring non-combustible construction, however, this is rare as the fire performance of PVC materials is inferior to PTFE-coated glass fiber membranes.