Cooperation in CLT fire testing to meet B-s1, d0 fire classification

Nordtreat has tested and classified CLT fire protection treatment in accordance with European class B-s1, d0 in close cooperation with Hoisko CLT. The aim of the partnership is to ensure that only reliably fire-protected and at the same time M1-class CLT elements are used in the growing wood construction market.

Hoisko CLT, Housing Fair Tuusula 2020

TESTED FIRE-TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FIRE-PROTECTED CLT

Nordtreat and Hoisko CLT wanted to find a solution to the aforementioned problem of reliable fire protection verification. The partners share the view that due to cost or for other reasons, fire protection treatment whose compliance cannot be verified should not be approved in CLT construction. For this reason, it was decided to test and certify fire protection for CLT structures at the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Institute (MeKA) in Latvia.

For the testing, several angles were built from 90-mm thick CLT panels manufactured from spruce by Hoisko CLT. These were fire-retested by applying a total of 350 g/m² NT DECO fire retardant. The fire resistance of the structure was tested in standardised tests (e.g. SBI) and found to be compliant with the European class B-s1, d0.

Manufacture of CLT elements, Hoisko CLT

INCREASED DEMAND FOR CERTIFIED FIRE-PROTECTED CLT

Demand for strong and stable CLT elements is growing rapidly. Sales manager Jukka Matti-Tuuri of Hoisko CLT, Finland’s largest CLT manufacturer, says that the company’s production volume is now growing rapidly: 

“We are happy to help structural designers implement the most functional and cost-effective CLT solutions. The optimal use of the product is not yet known to all designers.”

The strong demand results in particular from the desire of municipalities to invest in carbon-neutral construction in building new daycare centres, schools and care sector facilities. However, CLT is also ideal for residential construction, as a load-bearing and single-material structure for sustainable detached houses, terraced houses and blocks of flats.

At present, the need for fire protection of CLT applies in particular to interior cladding, i.e. surfaces visible on walls, ceilings and floors made of CLT. In those cases, the structure has either a 100 mm thick CLT element on the inside and behind it an insulation layer or, more commonly, a thicker (200–240 mm) CLT structure that is also suitable as it is as a load-bearing wall structure.

When the treatment of CLT with NT DECO is carried out in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions for testing, the result is:

• • Fire protection according to European class B-s1, d0 (EN 13501-1)
  • Environmentally friendly fire protection (the fire retardant does not contain generally harmful substances such as boric acid, boron, bromides, formaldehyde or ammonia)
  • The best M1 emission class for building materials with fire-retardant material (research-proven clean air quality)
  • The natural wood patterns of CLT show through in the desired translucent shade (thousands of colour options)
  • Cost-effective treatment (one product, no separate primers or surface paints)

In addition, when using NT DECO the inherent breathability of the solid wood structure is maintained.

HOISKO CLT PRODUCTS ARE FIRE-PROTECTED UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS

Hoisko fire protects its CLT elements according to Nordtreat’s certified treatment method. Because CLT elements are quite large and the volumes are increasing, the treatment is also carried out by a Nordtreat-trained party if necessary.

“Fire-retardant CLT elements supplied by Hoisko meet the requirements of European class B-s1, d0. The processing is always documented, and the customer receives a certificate of certified processing.”

Jukka Matti-Tuuri, CLT Finland Oy

In Hoisko’s CLT projects, CLT fire protection is always carried out under controlled conditions, i.e. in halls where indoor air humidity, temperature and other conditions are optimal for the absorption of the fire retardant.