Case Study: Valencia Spain Fire Accident And How ACP Panel Can Be Preventive Measure In Fire Incidents

The recent tragic fire incident in Valencia, Spain, serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of fire safety measures in buildings. On Thursday 22nd February 2024, a fire erupted on the 8th-floor balcony of a 14-storey apartment block in Campanar, resulting in devastating consequences. Investigations point towards an electrical fault in an external balcony awning motor as the initial cause, exacerbated by high winds and flammable cladding material, leading to the rapid spread of flames.

The aftermath of such terrible incidents reflects us on how we can prevent similar tragedies in high-rise constructions in future. At Viva, we understand the imperative need for robust fire safety solutions, which is why our fire-retardant ACP panel stands as a reliable safeguard against such calamities.

Fire doesn’t put a warning before catching, which is why, it is important to be vigilant about it. As the old adage goes “better safe than sorry” it is always better to have preventive measures before to not feel sorry afterwards.

Adding fire retardant panels is one such way to add defence against the spread of fire, significantly reducing the risk of catastrophic events like the one witnessed in Valencia. The fire retardant panels are made of mineral core, which does not catch fire that easily, and even if catches fire it does not emit toxic smoke or have molten droplets that can make the evacuation process much more difficult. The fire retardant panels act as a preventive measure during fire accidents, and they provide valuable time for evacuation and firefighting efforts.

In the event of a fire, every second counts. Fire-retardant panels act as a barrier, preventing flames from rapidly engulfing a building and minimizing damage. By choosing these panels for your construction projects, you prioritize the safety and well-being of occupants, offering them a crucial layer of protection against the devastating consequences of fire outbreaks.

The incident has shed light on the devastating effect of fire, which brings us to the question of how we can ensure the fire retardant panels which are added are safe.

As a leading leader in the industry, we are elevating the standard of safety by every possible way. One of the ways, we are ensuring safety in modern architecture is by bringing high-quality fire reatrding panels. Our panels are not only for resisting fire but retarding the penetration up to a couple of hours. Let’s understand how we ensure the fire retardant panels are safe to use.

Ensure that the fire retardant panels meet relevant industry standards and certifications, such as those set by regulatory bodies like NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) or ASTM International. Look for labels indicating compliance with fire safety codes. At Viva, we bring safety with our range of FR-grade panels, the panels undergo 100+ in-house lab testing and also NFPA 285, EN 13501, ASTM D1929 and ASTM E84 accredited. These accreditations are hallmarks of quality, and ensure the panels can retard flame efficiently.

Other than that, our ACP panels are Thomas Bell Wright International Consultant certified, it is one of the esteemed multi-accredited independent firms that provides certification after numerous lab tests.

Think of it in a way, what will happen if you fire a paper and then fire a metal? Well, paper will catch fire way more easily than any metal does. And the reason is the difference in heating point. This is why, understanding the material involved in manufacturing of ACP sheet is extremely important.

The fire-retardant range of Viva comes in a variety of materials, hence the capability to resist fire differs from one FR class to another. At Viva, our fire retardant range consists of panels which has mineral cores and aluminium corrugated cores. The aluminium corrugated core which does not contain any traces of plastic has the highest fire safety, as it helps in reducing the intensity and speed of flame. These panels can refrain fire penetration for more than 2 hours, and even if fire penetrates, it does not produce toxic gases or molten droplets that can eventually cause a hindrance in the evacuation process.

Next is, the mineral core FR grade panel. In this comes FR Class A2 and FR Class B1. FR Class A2 contains a 90% mineral core made of Magnesium Hydroxide and Aluminium TriHydroxide which are halogen-free and inorganic, and has a 10% LDPE Core, while FR Class B1 has a 70% mineral core, the core contains the same mineral as Class A2, along with that it contains 30% LDPE core.

The combination of these materials makes the panel resistant to flame penetration during fire incidents.

In the wake of tragedies like the one in Valencia, we must prioritise fire safety in building design and construction. Fire not only causes loss of life but also valuable property, and by opting for fire retardant panels you can prevent the prevailing risk in any residential, commercial or industrial construction. Choose fire-retardant panels—because every life saved is a testament to the power of proactive fire safety measures.

Viva ACP is an industry leader when it comes to providing high-quality ACP panels for buildings. With numerous national and international accreditations, we ensure to keep fire accidents at bay. Our unmatched quality and fireproof ACP panels have paved it’s way in the national and international building facades. Use fire-retardant panels in houses, commercial premises, and other civil construction finishing.