Fire safety

 One of the fundamental rules in construction is fire safety, with the priority being the evacuation of people and the preservation of the building. This fire safety depends largely on the construction materials used and the layout of the premises. 

In terms of fire prevention, buildings, particularly industrial and logistics buildings, must adopt constructive measures designed to limit the spread of fire. Compartmentalizing spaces with fire walls is the most effective measure. Complying with European standards (1364-1) relating to fire safety, Cellumat cellular concrete blocks constitute a truly impenetrable barrier to flames. Their physical properties make them one of the most efficient materials for the construction of fire walls. With the best Euroclass (A1), they do not contribute to the spread of fire, do not develop toxic fumes in the event of a fire, and do not deform.

Cellular concrete: an excellent protection against fire

Cellumat cellular concrete belongs to the European class A1 “non-combustible materials”, making it the ideal material for building fire walls. These unique fire-resistant properties result from the closed-cell structure, which limits the spread of fire and the rise in temperature in adjacent rooms. It achieves very good results in terms of both reaction to fire and fire resistance.

Reaction to fire
Non-flammable, Cellumat cellular concrete does not fuel fire or contribute to combustion because It cannot be consumed by fire. It will therefore not emit any toxic fumes., the source of nearly 75% of deaths due to fires.

Fire resistance
In case of fire, Cellumat cellular concrete retains its mechanical resistance (R), its flame-resistance (E) and thermal insulation (I) qualities. Even with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, the structure of the material is not affected. Cellular concrete does not melt or deform. This prevents the risk of flames spreading and prevents the risk of the building collapsing. Furthermore, thanks to its insulating cellular structure, the internal temperature rises less quickly in a cellular concrete wall than in a conventional concrete wall.

No environmental impact

Fire has an environmental impact. It can increase a building's CO14 footprint by 2%, due to carbon emissions from combustion gases. This impact is even more pronounced in HQE buildings, which are constructed using traditional construction methods that use materials with high energy performance but lower fire resistance. 

Cellumat cellular concrete has no negative impact on the environment during a fire because it is non-combustible and produces no smoke. 
In addition, its exceptional thermal properties allow the construction of RT2012/RT2020 and passive walls based on the single-wall principle. This technique, without added insulation, which is a source of flame spread, is safer and can limit widespread fires in the building.

Entirely mineral and 100% recyclable, Cellumat blocks have an exceptionally small ecological footprint. Due to their low weight, their production consumes little raw material and little energy. 

Certified A+, they do not generate dust or particles in the air. 

Furthermore, ISO 1400 certified, Cellumat is committed to improving its manufacturing process to reduce the impact of its activity on the environment.

A tested and approved fire-resistant material

Compliant with the new European regulation (1364-1), Cellumat cellular concrete blocks hold a series of fire test certificates as well as an increased Hydrocarbon test certificate (HCM N°11 DRI 237), which certifies that the material is suitable for use in risky circumstances such as tunnels.

Test 1: load-bearing wall - Cellumat cellular concrete blocks: 
density class MVn450, interlocking, vertical joints not glued
REI: 180 minutes
With such values, the protection of the house against fires is remarkable. 

Test 2: non-load-bearing wall - Cellumat cellular concrete blocks: 
density class MVn450, interlocking, vertical joints not glued
EI: 240 minutes 
These values are exceptional for the installation of large fire walls such as in warehouses.

                                                        BLOCK 60x25xthickness MVn450    
Thickness 25 Thickness 15, 17.5, 20, 24, 25, 30, 36.5, 40 and 50   

Load-bearing wall to take a vertical load      Partition wall   

REI180 Load of 200 kN/ml                                             EI240 (Compliant with DTU20.13 and EC6 Vertical and horizontal stiffener)   

                                                 GIGABLOC 120x60xthickness MVn450

                                    Thickness 15, 17.5, 20, 24, 25, 30, 36.5, 40 and 50

                                                      Partition wall
                                                                 EI240

Definitions of values:
R = stability: period of time during which a building element continues to fulfill its load-bearing function and maintains its stability during a fire.
E = flame resistance: the period of time during which a building element remains impervious to flames, smoke and gases.
I = thermal insulation: the period of time during which the building element limits the temperature on the side not exposed to the fire, such that there is no spontaneous combustion in the non-burning space.

CELLUMAT SOLUTION: GIGABLOC® 

Cellumat's GIGABLOC® is the ideal solution for the construction of fire walls, benefiting from excellent performance in terms of fire resistance:

90' EI from 7 cm thick
120' EI from 10 cm thick
240' EI from 15 cm thick

Specially designed for industrial, commercial and tertiary buildings, it can be installed easily and quickly with a small construction crane. 
The average installation yield is 10m²/h.

Cellumat develops and manufactures innovative cellular concrete and calcium silicate materials for construction and exterior design. Cellumat's ultramodern plant, located in Valenciennes, incorporates the latest technologies. Its annual production capacity of 250 m³ and permanent stock of 000 m³ allow it to respond flexibly to all market demands.