Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
Contents
Introduction to Isover
2
Why Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers?
3
What is ULTIMATE™ technology?
4
Fire regulations
5
Acoustic regulations
6
Thermal regulations
7
Isover solutions
9
Isover products
16
Introduction to Isover
At Isover we focus on your building environment.
Whether it’s a school, hospital, warehouse, factory,
office or home, we have the insulation solutions to
ensure that your environment is thermally
protected, has minimal noise disruption and is safe.
This is where mineral wool offers benefits that
other materials simply cannot achieve – and
where Isover excels. Our products are designed to
deliver you the best possible value
combination for your environment:
4
high thermal performance
4
excellent acoustic performance
4
fire safety
4
good indoor air quality
Isover leads the way in terms of performance
criteria in each of these critical areas. Mineral
wool is the best value insulation material and our
products are “best for buildings”.
2
www.isover.co.uk Isover Technical Advice – Tel: 0115 945 1143
Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
Why Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers?
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers are multi-purpose insulation products providing fire,
acoustic and thermal performance in concealed wall cavities. Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity
Barriers conform to building regulation definitions of a cavity barrier, cavity stop, flexible
closer and effective edge sealing.
“Protect your most precious resources and provide a safer building environment.”
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers provide up to 120 minutes fire protection in
concealed cavities to help meet requirements of Approved Document B Fire
Building Regulations (England & Wales) and Section 2 (Scotland).
“Minimise noise disruption and provide a peaceful environment.”
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers minimise flanking sound transmission along the
wall cavity to help meet requirements of Approved Document E Acoustic Building
Regulations (England & Wales) and Section 5 (Scotland).
“Thermal solutions to meet and exceed even the most demanding of
requirements.”
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers reduce the thermal bypass effect by providing
edge-sealing to the separating cavity wall at external wall and roof junctions.
"Protect your most precious
resources and provide a safer
building environment"
Isover Technical Advice: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com www.isover.co.uk
3
What is ULTIMATE™ Technology
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers incorporate groundbreaking new
mineral wool insulation that helps take fire safety in buildings to a
new level. Developed by insulation world leader Isover, ULTIMATE™
uses breakthrough technology that combines the handling and
performance benefits of glass wool with the outstanding fire
resistance of stone wool. ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers are lighter
and easier to fit, whilst offering the demanding fire performance
standards required for concealed cavities in all types and heights
of building.
Durable and lightweight, Isover
ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers are flexible
for ease of fitting and offer the
compressive qualities and integrity
demanded to provide a permanent,
stable and effective barrier within
the cavity. They not only prevent the
passage of fire and smoke but have
much higher sound absorption than
traditional products to reduce flanking
sound transmission, improving both
safety and comfort for building users.
4
www.isover.co.uk Isover Technical Advice – Tel: 0115 945 1143
Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
Fire Regulations
Approved Document B - Fire Safety (England and Wales)
The latest changes to fire regulations in the UK came
into effect on 6th April 2007 and have now been
split into two volumes:
•
Approved Document B – Volume 1 Dwellinghouses
•
Approved Document B – Volume 2 Buildings Other Than Dwellinghouses
Concealed spaces (cavities)
The areas relating to concealed cavities in these
volumes are in Section 6 of Volume 1 and Section 9
of Volume 2. Paragraph 6.1 of Volume 1 states
‘concealed spaces or cavities in the construction of a
building provide a ready route for smoke and flame
spread e.g. in walls, floors, ceilings and roofs. As any
spread is concealed, it presents a greater danger
than would a more obvious weakness in the fabric
of the building.’
Provision for cavity barriers
Approved Document B provides a number of provisions to help prevent the spread of smoke and flames
in concealed cavities. Both documents state ‘the provisions necessary to restrict the spread of smoke and
flames through cavities are broadly for the purpose of sub-dividing cavities, which could otherwise form
a pathway around a fire separating element, and closing the edges of cavities; therefore reducing the
potential for unseen fire spread.
Volume 2 also highlights the importance of subdividing extensive cavities in buildings other than
Dwellinghouses. ‘Cavity barriers should be used to sub-divide any cavity, including any roof space, so that
the distance between cavity barriers does not exceed the dimensions given in Table 13 (page 82).’
Performance requirements
Table A1 in Approved Document B states the minimum fire performance of cavity barriers is 30 minutes fire
integrity and 15 minutes fire insulation.
However, cavity barriers installed in line with compartment walls or floors should maintain the fire
performance of the compartment.
Section 2 (Scotland)
Annex 2.A of Section 2 states the minimum fire performance of cavity barriers in horizontal and vertical
applications is 30 minutes fire integrity and no minimum requirement for fire insulation.
As with the guidance given in Approved Document B, cavity barriers installed in line with compartment
walls or floors should maintain the fire performance of the compartment.
Isover Technical Advice: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com www.isover.co.uk
5
Acoustic Regulations
Approved Document E - Fire Safety (England and Wales)
Section 2 – Separating Walls and Associated Flanking Constructions for New Buildings
Section 2 of Approved Document E states ‘in order for the construction to be fully effective, care should be
taken to correctly detail the junctions between the separating wall and other elements, such as floors, roofs,
external walls and internal walls’.
Approved Document E makes recommendations to reduce flanking sound transmission by using cavity stops
or flexible closers in the following details:
•
External and separating cavity wall junctions
•
Ceiling and roof junctions
•
External cavity walls at eaves level
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers meet the generic description for cavity stops or flexible closers. Isover
solutions to each of the three details above can be found in the solutions section on pages 10, 11 and 12.
Section 3 – Separating Floors and Associated Flanking Constructions for New Buildings
Section 3 of Approved Document E states ‘in order for the construction to be fully effective, care should be
taken to correctly detail the junctions between the separating floors and other elements, such as external
walls, separating walls and floor penetrations.’
Approved Document E makes recommendations to reduce flanking sound transmission by using cavity stops
or flexible closers in external wall and separating floor junctions:
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barriers meet the generic description for cavity stops or flexible closers. Isover
solutions to the detail above ULTIMATE™ can be found in the solutions section on page 14.
Section 5 (Scotland)
The importance of flanking sound transmission is highlighted with in Paragraph 5.0.8 of Section 5. It states:
‘If the flanking construction and its connections with the separating structure are not correctly detailed,
flanking transmission can equal, or even exceed, sound levels perceived as a result of direct transmission’.
Recommended detailing can be found within the document ‘Example Constructions and Generic Internal
Constructions’ located on the Building Standards page on the Scottish government website.
6
www.isover.co.uk Isover Technical Advice – Tel: 0115 945 1143
Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
Thermal Regulations
Approved Document L1A 2013 - Thermal requirements
Approved Document L will no longer treat separating cavity walls as a zero heat loss element,
due to a phenomenon known as the 'thermal bypass' or 'party wall bypass' effect.
The heat loss can be reduced by measures that restrict air movement through the cavity,
either by means of fully filling the cavity and/or by providing effective sealing around the
perimeter.
Table 3 - U-values for party walls
Party wall construction U-value (W/m2K)
U-value (W/m2K)
Solid
Unfilled cavity with no effective edge sealing
0.0
Unfilled cavity with effective edge sealing around all exposed edges and in line with insulation layers in abutting elements
0.2
A fully filled cavity with effective sealing at all exposed edges and in line with insulation layers in abutting elements
0.0
0.5
Section 6 (Scotland)
Scottish regulations also recognise that separating walls should no longer be treated as zero heat loss.
Section 6 stipulates the following:
To limit heat loss, a separating wall cavity should have effective perimeter sealing around all exposed edges
and in line with insulation layers in abutting elements which separate the dwelling from another building
or from an unheated space. Further reduction in heat loss can be achieved where the cavity separating wall
is also fully-filled with a material that limits air movement.
Isover Technical Advice: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com www.isover.co.uk
7
Thermal Regulations
Isover ULTMATE™ Cavity Barriers
As highlighted in Approved Document L1A, Table 3, a zero U-value separating wall can be achieved by
attaining the following two elements:
4
Filling of the cavity
4
Effective edge sealing
The purpose of effective edge sealing is to eliminate the possibility of air movement from the separating
cavity to the external environment, or vice versa. Effective edge sealing is required at the external /
separating wall junction and the separating wall and roof junction. These details are highlighted in more
detail on pages 10 and 11.
By fully-filling the external cavity with Isover insulation and tightly
butting the insulation at the separating wall junction, additional
edge sealing will not be required at the external / separating wall
junction. However, an Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier will be
required to achieve effective edge sealing if the external wall is
partially-filled with a rigid foam board.
Roof
Roof
Loft Space
Loft Space
Loft Insulation
1st Floor
Ground Floor
8
The information detailed above is guidance only
and it is up to the designer / specifier to ensure
that they speak with the building control officer
/ NHBC officer to determine the acceptability of
this statement.
Loft Insulation
1st Floor
Ground Floor
www.isover.co.uk Isover Technical Advice – Tel: 0115 945 1143
Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
Isover solutions
1
Separating / external
wall junctions
2
Separating wall /
roof junctions
Page 11
Page 10
3
4
Eaves level
Page 12
5
Separating
floor junctions
Page 14
Isover Technical Advice: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com Internal / external
wall junctions
Page 13
6
Window and
door reveals
Page 15
www.isover.co.uk
9
1 External and separating cavity
wall junction
Suitable for:
4
Masonry
4
Timber
4
Steel
Regulation
Detail compliance
Fire Regulations (Approved Document B and Section 2)
4
Acoustic Regulations (Approved Document E and Section 5)
4
Thermal Regulations (Approved Document L and Section 6)
4
Isover product
10
www.isover.co.uk Fire performance
(mins)
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Party Wall
(300mm wide x 1200mm long)
120
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Storey Height
(300mm wide x 2400mm long)
120
Isover Technical Advice – Tel: 0115 945 1143
Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
2 Separating cavity wall and roof
junction
Suitable for:
4
Masonry
4
Timber
4
Steel
Regulation
Detail compliance
Fire Regulations (Approved Document B and Section 2)
4
Acoustic Regulations (Approved Document E and Section 5)
4
Thermal Regulations (Approved Document L and Section 6)
4
Isover product
Fire performance
(mins)
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Party Wall
(300mm wide x 1200mm long)
120
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Storey Height
(300mm wide x 2400mm long)
120
Isover Technical Advice: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com www.isover.co.uk
11
3 External cavity walls at eaves
level
Suitable for:
4
Masonry
4
Timber
4
Steel
Regulation
Detail compliance
Fire Regulations (Approved Document B and Section 2)
4
Acoustic Regulations (Approved Document E and Section 5)
4
Thermal Regulations (Approved Document L and Section 6)
Isover product
12
www.isover.co.uk Fire performance
(mins)
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 30 minute
(100mm wide x 1200mm long)
30
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 60 minute
(200mm wide x 1200mm long)
60
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Party Wall
(300mm wide x 1200mm long)
120
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Storey Height
(300mm wide x 2400mm long)
120
Isover Technical Advice – Tel: 0115 945 1143
Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
4 External cavity wall and
compartment wall junction
Suitable for:
4
Masonry
4
Timber
4
Steel
Regulation
Detail compliance
Fire Regulations (Approved Document B and Section 2)
4
Acoustic Regulations (Approved Document E and Section 5)
Thermal Regulations (Approved Document L and Section 6)
Isover product
Fire performance
(mins)
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 30 minute
(100mm wide x 1200mm long)
30
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 60 minute
(200mm wide x 1200mm long)
60
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Party Wall
(300mm wide x 1200mm long)
120
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Storey Height
(300mm wide x 2400mm long)
120
Isover Technical Advice: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com www.isover.co.uk
13
5 External cavity wall and
separating floor junction
Suitable for:
4
Masonry
4
Timber
4
Steel
Regulation
Detail compliance
Fire Regulations (Approved Document B and Section 2)
4
Acoustic Regulations (Approved Document E and Section 5)
4
Thermal Regulations (Approved Document L and Section 6)
Isover product
14
www.isover.co.uk Fire performance
(mins)
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 30 minute
(100mm wide x 1200mm long)
30
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 60 minute
(200mm wide x 1200mm long)
60
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Party Wall
(300mm wide x 1200mm long)
120
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Storey Height
(300mm wide x 2400mm long)
120
Isover Technical Advice – Tel: 0115 945 1143
Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
6 Window and door reveals
Suitable for:
4
Masonry
4
Timber
4
Steel
Regulation
Detail compliance
Fire Regulations (Approved Document B and Section 2)
4
Acoustic Regulations (Approved Document E and Section 5)
Thermal Regulations (Approved Document L and Section 6)
Isover product
Fire performance
(mins)
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 30 minute
(100mm wide x 1200mm long)
30
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 60 minute
(200mm wide x 1200mm long)
60
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Party Wall
(300mm wide x 1200mm long)
120
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Storey Height
(300mm wide x 2400mm long)
120
Isover Technical Advice: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com www.isover.co.uk
15
Product - 30 minute barrier
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity
Barrier - 30 minute
An ULTIMATE™ mineral wool cavity barrier providing
a solution to acoustic flanking and standard fire
performance in masonry, timber frame and steel
cavities.
Fire performance: 30 minutes integrity, 15 minutes
insulation
Typical applications: Standard fire protection in the
following details
3External cavity walls at eaves level
3External cavity wall and compartment wall junction
3External cavity wall and separating floor junction
3 Window and door reveals
Fire performance
30 minute fire performance. Provides 30
minutes fire protection in concealed cavities
to help meet the requirements of Part B Fire
Building Regulations (England and Wales) and
Section 2 (Scotland).
Acoustic insulation
Helps to meet the requirements of Approved
Document E Acoustic Building Regulations 2003
(England and Wales) and Section 5 (Scotland)
by minimising flanking sound transmission
along the wall cavity.
Easy to install
• Excellent compression properties, which
allows for the barrier to be easily installed
into cavities without risking damage to
brickwork.
• Colour
coded
packaging
prevents
installation of the incorrect barrier sizes
on-site.
Euroclass A1 fire rating
Totally non-combustible and fire safe.
Protected planet
Environmental credentials:
• Zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP).
• Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less
than 5.
16
Product
Cavity size
(mm)
Width
(mm)
Length
(mm)
Sleeve
colour
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 30 minute
50 - 65
100
1200
Yellow
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 30 minute
66 - 80
100
1200
Blue
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 30 minute
81 - 100
100
1200
White
www.isover.co.uk Isover Technical Advice – Tel: 0115 945 1143
Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
Product - 60 minute barrier
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity
Barrier - 60 minute
An ULTIMATE™ mineral wool cavity barrier providing a
solution to acoustic flanking and high fire performance
in masonry, timber frame and steel cavities.
Fire performance: 60 minutes integrity, 60 minutes
insulation
Typical applications: High fire protection in the following
details
3External cavity walls at eaves level
3External cavity wall and compartment wall junction
3External cavity wall and separating floor junction
3 Window and door reveals
Fire performance
60 minute fire performance. Provides 60
minutes fire protection in concealed cavities
to help meet the requirements of Part B Fire
Building Regulations (England and Wales) and
Section 2 (Scotland).
Acoustic insulation
Helps to meet the requirements of Approved
Document E Acoustic Building Regulations 2003
(England and Wales) and Section 5 (Scotland)
by minimising flanking sound transmission
along the wall cavity.
Easy to install
• Excellent compression properties, which
allows for the barrier to be easily installed
into cavities without risking damage to
brickwork.
• Colour
coded
packaging
prevents
installation of the incorrect barrier sizes
on-site.
Euroclass A1 fire rating
Totally non-combustible and fire safe.
Protected planet
Environmental credentials:
• Zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP).
• Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less
than 5.
Product
Cavity size
(mm)
Width
(mm)
Length
(mm)
Sleeve
colour
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 60 minute
50 - 65
200
1200
Yellow
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 60 minute
66 - 80
200
1200
Blue
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - 60 minute
81 - 100
200
1200
White
Isover Technical Advice: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com www.isover.co.uk
17
Awaiting image
Product - party wall barrier
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity
Barrier - Party Wall
An ULTIMATE™ mineral wool cavity barrier providing
a solution to acoustic flanking, excellent fire
performance in masonry, timber frame and steel
cavities.
Fire performance: 120 minutes integrity, 120
minutes insulation
Typical applications: Excellent fire protection in the
following details
3External and separating cavity wall junction
3External cavity walls at eaves level
3Separating cavity wall and roof junction
3External cavity wall and compartment wall
junction
3External cavity wall and separating floor junction
3Window and door reveals
Fire performance
120 minute fire performance. Provides 120
minutes fire protection in concealed cavities
to help meet the requirements of Part B Fire
Building Regulations (England and Wales) and
Section 2 (Scotland).
18
erm
al insulati
on
Th
Acoustic insulation
Helps to meet the requirements of Approved
Document E Acoustic Building Regulations 2003
(England and Wales) and Section 5 (Scotland)
by minimising flanking sound transmission
along the wall cavity.
Thermal Insulation
Provides effective edge sealing at separating
wall junctions to help towards a zero U-value
separating wall as defined in Approved
Document L1A 2010 (England & Wales) and
Section 6 (Scotland).
Easy to install
• Excellent compression properties, which
allows for the barrier to be easily installed
into cavities without risking damage to
brickwork.
• Colour
coded
packaging
prevents
installation of the incorrect barrier sizes
on-site.
Euroclass A1 fire rating
Totally non-combustible and fire safe.
Protected planet
Environmental credentials:
• Zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP).
• Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less
than 5.
Product
Cavity size
(mm)
Width
(mm)
Length
(mm)
Sleeve
colour
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Party Wall
50 - 65
300
1200
Yellow
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Party Wall
66 - 80
300
1200
Blue
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Party Wall
81 - 100
300
1200
White
www.isover.co.uk Isover Technical Advice – Tel: 0115 945 1143
Isover Solutions Guide
Specifying Cavity Barriers
Product - storey height barrier
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity
Barrier - Storey Height
An ULTIMATE™ mineral wool cavity barrier providing a
solution to acoustic flanking, excellent fire performance
in masonry, timber frame and steel cavities.
Fire performance: 120 minutes integrity, 120 minutes
insulation
Typical applications: Excellent fire protection in the
following details
3External and separating cavity wall junction
3External cavity walls at eaves level
3 Separating cavity wall and roof junction
3External cavity wall and compartment wall junction
3External cavity wall and separating floor junction
Fire performance
120 minute fire performance. Provides 120
minutes fire protection in concealed cavities
to help meet the requirements of Part B Fire
Building Regulations (England and Wales) and
Section 2 (Scotland).
erm
al insulati
on
Th
Acoustic insulation
Helps to meet the requirements of Approved
Document E Acoustic Building Regulations 2003
(England and Wales) and Section 5 (Scotland)
by minimising flanking sound transmission
along the wall cavity.
Thermal Insulation
Provides effective edge sealing at separating
wall junctions to help towards a zero U-value
separating wall as defined in Approved
Document L1A 2010 (England & Wales) and
Section 6 (Scotland).
Storey Height (2.4m) product
Fewer butt joints means less chance of installer
error, improving in-situ performance and
reducing installation times.
Easy to install
• Excellent compression properties, which
allows for the barrier to be easily installed
into cavities without risking damage to
brickwork.
• Colour
coded
packaging
prevents
installation of the incorrect barrier sizes
on-site.
Euroclass A1 fire rating
Totally non-combustible and fire safe.
Protected planet
Environmental credentials:
• Zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP).
• Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less
than 5.
Product
Cavity size
(mm)
Width
(mm)
Length
(mm)
Sleeve
colour
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Storey Height
50 - 65
300
2400
Yellow
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Storey Height
66 - 80
300
2400
Blue
Isover ULTIMATE™ Cavity Barrier - Storey Height
81 - 100
300
2400
White
Isover Technical Advice: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com www.isover.co.uk
19
www.3pointplan.co.uk
Isover Order Placement or Order Enquiries:
Tel: 0800 032 2555
Fax: 0800 917 9188
www.isover.co.uk
Published Date: October 2014
Isover Document Reference: I-CB-SG-1403
Isover Technical Advice - Buildings Insulation:
Technical Enquiries
Tel: 0115 945 1143
Email: isover.enquiries@saint-gobain.com
Saint-Gobain Isover
Gotham Road
East Leake
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE12 6HX
Tel: +44 (0) 115 969 8010
Email: isover@saint-gobain.com
Isover reserves the right to revise product specifications without notice. The information in this
document was correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. It is the users
responsibility to ensure that it remains current prior to use. The information in this document
is for guidance only and should not be read in isolation. Users should read and familiarise
themselves with all the information contained in this document and ensure that they are fully
conversant with the products and systems being used, before subsequent specification or
installation. For a comprehensive and up to date library of information visit the Isover website.