"SAFERII": Non-combustible Cladding Systems

Recent tragic events, such as the London's Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, has led UK authorities to ban combustible materials in cladding systems on new high-rise residential buildings.

This project seeks to deliver a completely inorganic insulative product with an insulation performance akin to PIR foam, with the significant benefits inorganic materials bring for safety in fire both from non-combustibility and a complete absence of toxic smoke emissions.

There has been limited development of inorganic non-combustible insulation materials since the invention of mineral wool in the 1870s. Mineral wool remains the main viable solution to the use of Polyisocyanurate (PIR) and other carbon-based products. However, there is a significant performance divide between the insulative properties provided by mineral wool and PIR foams.

This project aims to build on the Alsitek patented inorganic insulative panel core "FIRETEK" to develop an insulation material that is completely safe in fire and has physical properties and thermal performance equivalent to PIR insulation foams.