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Adam Bannister is a contributor to IFSEC Global, having been in the role of Editor from 2014 through to November 2019. Adam also had stints as a journalist at cybersecurity publication, The Daily Swig, and as Managing Editor at Dynamis Online Media Group.
The Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association (HVCA) estimates that a quarter of the 22,000-plus fires that occur in UK non-domestic buildings every year can be attributed to cooking and extraction appliances.
Seeking to mitigate the damage caused by these blazes insulation manufacturer Saint-Gobain Isover has launched what it says is a genuine innovation in passive fire protection.
The U Protect Black Alu, which is designed to significantly slow the spread of fires in kitchen ductwork, is the first insulation of its kind to meet both British (BS9999/BS476:Part24) and European (EN1366-1) safety standards, giving up to two hours of fire resistance.
Using Isover’s unique ULTIMATE TM technology the product is much lighter and thinner than stone wool alternatives dependant on application, making it easier to install, claims the manufacturer.
Michael Hunter, technical manager at Saint-Gobain Isover, says the U Protect Black Alu should appeal to a wide range of sectors.
“Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order and the Scottish Fire Safety Regulations, building owners in the UK have a legal responsibility to reduce the risk of fire in their premises,” he says.
“U Protect Black Alu offers end users unrivalled fire resistance for kitchen extract ductwork and can be used in a wide range of buildings, from schools and universities, to restaurants and hospitals – anywhere where passive fire protection measures are needed.”
Beyond the paramount practicalities of fire resistance performance and installation complexity Hunter also makes a case for the product’s aesthetic qualities.
“Our product’s distinctive black facing means that contractors and building owners can be reassured at a glance that buildings and necessary ductwork are suitably insulated.
“According to our latest market research, U Protect Black Alu is also more aesthetically pleasing than traditional silver insulation. Black is definitely the new black.”
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Insulation Innovation Offers “Unrivalled” Fire Resistance for Kitchen Extract DuctworkSaint-Gobain Isover says the newly launched U Protect Black Alu offers up to two hours fire resistance.
Adam Bannister
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