As market leaders, Alco Beldan NW100 movable walls are now available in five levels of Fire Performance. Options include Fire Resistance of 30 and 60 minutes, Smoke Protection, Class '1' Spread of Flame rating and Class 'O' fire propagation.

FIRE RESISTING WALLS
Our type NW115 F is a movable partition wall which has been tested in accordance with DIN 4102-T2 and achieved 60 minutes with class A2 (nonflammable) cladding boards. This was also tested with B2 (normal) cladding boards and achieved 30 minutes. The same construction was also tested for sound reduction and achieved ratings up to Rw 54dB in accordance with EN 20140-3 (1995). This type NW115F is also smoke resistant to DIN 18095-2

SMOKE RESISTING WALLS
Our type NW100 RS is a movable partition wall which has additional modifications to make it smoke protected in accordance with DIN 18095-2

CLASS '1' SURFACE SPREAD OF FLAME
If there is no requirement for fire resistance specified and only reduction of flame spread is needed, we offer our type NW100S. This is our standard movable wall, which is constructed almost completely using non-flammable materials, but with B1 (difficult to ignite) cladding boards or sheet steel covering. Although this construction reduces flame spread, it is not the same as the 'F' construction and therefore has no fire resistance rating. It has no General Building Control Certificate.

CLASS 'O' FIRE PROPAGATION
In order to comply with the more demanding Class 'O' requirements, our NW100S movable wall can be supplied with A2 (non-flammable, no contribution to combustion) cladding boards.

Alco Beldan are aware of new European initiatives to harmonize the various national Fire and Smoke Regulations of member states within the European Union. To prepare for the introduction of new EN standards, our German manufacturing partner, Franz Nusing GmbH & Co., has developed a new range of Fire and Smoke resisting movable walls.

The new standard is DIN EN1364-1. Fire protection in buildings is a matter of Public Safety and must be considered extremely carefully and seriously.

The Specifier must first establish the level of Fire Protection required by the Authorities in respect of a movable wall system which is classed to as a ‘non-load bearing wall’.

It must be remembered that movable walls are not self-closing and therefore cannot be classified with a F30, F60 or F90 rating. Because of their mobility, the fire resistance rating of a movable wall only relates to its performance when in a closed position with the seals fully extended.

With something as important as preservation of life, it is essential that products are appraised in accordance with the test procedures and certificates of verification must be provided. When tested in accordance with DIN 4102-T2, a movable wall which successfully passes the test will be issued with a General Building Control Certificate.

The Alco Beldan NW115F has recently been tested in accordance with DIN EN 1364-1 classification and General Building Control Test Certificates have been issued for 30 minutes and 60 minutes fire resistance. The sample tested included several inter-panel joints, grooves, fixings, wall posts etc. This is therefore a fully movable partition wall which when fully closed and locked in position, achieved the same fire resistance as a fixed wall. The NW115 F movable wall system meets the requirements of the Building Regulations and currently represents the best movable partition wall for the protection of escape and rescue routes.

The new NW115F system has been carefully developed from the standard NW100S and many features are similar as detailed in specification below:

It is most important to remember when considering Fire Resisting movable walls, that only those products which have successfully passed the Fire Test are awarded a Building Control Certificate. There is no reason specifiers should be put off insisting on inspecting a copy of the test data by vague covering statements such as testing in accordance with ‘DIN 4102 F30 quality’ or ‘F30 A/B flammability’ since such statements mean nothing.

You now have the ideal opportunity to incorporate optimum smoke protection right from the start when using movable walls with the Alco Beldan NW100RS, available now.

In the event of a fire, creeping smoke is the greatest danger.

Most people perceive the development of heat in a fire as being the most dangerous aspect; however fire experts know the accelerated spread of smoke has a higher potential for danger. In such situations, escape for the occupants of the building along emergency escape routes is made difficult and the dense smoke hampers the job of fighting the fire by the Fire Service.

For these reasons, fire protection experts recommend that normal smoke and heat extraction equipment be supplemented by the provision of smoke protection doors and building elements which prevent the spread of smoke.

Until now, there has been no one in the movable wall market to provide a solution which lowers the penetration of dangerous smoke bearing gases into a room. Movable walls which control smoke give the occupants valuable additional time, which can save lives in the event of a fire. Our technicians have modified the standard NW100 panels and by using a new sealing technique, protected by German Patent No: DBGM 299 03 466.6, have achieved the improved smoke retention characteristics.

When in the closed position, the Alco Beldan NW100 RS movable wall system complies with the strict requirements of DIN 18 095/2, but offers no fire protection rating.

* Our movable wall panels are primarily made at our own factory in the Midlands under licence to our associate company in Germany, Franz Nusing GmbH. All test certificates illustrated have been issued from a German test laboratory.