In this article we will look at the Building Regulations and guidance for soffits in Scotland, including which Kingspan Insulation products could be used in this application.
What are the fire regulations for soffit insulation in Scotland?
The mandatory standard states that:
“Every building must be designed and constructed in such a way that in the event of an outbreak of fire within the building, the development of fire and smoke from the surfaces of walls and ceilings within the area of origin is inhibited.”
What is the guidance for soffit insulation in Scotland?
The Technical Handbooks provide guidance on achieving the standards set in the Building Regulations.
Note that following the guidance in full should be accepted as compliance with the Regulations. However, there may also be other ways to comply with the requirements than those described. The project Principal Designer (during design stages), Principal Contractor (during construction) and relevant consultants (such as Fire Engineers) should be consulted to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations.
Domestic buildings
The Building Standards Technical Handbook for domestic buildings says the following:
- A protected zone should have ceiling surfaces which achieve Euroclass A1, A2 or B.
- A room, unprotected zone or protected enclosure should have ceiling surfaces with a Euroclass no worse than C.
Note that a protected zone is defined as part of an escape route which is within a building, but not within a room, and to which access is only by way of a protected door and from which there is an exit directly to a place of safety.
Non-domestic buildings
The Building Standards Technical Handbook for non-domestic buildings states that every room, fire-fighting shaft, protected zone or unprotected zone, should at least meet the guidance in the table below.
Which Kingspan Insulation soffit insulation products could be used in Scotland to meet the Technical Handbook guidance?
The following products can meet the guidance in all buildings in Scotland, when installed correctly:
AlphaCore Pad - achieves Euroclass A2-s1,d0
Kooltherm K110 Soffit Board - achieves Euroclass B-s2,d0 when the outer (exposed) composite foil facing is exposed to the heat source
Kooltherm K110 PLUS Soffit Board - achieves Euroclass B-s1,d0.
For further information on the suitability of Kingspan Insulation products please refer to the relevant BBA Certificates on the product pages.
Further information
The following links provide further information on the Building Regulations and guidance for external walls:
