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As most of you know , the 3 in K3 stands for a class 3 fire rating, whereas acrylics carry a class 1 fire rating. My question is, since most of the glass series is used in bars and the like, where you would think a class 1 fire rating would be required, because the occupancy is usually larger than residential units. Where exactly is a class 3 fire rating not allowed?
Yeah ask Lenny about the Fire ratings on SS. He laughs about how such a big deal is made about it. It’s used in a kitchen and above and below in the cabinets is Tupperware, but who cares about it’s fire rating, you are standing on a vinyl floor, but who cares about it, do you see a fire rating on the cook books on the counter, or what about the carpet on the floor, ever notice a fire rating on it? I never see a fire rating on curtains. All the above mentioned will burn faster than SS, but such a big deal is made on fire rating of SS.
Just Wonder why??
I rep’ed Avonite for 7 years. The only place where you MAY have a limitation on Class 3 products is some elevators, SOME airplanes (not all) and in certain locations with very strict fire regulations. such as Vegas. There is no restrictions in nursing homes, hospitals etc. What makes solid surface fire resistant is the amount of ATH in it. Since most acrylics have about 65% ATH and 35% resin they will burn much less than the glass series which is almost 100% resin. The ATH holds a water molecule, this is also what casues the white hazing when heat is applied to SS, especially on darker colors you can see this.
Also under some circumstances, when sprinklers are used, a class 3 can become a class 2.. I have installed Avonite in hospitals, nursing homes, airports, elevators (for the city of Tucson) and just about every other location. Other mfg will mislead architects etc, but if you have the facts I was always able to overcome any resistance.
ATH is also what gives SS its strength, so K3 will always be less hard, more “brittle” and as such, perhaps, not suitable for all applications. Plus most K3 really needs to be polished to get the full beauty, something that even Avonite does not recomment in high use areas. They also do not recommend K3 for buffet lines etc. The more resin the more it will move, so allow more space for expansion.
For the recond I no longer rep Avonite.
I have lost jobs by mentioning that fact, but I think it is at least imperative to let thge customer know.
And Norm, to be clear, I think it is the ATH that determines fire rating isn’t it? The poly/ath colors in Avonite are fine, from what I remember.
It can’t be a deal breaker in most commercial cases, as I did about a million dollars worth on walls in ten stories – of an insurance bulding.
Tom
Tom,
Yes, it is the ATH that gives Solid Surface the Class 1 fire rating.
Norm,
Having spent most of the 80’s and early 90’s working in hotels and refinishing elevator cabs, I know more than many about fire ratings. Everything you need to know or want to know is in the ASTM – E84 Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials. I have a copy but mine is out dated, haven’t needed it for a while. All commercial jobs have a spec book and all the required fire ratings are listed for everything being installed on the job site. It will say things like: Flooring ASTM Class 1 or Better, Counter tops ASTM Class 3 or better, and so on. As Wags mentioned everything in Elevators must be Class 1 and you need signed documentation to prove it, also a licensed Elevator Technician must be on the site at all times while the work is being preformed. Not to mention the 3 Mil balloon insurance policy. Very costly to do work in Elevator cabs, so don’t bid it low. Just for an eye opener the average cab in laminate is about 4 grand. Also everything that is taken out must be weighted and everything going in has to be weighed. After you are all done a $500 to $1000 drop test must be preformed before the cab can be put back in service. That means there is about $2500 to $3000 of extras to top of your quote. I did 2 cabs in Southfield with inlayed polished stainless steel bars in laminate panels that were a copy of cabs in the firms New York office. The cost in MI was $14,800 per cab and the cost in New York was $24,300 per cab. The cabs were the same size just an extra 10 grand each for extras. Different cities different requirements.
Fire rating requirements vary from city to city and the requirement for that city should be in the spec book, if not you must call the city fire department to find out what their requirements are before you quote the job.
Dani
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