At Valcan, we go the extra mile to certificate our products to ensure we only supply the best possible materials for construction projects. As part of our ethos of continual improvement we are continuing to invest in research, development and testing of new products to enable us to supply the market with rainscreen cladding that is safe, compliant to building regulations and ready to use. One of our flagship products is VitraDual.

What is VitraDual?

VitraDual is a non-combustible aluminium cladding system designed for building facades. It is A1 fire rated to BS EN 13501-1 meaning it is non-combustible and suitable for use in high rise buildings and other structures were safety in crucial. Visually, VitraDual is similar to traditional composite panel, however what makes it different is the fact that it is constructed from 100% aluminium, rather than combustible material such as polyethylene and fire rated mineral.

What is Class A1?

An A1 fire rating signifies that a material is completely non-combustible and does not contribute to fire at all. This classification is part of the BS EN 13501-1 standard, which categorises materials based on their combustibility and the amount of heat released during combustion.

The BS EN 13501-1 standard is part of the Euroclass System to classify materials and is titled “Fire classification of construction products and building elements”.   The certificate applies a classification based on reaction to fire “sub” tests.

The classifications range from A1 (non-combustible) to F (Easily flammable) with additional classifications applicable for A2, B, C and D classifications for smoke production (s1, s2 and S3) and flaming droplets/particles (d0, d1, d2). Buildings above 11m require non-combustible cladding of an A2-s1,d0 or A1 class.

The test classification criteria are shown here. 

Higher Risk Buildings (HRBs) require non-combustible cladding of an A2-s1,d0 or A1 class under regulation 7(2) of the Approved Document B building regulations. The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) in England is part of HSE and was established under The Building Safety Act 2022. They regulate HRBs with:

• at least 7 floors or at least 18 metres in height
• at least 2 residential units

They also regulate care homes and hospitals during their design and construction phases. 

How is VitraDual tested to ensure it is A1 rated?

VitraDual undergoes a series of rigorous tests to ensure it meets the A1 rating for non-combustibility according to the European Standard BS EN 13501-1. The key tests involved are:

BS EN 13823 Single Burning Item (SBI) Test: This test simulates a fire scenario where the VitraDual panel is exposed to a direct flame. The test measures 4 key metrics:

1. Fire Growth Rate (FIGRA), which indicates how quickly the fire spreads.
2. The Smoke Growth Rate (SMOGRA) index. This is crucial as smoke can be a major hazard during a fire.
3. Total heat realease within 600s (THR_600s).
4. Total smoke production within 600s (THR_600s).

BS EN 1716 Heat of combustion test: This test determines the potential maximum total heat release of a product when completely burning.  To achieve a rating of A1, a panel must have gross calorific potential (PCS) value of less than 2.0 MJ/kg – VitraDual achieves a PCS less than 1.0MJ/kg.

What other tests has VitraDual undergone?

In addition to the A1 fire rating tests, VitraDual has undergone several other tests to ensure its quality and performance:

BS 8414-2: This test assesses the fire performance of external cladding systems. VitraDual has been tested and complies with the BR 135 criteria. See test video below:

The BS8414 test, is a large scale system test available in part 1 (concrete block wall) or a part 2 (Steel frame) configuration. The pass/fail criteria for this test is set out in BR135. The VitraDual/Rockwool test above, was a part 2 test back to a lightweight steel frame system

CWCT Standards: VitraDual panels have been tested in accordance with the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT) standards for systemized building envelopes with wind load serviceability of 2.4kPa.

Mechanical and Durability Tests: These include tests for impact resistance, bending, and flexibility to ensure the panels can withstand various physical stresses.

Weather Resistance: VitraDual has been tested for resistance to weathering, including exposure to UV light, salt spray, and humidity. These tests ensure the panels maintain their appearance and structural integrity over time.

Chemical Resistance: The panels have been tested for resistance to various chemicals, ensuring they can withstand exposure to pollutants and cleaning agents.

Thermal Performance: Tests have been conducted to assess the thermal insulating properties and expansion rates of VitraDual panels.

These tests ensure that VitraDual panels are among the safest in terms of fire performance, making them suitable for use in high-risk areas such as high-rise buildings.

VitraDual is one of the few large format cladding panels that are truly 100% non-combustible. VitraDual gives the insurers, architects, contractors, building owners and users peace of mind on product specification. The tested system for BS8414/BR135 provides minimal lateral damage, this means should a fire occur in a room and break out, only a small area of the façade should need replacing.

As with all building products, the use of VitraDual must be authorised by the regulatory body.

The Ferrier Point tower block in Newham, London was stripped of dangerous ACM cladding in 2019 and replaced with VitraDual.

Unfortunately a fire broke out in one of the flats in the tower block in June 2020 – the fire escaping out of a window, however the use of VitraDual proved to be well-chosen, as the system completely prevented any fire spread via the façade and did all that it is meant to do in a real-life fire.