Insulated wall panels are an insulated building envelope system that is both structural and load-bearing. Made from two panels of prestressed concrete surrounding a layer of insulation, insulated wall panels are inherently fire resistant and can help limit the damage of a fire.
Fire Resistant Design
Concrete is a noncombustible material, which is why insulated wall panels are inherently fire resistant and do not serve as fuel or contribute to a building’s fire load. The panels can be designed to meet any degree of fire resistance in order to comply with local building codes of insurance requirements. Fire ratings of one, two, three or more hours can be achieved by varying the thickness of the two layers of concrete.
Protection from Fire Damage
Insulated wall panels resist damage from fires that break out inside buildings. Because they’re noncombustible, they can help limit the spread of flames to adjacent building components. Fires can also cause the release of toxic gasses from the melting of cellular plastic components. However, insulated wall panels protect the enclosed insulation from flames, limiting the production of toxic gasses.
Cost Effective Compliance
Alternative building materials can be designed to meet fire ratings specified by local building codes, but they often require additional fireproofing after installation. Precast concrete wall panels do not need any additional fireproofing after erection, which can lead to cost and time savings during construction.
To use County Prestress & Precast’s Insulated Wall Panels for your next project, contact our Customer Service Team.
