Select your optimal solution for A-class steel constructions

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A-class construction for onboard fire protection

Fire suppression and control are critical issues in any industry. But when you are tens – even hundreds – of miles from the closest dry land, it takes on additional importance. Ships and offshore facilities are thus designed and built to contain dedicated A-class fire divisions. These are bulkheads or part of the decks, constructed of steel or other ‘equivalent material’ that are capable of preventing the passage of smoke and flame for the duration of the one-hour standard fire test and fulfilling the specific requirements for temperature increase on the unexposed side.

A-class constructions are required for areas that are deemed essential for the fire safety of the ship, its passengers, and its crew. This includes bulkheads and decks that separate accommodation spaces, control stations, machinery and cargo spaces, among others. The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention defines the specific fire classification required for a specific amount of time (15, 30, 60 minutes) where a certain criterion for maximum (180 degrees) and average (140 degrees) must be secured.

cruise ship, liner, passenger ship, maritime, ocean, sea transportation

SeaRox® lightweight solutions

Lightweight stone wool insulation

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Insulation plays a critical role in ensuring an A-class construction can deliver the necessary performance, particularly when it comes to mitigating heat transfer to the unexposed side of the bulkhead or deck. However, selecting of the most appropriate insulation isn’t always a straightforward task and must consider a range of factors including:

Weight
Thickness
Installation speed
Acoustic and thermal performance
Certification

As an example:

Heavier or thicker insulation may come with higher acoustic or thermal performance but will increase weight carried with implications for energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.

Lightweight insulation products and constructions have thus been developed to provide the necessary fire protection without adding unnecessary overall ship weight: our SeaRox® range of lightweight stone wool insulation is a case in point. Other circumstances may require a thicker or heavier insulation to meet necessary acoustic or thermal insulation standards, even if this is not required from a fire safety standpoint.

SeaRox® lightweight solutions

In addition to these technical concerns, factors such as product range and complexity, delivery time and logistics, technical support, documentation packages, and the range of facings available from the supplier should be considered.

Five insulation options for A-class constructions

Selecting the right insulation solution for your A-class steel construction will ultimately depend on your specific needs and priorities. The first step is to decide what criteria are most important for your installation and/or your business. To simplify the process and help guide your choice, here at ROCKWOOL, we provide the following five insulation options for A-class constructions, resulting in a solution that consists of one to five products/materials.

Full table of A-class assortment

1. Lowest thickness (5 products)

2. Lowest weight (4 products)

3. Simple logistic – less waste (3 products)

4. Optimised logistic (2 products)

5. Best logistic (1 product)

What's the deal with facings?

Facings can provide an attractive, protective layer that shields insulation from the elements and defends against mechanical impacts; they can also reduce water vapour ingress, improve the performance of the insulation, and can help reduce weight and costs by replacing cladding in areas with limited traffic.

Facings can be manufactured from a range of materials for a range of applications. We offer a complete range of facings for our SeaRox® stone wool insulation products – from lightweight glass tissue and aluminium foil to heavier glass cloth, and combinations thereof.

SeaRox® facings

Find out more about A-class steel construction insulation from ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation

Interested in finding out more about our lightweight insulation options for marine & offshore? You can download a full overview of our solutions here or contact our experts to discuss your specific needs.