I have a project involving a standalone car-wash building. Is it reasonable to use risk group VP? or is CA appropriate. Reason - property ratings are 120 minutes versus 30 minutes. So poly-panel walls come into play for boundary situations. Just another silly question.
A car wash building could be designed as either. If there is a preferable property rating from being a car parking building then car parks would need to be added. If it is only for the purpose of washing with no parking then it would be CA (assuming members of the public are involved in the process).
I have noticed the trend for cash wash facilities or businesses to be added to car parking buildings.
Thanks Kenneth. It is a one-car wash building, so it looks like CA applies. Property rating 120 minutes versus 30 minutes for a ventilated car parking building. Just seems a little strange.
I woudl have said CA, especially if it is one where the public drive their car into it, such as at your local garage.
The 120min rating is a result of a “1 size fits all worst case” basis that is necessary for collating into the risk groups. A fire engineered design may be able to reduce it.
Be very careful if you are planning on relying on the polypanel (EPS or PIR core) walls as a fire separation. None of them have structural stability, so there needs to be a fire rated frame that the panel can be suspended from (and be careful of the fixings and details needed to achieve the fire rating of the panel). EPS (polystyrene) panels also do not have an insulation rating as the EPS melts quickly leaving the steel sheet hanging. Some of the PIR panels can achieve an insulation rating depending on the thickness and installation details.
This is a common issue with coolstores where fire rating is required.
Slightly off topic. When I see cool stores and EPS panels being mentioned, in the current market, ensure your client talks to their insurers before proceeding. There may (or will) be limits on the cover that may be offered, and rates will be high…
If the market softens, remember it will harden in the future.