Metal web joists included in STA fire safety pattern book
8th November 2022
ITW, Mitek and Wolf Systems have joined forces to provide fire test data to enable metal web joists to be included in the Structural Timber Association’s (STA) structural timber buildings fire safety in use guidance.
The three systems providers, all members of the TRA, submitted their products for the verification which assures specifiers and architects that metal web joists meet the strict conditions for fire safety.
ITW’s SpaceJoists, Mitek’s Posi-Joists and Wolf System’s easi-Joists® have been included in guide – Volume 1 – Pattern book systems which is part of the STA’s library of fire in use best practise guidance and aims to provide evidence-based fire performance information on different timber-based construction elements.
The metal web joists have undergone rigorous testing to prove that when used as an intermediate floor system with 15mm plasterboard, they provide a resilient 30-minute solution. All fire resistance testing has been undertaken to the same test standard, BS EN 1365-2:2012 (floors).
Sat Kundi, technical manager at Wolf Systems explains that for the past few years Wolf Systems have been engaging with others in the industry conducting full scale easi joist fire tests.
He said: “With this extensive range of results being added to the tests conducted by MiTek and ITW, consulting engineer Milner Associates was able to collate and present a concise technical approach, backed up by EN test evidence and supplementary research to create a resilient generic fire detail.
“The BRE peer reviewed generic fire detail for metal web joists provides members, clients and specifiers with guidance and more importantly transparency and confidence in our sector. Wolf Systems has always put safety first and will continue working towards this collaborative goal for future generic details.”
Nick Boulton, chief executive of the TRA said: “This is an important step for those manufacturing metal web joists for many reasons, but especially because it will raise the profile of metal web joists. It will allow them to be specified generically in intermediate floors by engineers and architects, who can have the confidence to know whichever of the branded metal web joist products is eventually chosen and used, they will meet fire safety critical parameters.”
