International Catalogue

Basic Knowledge of Fastening Technology
Basic Knowledge of Fastening Technology
Fire protection in the
fastening technology
Fastening technology is of critical importance in fire protection: for example in
order to secure the functionality and structural stability of railings, utility systems or
ceiling elements. The assessment of the fixing in case of fire takes place according
to the technical rule TR020.
The identification and classification of anchors and fixings consists of indication of
the respective fire resistance duration e. g. R90. Before introduction of characteristic
load values for fixings by the DIBt, the fire resistance duration was not regulated by the
building authority approvals, but by fire expert opinions from tests.
The safety concepts measure the failure load in case of fire through assessment of
a so-called γ factor. Different safety concepts were applied in the building authority
approvals and the fire expert opinions. Because of this, it is possible that the loads in
the fire expert opinions determined in tests are larger than the permissible loads given
in the approvals. Naturally, in these cases, only the maximum loads according to the
building authority approval are valid. In the mean time, a new evaluation document from
the DIBt [German Institute of Construction Engineering] has been used for determining
the characteristic load values and the corresponding fire resistance duration. These
new building authority approvals represent a design basis that can be tracked. All old
approvals will be converted to this new procedural method within a short time.
Tests have shown that approved frame fixings made of polyamide (nylon) with
galvanised screws for facade fastening are generally more fire-resistant than the
ventilated facade and the sub-structure made of aluminium or wood: The expansion
part of the plastic fixing sleeve that is anchored in the building material remains fireresistant
for at least 90 minutes in the façade fastening.
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