As your trusted slatted panels supplier, SUPAWOOD’s fire retardant (FR) panels continue to meet all requirements for Fire Group Ratings 1, 2 and 3 for any interior area within any class of building. We are constantly having our products tested and reviewed, to ensure we are up to date with the most recent industry requirements and fire standards for buildings, giving you peace of mind that your project will lawfully reach the required fire group standards, including the requirements of NCC 2022.
More than being decorative acoustic panels for walls, our products are extremely safe to use. All SUPAWOOD products are certified Fire Group Rating 1, 2 or 3, with Fire Group Rating 1 being the best in terms of fire retardancy, and Fire Group Rating 3 being standard in terms of meeting BCA requirements.
Our reliable fire-rated wall system includes fire-resistant panels that are among the least combustible timber products on the market today. This means they can be used in all critical areas such as fire isolated exits, lift car interiors, public corridors and lobbies providing fire egress. Supported by strong structural aluminium beams, you’re able to build a safe as well as well-designed space.
When do I require Fire Group Rating 1 in my school?
The table below gives a little insight into when the best Fire Group Rating is required (1), when the next best Fire Group Rating is required (1 or 2) and when the standard Fire Group Rating is required (1, 2 or 3). This is shown for each class of building and for each type of area within your building.
| Class of building | Fire-isolated exits and fire Control rooms | Public corridors | Specific areas | Other areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 2 or 3, Unsprinklered Excluding accommodation for the aged,people with disabilities,and children | Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 ,2 Ceilings: 1 , 2 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
| Class 2 or 3, Sprinklered Excluding,accommodation for the aged,people with disabilities,and children | Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 ,2 Ceilings: 1 , 2, 3 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
| Class 3 or 9a, Unspinklered Accommodation for the aged, people with a disability,children and health-care buildings | Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 , 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
| Class 3 or 9a, Spinklered Accommodation for the aged, people with a disability,children and health-care buildings | Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 ,2 Ceilings: 1 , 2 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
| Class 5,6,7,8 or 9b schools, Unsprinklered | Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 ,2 Ceilings: 1 , 2 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
| Class 5,6,7,8 or 9b schools, Sprinklered | Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1 , 2, 3 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
| Class 9b other than schools, Unsprinklered | Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 , 2 Ceilings: 1, 2 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
| Class 9b other than schools, Sprinklered | Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 ,2 Ceilings: 1 , 2 |
Walls: 1 , 2 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
| Class 9c, Sprinklered | Walls: 1 Ceilings: 1 |
Walls: 1 , 2 Ceilings: 1 , 2 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Walls: 1 , 2, 3 Ceilings: 1, 2, 3 |
Notes to Table 3:
- "Sprinklered" means a building fitted with a sprinkler system (other than a FPAA101D or FPAA101H system) complying with Specification E1.5.
- "Specific areas" means within
- for Class 2 and 3 buildings, a sole-occupancy unit and
- for Class 5 buildings, open plan offices with a minimum floor dimension/floor to ceiling height ratio > 5; and
- for Class 6 buildings, shops or other building with a minimum floor dimension/floor to ceiling height ratio > 5; and
- for Class 9a health-care buildings, patient care areas; and
- for Class 9b theatres and halls, etc, an auditorium; and
- for Class 9b schools, a classroom; and
- for Class 9c buildings, resident use area.
Ref NCC 2019 Building Code of Australia - Volume One Page 104105
Ravenswood School for Girls
Once you have ascertained that Fire Group Rating 1 is required, as we know it is for all education and school projects, we can dive into how we can help you achieve this fire standard.
You will see that for all school projects, Fire Group Rating 1 is required for both walls and ceilings of Fire-isolated exits and stairwells. Furthermore, Fire Group Rating 2 is required for both walls and ceilings of public corridors, which are enclosed corridors, hallways or the like that are required to exit the building. Lastly Fire Group Rating 2 is required for classroom ceilings.
Note these are minimum requirements. You or your school may require a better Fire Group Rating number than the minimum that is required according to the BCA.
What are the requirements for meeting the best Fire Group Rating number?
What makes achieving a Fire Group Rating 1 particularly tricky for schools is that a good acoustic rating is usually required as well. The better the acoustic rating, the larger the visible surface area of the panel and the quicker the panel will burn.
Fortunately, Supawood can supply decorative wall panels with both good fire ratings and acoustic ratings at the same time.
Once you have ascertained where Fire Group Rating 1 or 2 is required, we can dive into how we can help you achieve this fire standard.
The following SUPAWOOD panels will reach Fire Group 1 (the best NRC you can achieve for acoustic performance is also noted beside each panel).
- 9mm FR MDF – SP1/80. NRC: 0.7
- 9mm FR MDF – Binary 1, 2 & 6. NRC 0.65 – 0.75
- 9mm or 12mm FR MDF – SP3/100 & SP3/120. NRC: 0.65
- 9mm or 12mm FR MDF – Binary 3. NRC 0.6 – 0.75
- 9mm or 12mm FR MDF – Bubbles. NRC: 0.75
- Profiles 1-5 Supaslat. NRC: 0.55 – 1.00
If you require decorative wall panels for your space, our fire retardant ‘FR’ MDF option is a grey fire retardant MDF option that presents you with not only stunning aesthetic possibilities but also full BCA certification. Brown FR MDF are also available if required for aesthetic reasons, e.g. grooves in the panel that you want to match to a timber colour.
Supawood has access to the following resources. Please reach out if you would like this further information or calculations done:
- Fire Certificates for the above panels to meet NCC 2019.
- Acoustic Test Results for the above panels
- External Acoustic engineer
- Calculators for Supawood Panels to calculate visible surface area to ensure Fire Group 1 can be achieved for custom perforation patterns.
- Calculators to ensure NRC or reverberation time can be achieved
Supawood have consultants that can read acoustic reports and recommend products that will suit your project. Should a SUPAWOOD product or product range appeal to you for your school project – reach out! We are more than happy to provide more details and specificity around how you can reach Fire Group 1 for your school project.
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