Fire safe membrane wins top innovation award

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Mar 11, 2008

New high performance bituminous membrane has scooped the Innovation Award at the Flat Roofing Alliance (FRA) Awards.

SafeStick prevENt roofing system, developed by Permanite Engineered Roofing Systems, has been developed specifically in response to a growing client requirement for new methods of reinforced bituminous membrane application.

The system is self-adhesive, requiring no hot works during application, and features prevENt Graphite Fire Wall Technology.

During the heat of a fire the graphite expands, drawing the heat out of the combustion process and creating a 'crust' after expansion.

This crust effectively forms a barrier against the flames, acting as a smoke suppressant and halting dripping from the underside of the roofing.

The annual FRA Awards are judged by leading figures from the construction industry.

Speaking about the award, Bill Jenkins, Director of the Flat Roofing Alliance, said; "The standard of entries for the Innovation Award was very high and the shortlisted entrants are just the tip of the iceberg".

"Product development is key to our industry and the quality of entrants this year was certainly encouraging".

"The key to the success of SafeStick is the safety it offers in performance as well as installation, something which the judges were all impressed by".

Simon Chapman, Product Marketing Manager at Permanite Engineered Roofing Systems, said; "Investment in product development is at the heart of our business as we strive to deliver products and systems for a rapidly changing marketplace".

"The FRA Awards are a key event in the flat roofing calendar and we are absolutely delighted to receive this accolade for an innovative system which delivers fire safety on several levels".

Permanite Engineered Roofing Systems worked with the Warrington Fire Research Centre to ensure that its graphite technology was rigorously tested and professionally certified and prevENt membranes have achieved the highest performance ratings in all sections of fire tests EN 1187 Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 (BS 476 part 3: 2004), hence the EN in the name.