• Alupanel is a UL Recognized Component for electric sign manufacturers
• Alupanel's Fire Classification
• Intended Use
• Fire Regulation by Market
Alupanel is a UL Recognized Component for electric sign manufacturers
UL Recognized Component for electric sign manufacturers (US and Canada), UL File E322586.
Alupanel with 0.15mm, 0.20mm and 0.30mm skin is a UL Recognized Component (File E322586) for use in electric sign components, recognised to UL 879 in the US and C22.2 No. 207-M89 in Canada. Recognition covers 2mm, 3mm, 4mm and 6mm panel thickness, in dry, damp and wet locations at up to 50°C ambient. Sign manufacturers can build it into complete signs as an external decorative face, as letters, and as support for complete enclosures, plastic faces and mouldings.
Conditions of use:
• For Class 2 powered circuits only. Do not use the panel to enclose live parts or wiring.
• Letters need at least two support points, with no point more than 10 in (254mm) from a support.
• Fasten any ballast or transformer over 3.4kg (7.5 lb) with nuts and bolts.
• The acceptability of the finished sign is determined by UL.
Alupanel's Fire Classification
NOTE: This information is provided for general guidance only and does not replace the advice of a qualified fire engineer, architect or building control authority for a specific project. Please contact us for our latest testing certificates and technical documentation.
Alupanel is rated to EN 13501-1 Class C-s2,d0, the European reaction-to-fire classification system also used in the UK. This classification describes how a material behaves when exposed to fire: how much it contributes to the spread of flame across its surface, how much smoke it produces, and whether it drips flaming particles during combustion.
Alupanel's polyethylene (PE) core is manufactured from 100% post-consumer recycled material. As with any standard PE-cored composite panel, its Class C-s2,d0 rating reflects a standard core rather than a fire-retardant one.
Intended Use
Alupanel is manufactured for the Sign, Display, Print and Corporate ID industries. It is not designed, tested, or certified for use as external building cladding, as part of a building's external wall or weatherproof envelope, or as an internal lining for escape routes or circulation spaces. Building facades and escape routes are subject to substantially higher fire performance requirements than the applications Alupanel is intended for, and the specific requirements differ by country. Details for our key markets are set out in the table below.
Where Alupanel is used as an internal, non-escape-route wall or ceiling lining — for example, within a shop or showroom fit-out — its Class C-s2,d0 rating may be suitable depending on the building type, room use, and local regulations. We recommend confirming suitability with a qualified architect, fire engineer, or the relevant local building control authority before specification.
If you are specifying Alupanel for a large-format application, or one that will be fixed directly to the exterior of a building, please contact our technical team to confirm suitability before proceeding.
Fire Regulation by Market
The table below summarises the applicable fire safety framework and Alupanel's current position in each of our key markets.
NOTE: Alupanel is rated to EN 13501-1 Class C-s2,d0, the European reaction-to-fire classification system also used in the UK.
| Market | Governing Framework | External Wall / Cladding Use | Internal Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK: England and Wales | Building Regulations 2010, including Approved Document B | Not permitted. Alupanel's polyethylene core does not meet the fire performance requirements for external wall or cladding use on any building, regardless of height. | May be suitable for general internal wall and ceiling linings outside escape routes, subject to confirmation for the specific building and room type. Not suitable for escape routes or circulation spaces. Confirm the requirements for your project with a qualified fire engineer or the local district council building control before specification. |
| UK: Scotland | Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the Building Standards Technical Handbooks | Not permitted. Alupanel's polyethylene core does not meet the fire performance requirements for external wall or cladding use on any building, regardless of height. | Not permitted as an internal wall or ceiling lining. Scottish regulations ban metal composite material with a polyethylene core from internal linings on any building. |
| UK: Northern Ireland | Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 | Not suitable. Materials in the external walls of relevant buildings must achieve European Classification A2-s1,d0 or A1, which Alupanel does not meet. Alupanel is not intended for external cladding use. | Internal linings are controlled by Regulation 34 and Technical Booklet E. Confirm the requirements for your project with a qualified fire engineer or the local district council building control before specification. |
| EU | National building regulations of individual EU Member States, using the same Euroclass fire classification system (EN 13501-1) as the UK | Not permitted. Alupanel's polyethylene core does not meet the fire performance requirements for external walls of multi-storey buildings across EU Member States. | May be suitable for general internal linings outside escape routes, subject to the regulations of the relevant Member State and confirmation for the specific building and room type. Confirm the requirements for your project with a qualified fire engineer or the local district council building control before specification. |
| USA | International Building Code (IBC), adopted at state and local level | Not permitted. Alupanel is not tested or certified as an exterior wall covering or Metal Composite Material (MCM) system under IBC Chapter 14. | A Class A rating (ASTM E84) is held for Alupanel 3mm and 6mm, white, 0.30mm skin only. Other colours, thicknesses and products in the range have not been tested to this standard. Confirm the requirements for your project with a qualified fire engineer or the local district council building control before specification. |
| Canada | National Building Code of Canada (NBC), adopted provincially | Not permitted. Alupanel has not been tested to CAN/ULC-S134, the standard required for combustible exterior cladding systems in Canada. | Not currently tested to CAN/ULC-S102, the Canadian interior finish flame-spread standard. |