Fire resistance of light gauge steel framed wall systems lined with PCM-plasterboards

Phase Change Material incorporated plasterboards (PCM-plasterboards) are used in buildings due to their high thermal storage capacity. However, their fire resistance has not been investigated yet. Hence, this research has investigated their fire resistance through thermal characterisation studies of wallboards and small-scale fire tests of wallboards and Light gauge steel-framed (LSF) walls. This paper presents the results on PCM-plasterboards in comparison with commonly used, fire-rated gypsum plasterboards. The elevated temperature thermal characteristics of PCM-plasterboard and gypsum plasterboard were determined first using thermal property tests whereas small-scale standard fire tests of both types of boards and non-load bearing LSF walls lined with both PCM-plasterboard and gypsum plasterboard were conducted to evaluate the fire resistance. Fire test results showed that the fire resistance levels (FRL) were reduced for PCM-plasterboards compared to gypsum plasterboards while importantly, PCM-plasterboards provided additional fuel to the fire. The LSF walls lined with a combination of PCM-plasterboard and gypsum plasterboard gave a lower FRL with higher stud hot flange temperatures, compared to those lined with gypsum plasterboards only. Fire resistance was greatly affected by the PCM-plasterboard after the fall-off of the first fire side plasterboard layer. Higher stud hot flange temperatures would reduce the FRL of load-bearing walls.