2009 panel systems compared.t

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ModuSecSecure and eicient IT room solutions

Panel Systems Compared

Introduction............................................................................. 1

Comparison Table ................................................................. 2-3

Fire Rating ................................................................................ 4

Structural Integrity................................................................. 5

Eects o Moisture Damage on Mineral Wool Panels ......... 6

Is your chosen panel system ft or purpose?

Panel systems are not all the same!When it comes to accommodating critical IT systems, the rst issue to look at is the environment

in which they are placed and the level o protection aorded by the construction system chosen.

Consider the consequences o loosing these systems in a re, food or orced entry situation.




ModuSec (Pyrofoam Core) Mineral Wool Core Panels

Strength

Core material has high structural strength.

A complete room structure has been successullyre tested unsupported to the Enhanced LPS1181 test. Hence wall panels support ceilingpanels without additional steel.

Ceiling can span up to 6m without intermediatesupport with ‘walk on’ service access to BS6399.Also strong enough to be used as base panels toorm a sealed six sided box.

Structural stability relies on the composite (steel

covers and core). The core provides virtually nosupport on its own. Fire very quickly breaks downthis composite structure. To achieve LPS 1181support is required rom the test rig.

Wall panels should not support ceiling panels. Tomaintain structural stability in a re, they requireperimeter support independent o the wall panels.This increases cost and can impede placemento M & E equipment. A maximum ceiling span o 4m is usually recommended or 100mm panelswithout intermediate support.

Service Loads & Conduits

Steel reinorcement channels are oamed in toall ceiling panels to take heavy hanging loads(pipes, cable trays, etc). Cable conduits or steel channels to hang heavy loads can be oamed into walls as required. Light loads and conduitscan be xed anywhere to the steel skin.

No acility or internal reinorcement or conduits.

Heavy loads need supporting through the panels,increasing heat transer, potential water leaks andthe likelihood o ceiling panels sagging.

Panel Connection

Mechanical camlocks with interlinkedtongue and groove panels. Stronger,

quicker to build, easier to extend or relocate,better water protection.

Pushed together, generally xed at top andbase only.

Porosity

100% closed cell core.

Joints are sealed. However any waterpenetrating a joint will NOT aect the structural integrity o the panels.

The panels will not degrade over time.

Porous: Moisture can orm and spread romthe dew point inside the panels, possiblyleading to redistribution o core density andhence insulation values over time. Any waterpenetrating a joint will also aect the integrityo the panels. The additional weight o water canlead to ceiling sag and possible collapse.

Foamed panels

Some oamed panels (e.g. PIR or PUR) produce a dense toxic smoke i the core is ignited, which can

happen very quickly in a re. They add very signicantly to the re load (amount o combustible

material) o a building, can cause dangerous fashover and generally provide low re ratings

(30 minutes max or a 100mm panel). Hence they are totally unsuitable or IT environments.

This is not the case or ModuSec’s Pyrooam core panels. They have International Maritime

Organisation (IMO) approved smoke and toxicity levels, add no signicant re load to a building

and provide a 90 minute BS476 Pt 22 re rating.




ModuSec (Pyrofoam Core) Mineral Wool Core Panels

Insulation

U value (rate o heat transer) o just 0.18.This will keep the ‘Carbon Footprint’ o thestructure to a minimum.

U value o approx 0.38. i.e. hal the insulationvalue o ModuSec with reduced protection romsolar gain and environmental stability or airhandling (AC) equipment with the same panel thickness.

Fire Rating

100mm: F90 to BS476 pt 22. Meets hardware/ media critical temperature criteria or 75minutes.

100mm: F60 or F90 depending on density ,but quickly exceeds hardware/media critical temperatures.

Marine Fire Testing

Panels and cable/pipe entry system Lloyds IMOapproved to 60 minutes.

Unaware o any IMO testing on mineral wool panels or cable entry systems.

Service Entry

Tested pipe and cable entry systems. Unaware o any tested systems.

Contamination on Drilling

When panels are drilled or cut, heavy particlesdrop locally, and are easily removed.

Light bres foat o, causing possiblecontamination to hardware.

Security

Tested Class 2 or 3 options or additional protection rom orced attack and blast.

Only standard panels available.

Rodent Protection

Unpalatable to rodents and provides no nestingmaterial.

Provides nesting material, encouraging rodents.

Doors

Double rebated 65mm thick or additional insulation and security with 2 smoke seals all

round. High security Class 3 doors available.

Normally 40mm thick with a single smoke seal.

Overpressure Systems

Insulated overpressure and ventilation hatchoptions.

Standard ‘o the shel’non insulated units only.



Combustibility and Fire Load

Whilst mineral wool is classed as being

‘non combustible’, composite mineral

wool panels contain combustible materials

(adhesives, surace materials, etc.) and hencecannot be regarded as ‘non combustible’, any

more than Pyrooam panels can be. Hence in

testing by the Association o British Insurers,

modied phenolic oam panels (Pyrooam) are

in the highest saety class or ‘re load’ with

mineral wool.

Foamed Panels vs ModuSec

Some oamed panels (e.g. PIR or PUR) produce a

dense toxic smoke i the core is ignited, whichcan happen very quickly in a re. They add

very signicantly to the re load (amount o

combustible material) o a building, can cause

dangerous fashover and generally provide

low re ratings (30 minutes max or a 100mm

panel). Hence they are totally unsuitable or

IT environments.

This is not the case or ModuSec’s Pyrooam

core panels. They have International Maritime

Organisation (IMO) approved smoke & toxicity

levels, add no signicant re load to a

building and provide a 90 minute BS476 Pt 22

re rating.

Mineral Wool vs ModuSec

Mineral wool panels etc. are rated under BS476/

EN1364 to protect escape routes or building

integrity to temperatures below 180°C or

the rating period. However, whilst they maybe rated or 60, 90 or even 120 minutes,

critical temperatures or hardware and media

will be very quickly exceeded, well within the

rating period.

The European standard or computer room

construction (EN1047-2) recommends a

maximum rise o 50°C measured 100mm away

rom the protected ace at 60 minutes.

ModuSec also has a ‘traditional’ 90 minuterating, but more importantly, during a BS476

Pt 22 test with external temperatures rising

to 950°C over 90 minutes, the internal

temperature, measured on the protected ace,

stayed within the critical temperature or media

or 75 minutes and hardware storage (50°C rise

rom around 15°C) or 83 minutes.

In addition ModuSec has been re tested to

LPS 1181 unsupported. This means that the

wall panels can support the ceiling panels

that can span up to 6m without intermediate

support and without a steel ring beam.

Mineral wool composite panels require a ring

beam all round to support the ceilings in a

serious re situation, as the panels provide no

support i the steel skins come o (as they do

in a serious re) and generally 100mm panels

should only span up to about 4m or without

intermediate support.

Fire Ratings

A ModuSec panel last much longer against re compared to plasterboard stud partitionsand mineral wool panels.



Structural Integrity

The diagram below highlights one o the basic dierences in construction between ModuSec panels

and mineral wool panels. Mineral wool panels require extra steel supports within the room which

reduces the foor space and increases the cost. ModuSec panels can act as foor, wall and ceiling

panels and can span up to 6 metres without the need or any additional support.

Ceiling

Wall

Pyrofoam Panels

Tested as an unsupported structure to LPS

1181 & Lloyds IMO A 60 Marine Test.

Hence ModuSec’s Pyrofoam core panels

require no perimeter steel support to

maintain structural integrity in a fire,

reducing costs and providing flexibility in

placing plant around the walls.

Ceiling

Wall

Steel Support

Mineral Wool Panels

Tested as a supported structure

only to LPS 1181. Hence mineral

wool panels require perimeter

steel support to maintain

structural integrity in a fire.

This increases cost and restricts

placement of plant.



Eects o Water Damage onMineral Wool Panels

Porous Mineral Wool

Over time moisture from

condensation can form at the

‘dew point’ and spread

throughout the panels.

Top ceiling joints that are not sealed

(if due to restricted access) or which

have small gaps in sealing may also

allow water into the panels from

leaks above.

This diagram shows the possible eects over time rom moisture in mineral wool panels. The meeting

o hot and cold air at the Dew Point may cause water to condense within the panels. Water may also

enter via unsealed or inadequate joint/penetration sealing, particularly i outer access is restricted.This can signicantly increase the weight o ceiling panels, possibly leading to sag or collapse or the

mineral wool may slump to the bottom o panels, reducing insulation and structural integrity.

2009 panel systems compared.t

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