Roof systems manufacturer, Marley has launched a new roof fire barrier to help prevent the spread of fire between adjoining properties, allowing specifiers to add an additional safety layer to roofing projects to keep both people and properties protected.

Marley Roof Defence will help Housebuilders and social housing providers select fire mitigation measures with confidence as the system delivers full protection to prevent the spread of fire from one roof to the next. Achieving up to a 60-minute fire rating, it can also be specified as a comprehensive fire barrier in larger roofs, or as a fire break in expansive buildings with large footprints such as apartment blocks.

The easy to install system comprises a double intumescent seal, with an inverted T design, that can simply be installed under tiles and between roof battens to close all gaps in the event of fire. Furthermore, when specified as part of a full Marley roof system it comes with a 15-year guarantee, providing specifiers with assurance around its long-term performance capabilities.

Market concerns around roof fire spread risk

The new product has been developed following separate reports from the BRE and BBC Watchdog, which both raised concerns that some modern homes could have inadequate, incorrectly installed and, in some cases, no fire barriers. In terraced or semi-detached properties, this increases the risk that fire could spread rapidly through roof voids from one home to the next.

Stuart Nicholson, roof systems director at Marley, explains: “With recent reports about the dangers of concealed fires in roof voids between properties, the specification market will be keen to know about the best methods of stopping fire spread in the roof space between properties. It is important that specifiers have the reassurance they need when selecting the right product solution and we believe Roof Defence answers concerns when it comes to roof fire safety.

“When compartmentalising a roof for terraced or semi-detached housing, fire stopping is required between the top of the party wall and the roof covering. This is often achieved with a flexible mineral fibre quilt or sock, but a potential fire passage still exists at the line of the roofing battens, above the rafters, which can span across the junction between properties. New Roof Defence tackles this issue.”

Test proven

Marley’s Roof Defence has outperformed all fire testing requirements and fills every void from the party wall to the bottom tile, meaning smoke and fire cannot pass through.

It features two strips of intumescent material bonded at 90 degrees. When activated by heat, the inverted T intumescent seal expands, filling the space between roofing battens and sealing all gaps under the tiles, slates, and other roofing elements.

Roof Defence has been short listed in the product innovation category at both the Offsite Awards and the Structural Timber awards.

For more information, please visit www.marley.co.uk/roofdefence