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Exterior Composite panels

Examiner

Examiner

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Oct 22, 2009
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USA
Sometime in the far far away past I recall that composite panels such as; Panel 15 could not be used on non-combustible construction such as Type I or Type II.

Panel 15 has a metal skin of .010” adhered to an exterior plywood. These are sometimes used in openings of a storefront shared with glazing. I have also seen this as a perimeter fascia band on a building.

I am now researching similar type metal skin panels that are insulated and have a metal skin on both sides. Some of these you can change the substrate the metal is adhered to from a hardboard (wood product) to cement board.

Is there a Code section that addresses the skin thickness covering a combustible product?

Can you use a metal composite panel with a plywood substrate as an exterior cladding or window opening filler on buildings that are to have a non-combustible exterior wall?

I guess if they comply with ASTM E84 then they can be used. Some of the ones I have seen are not showing the data sheet.

Surprisingly Panel 15 does comply with ASTM E84.
 
These panels can be fabricated using gypsum board as the substrate to the metal and as a fire barrier to the plastic insulation if insulated. Thus, they can be fabricated with noncombustible materials.

Metal-faced plywood would not be considered noncombustible in accordance with Section 703.4 (2009 IBC), since the elemental component of plywood would not pass ASTM E 136. If fire-retardant-treated, then it could be used in Types I and II if part of a nonrated, nonbearing exterior wall. It could also be used as trim or as exterior cladding if complying with Section 1406.
 
Examiner,

Refer to 2006 IBC, Section 1406.2.1 - Ignition resistance. Section 1407 if your stated

type panels are Metal Composite Materials (MCM). NFPA 285 has the test criteria for

"full scale tests" (RE: Section 1407.10.4).
 
globe trekker said:
Examiner,Refer to 2006 IBC, Section 1406.2.1 - Ignition resistance. Section 1407 if your stated

type panels are Metal Composite Materials (MCM). NFPA 285 has the test criteria for

"full scale tests" (RE: Section 1407.10.4).
Click to expand...
What Examiner is describing is not MCM. MCM is a metal composite with a plastic core. Products such as Alucobond and Reynobond are examples of MCM.
 
Thanks for the responses. I will try and find what ASTM E 136 states and see if it is listed on some of the data sheets with the products to be researched.
 
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