25/8/2025
Efectis UK/Ireland successfully facilitated a full-scale modular building fire resistance test at the Kilroot site in Northern Ireland on 9 July 2025.
The test involved a total of eight modules. At ground level, three full-size modules were connected to a corridor module, with each unit having a door opening into the corridor. This arrangement was replicated with a second row of modules and corridor stacked above. The modules were installed within a steel framework fixed to a concrete foundation, mirroring real-world construction practice. Each module was of steel construction, with concrete floors and fire-rated wall panels.
The fire load, consisting of timber crib configurations, was placed in the central ground-floor module. Sensors were installed in the walls of adjacent modules at ground level as well as throughout all upper modules. A key requirement of the test was to follow the ISO 834 fire resistance curve for a minimum of two hours based on wood cribs natural fire. With the combined expertise of technical specialists from the Efectis Group, a fire load and scenario were developed to meet this requirement.
We are pleased to report that the fire load design successfully followed the ISO curve and achieved the required duration. This outcome provides greater confidence in conducting similar large-scale fire resistance tests in the future. We are also reporting that the fire behaviour of the 8 modules construction has been very good, without neither any structural damage nor fire propagation from the initial module to adjacent ones.
Beyond the success of the fire test, it is important to highlight that modular construction offers significant advantages for the building industry. Modular methods allow for faster project delivery, improved quality control, reduced on-site disruption, and enhanced sustainability through more efficient use of materials. Demonstrating fire safety performance at full scale further reinforces the potential of modular construction as a reliable, efficient, and innovative solution for modern building needs.
For more information, please contact Maurice McKee