Firemaster 550 from Bellis
Specifiers and installers alike need to look no further than Bellis Australia for a lightweight fire-resistant board for commercial kitchen splashbacks. Bellis Australia is the national distributor of Firemaster 550 board, a fire-resistant board approved by Energy Safe Victoria and other interstate regulatory authorities for gas installations.
Bellis Firemaster 550 board is classified non-combustible and has an exceptionally low coefficient of heat transfer such that it complies with Appendix C, AS/NZS 5601.1:2013 Gas Installations.
Covering a combustible surface with ceramic tiles or stainless steel will not prevent heat transfer. An approved fire-resistant backing material such as Bellis Firemaster 550 board must be used to provide thermal protection to nearby combustible surfaces. Unless installations are fully compliant, heat will be transferred to adjacent combustible materials creating a potential fire hazard.
Gas installations must comply with the requirements of the appliance manufacturer and AS/NZS 5601.1: 2013 in respect to clearances and protection around commercial catering equipment. Where the means of compliance is to install the fire-resistant board, it must comply with the requirements of AS/NZS 5601.1: 2013 Appendix C. The surface temperature of any nearby combustible surface must not exceed 65°C above ambient.
How is this achieved?
Bellis Firemaster 550 Board is made from combining low bio-persistent fibres, refractory fillers and selected binders. The splashback material is available in large panel sizes that can be trimmed, strong enough to be suitable for splashbacks, walls, ceilings and partitions system construction.
Bellis Firemaster 550 board has been tested by CSIRO to validate compliance with Appendix C, AS/NZS 5601.1: 2013 Gas Installations. CSIRO also tested the board to AS/NZS 1530.3:1999 and it is deemed non-combustible.
Due to its exceptionally low coefficient of heat transfer (determined by independent testing conducted by CSIRO), Bellis Firemaster 550 board x 15mm thickness provides protection where commercial catering appliances designed to discharge combustion products at the rear of the appliance are installed against a wall. Flue temperatures between 450 and 500 deg C are not uncommon.
Confirmation of compliance is available from Bellis upon request.
Find out more about Bellis Firemaster 550 fire-resistant board for splashbacks by Contacting us today!