Fire requirements for facades
Facade fires do not occur often (compared to other major structure fires) but in recent years there have been a number of spectacular facade fires in high-rise buildings such as the one in Grenfell Tower in London.
Fires in under-ventilated spaces can cause flames to spill out of window openings that penetrate the facade, which can mean that devastating facade fires can start on one floor and jump over to adjacent floors. It is therefore necessary to limit or delay the spread of fire to higher floors.
Different countries have different rules and tests on facades. New materials and facade systems are continuously introduced that may require an update of these tests and regulations.