You can only do it right once

Innovative sealant is more than four hours fire resistant

When you have more than 90 years of expertise in house, you can assume that you know what you're talking about. There is no lack of expertise at SABA adhesives & sealants, where they like to combine down-to-earthness from the Achterhoek with innovations in the field of adhesives and sealants. For example, by taking significant steps when it comes to the fire-resistant properties of products. During the fire test days, it was make or break. Is SABA's sealant fire-resistant for four hours?

Proven fire resistant without concessions

Fire safety is a fundamental part of safe and comfortable living, working or staying in a building. We see increasing attention being paid to long-term fire and smoke resistance. Not only because of changing legislation, but also because of the growing demand from customers, insurers and clients to provide buildings and their contents with long-term fire protection. This is why SABA has focused on extending the fire-resistant properties of its sealants. "Our Sabaprotect M500 already scored quite well in terms of fire and smoke resistance. But now this sealant is proven to be four hours fire resistant, while maintaining its good processing properties," says Kevin Nieuwenhuis, Account Manager at SABA. Besides safety, processing properties are an important advantage for professional installers. Because Sabaprotect M500 does not contain solvents and isocyanates, the application is safe for processors. This is underlined by the Emicode seal of approval the product carries and makes it distinctive in the market. 

Intense but successful

For the fire tests according to EN 13501-2 and EN 1366-4, SABA engaged the Peutz Laboratory for Fire Safety. The fire testing process from idea to implementation took almost a year. "When you do these tests, you actually have to simulate all the situations that can occur in practice," says Henry Veneman, Technical Product Manager at SABA. "Just mapping out all the practical situations was a time-consuming job. Together with Peutz's technical experts, these situations were translated into a representative fire wall, in which many practical joints were simulated. The wall was exposed to extreme conditions, with temperatures reaching as high as 1,100°C in the test furnace." The sealant was tested in different materials such as concrete, metal and wood, and in both horizontal and vertical joints, he says. "Of course it was exciting to pass the full test duration. So the relief was great when we reached the four hours - an intensive course, but absolutely worth it."

A comfortable and safe building

Sabaprotect M500 not only offers excellent fire resistance, but also contributes in other ways to a pleasant and safe indoor environment. For example, the sealant has sound-damping properties (ISO 10140-1:2012), is airtight in accordance with EN 12114 and scores excellently in smoke-resistance tests. Curious about the test results? SABA is happy to share them! From a small traditional company in chemical products to a global player in adhesives and sealants. According to Romy Buursink, Marketing Coordinator at SABA, this success is partly explained by the large 'Research & Development' department that is literally in-house. "Thanks in part to this large laboratory, feedback from our test results can be directly incorporated into the further development of our products. We are one of the last independent kit manufacturers in the Netherlands and that is quite unique."