Fire Resistance Rating of Container Houses

The fire resistance rating of container houses typically ranges from Level 1 to Level 3, with the specific rating determined based on the fire resistance performance evaluation of materials and structures. The classification of fire resistance ratings is mainly based on international and domestic standards, as detailed below:

International Standards

1. ASTM E119 Standard: This standard classifies fire resistance ratings by testing the fire resistance time of building components (such as walls and floors) under standard fire conditions. For example, a 1-hour fire resistance rating requires the component to maintain structural integrity for 1 hour in an 830°C flame, while a 2-hour rating requires it to remain intact and retain its thermal insulation for 2 hours without collapsing. Container houses that use fire-resistant rock wool boards (thickness ≥ 50mm) or Class A non-combustible materials can typically achieve a fire resistance rating of 1-2 hours.
2. ISO 834 Standard: This standard simulates a fire temperature rise curve (e.g., a temperature increase of approximately 84°C per hour), and container houses must pass an overall structural test. For example, REI 30 requires the structure to maintain load-bearing capacity, integrity, and thermal insulation for 30 minutes, while REI 60 requires these conditions to be met for 60 minutes.
3. Classification System: Some international standards classify the fire resistance of container houses into Class A, Class B, and Class C. Class A container houses can withstand high temperatures of 1100°C, with thermal insulation layers made of materials such as asbestos; Class B container houses can withstand temperatures of 800°C, with thermal insulation layers made of materials such as glass wool; Class C container houses can withstand temperatures of 600°C, with thermal insulation layers made of materials such as polystyrene boards.

Domestic Standards

1. GB 8624-2012 Standard: This standard classifies the combustion performance of materials into Class A (non-combustible), Class B1 (difficult-to-burn), Class B2 (combustible), and Class B3 (flammable). For container houses, Class A materials (such as rock wool boards and glass wool boards) are preferred for walls and roofs, while interior materials should be at least Class B1 (such as fire-resistant gypsum boards).
2. GB 50016-2014 Standard: This standard specifies fire protection requirements for temporary buildings. Single-story container houses must have a fire resistance rating of at least Level 3 (with a wall fire resistance limit of ≥ 0.5 hours), while multi-story container houses must have a fire resistance rating of at least Level 2 (with a wall fire resistance limit of ≥ 1.0 hours).

Practical Application Scenarios

For low-risk scenarios (such as construction site dormitories), Class B1 interior materials combined with 0.5-hour fire-resistant walls can meet temporary living needs. For high-risk scenarios (such as office spaces in chemical areas), Class A walls combined with 1-hour fire-resistant structures, along with automatic fire extinguishing systems, are required.