Fire Resistant and Lightweight Wall Systems using Innovative Blocks

Building fires and bushfires occur regularly in Australia but the emerging cold-formed steel construction solutions
for mid-rise buildings and bushfire safe rooms are inadequate due to lack of suitable wall systems. This project will
provide innovative fire safe and cost-effective solutions in the form of new blocks and wall systems, enabling their
more widespread use in mid-rise buildings and bushfire safe rooms thereby benefitting the Australian building
industries and the community.

This project will develop an innovative block with lightweight and fire resistant characteristics by using Pumice and Perlite
materials, followed by wall systems using the blocks. For this purpose, it will use material and thermal
characterization studies, thermal and structural numerical models and fire tests of the new blocks, wall panels and
a compartment.