What fire safety considerations affect metal panel elevation pros and cons in tall buildings projects

Fire safety is a decisive factor when assessing metal panel elevations for tall buildings—regulators in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and many Central Asian jurisdictions increasingly require tested and certified façade assemblies. The principal concern is the combustible content within panels (particularly composite cores) and the façade’s ability to limit vertical and horizontal fire spread. Composite aluminum panels with polyethylene cores, once common for aesthetics and cost, are now often restricted for high-rise buildings due to their contribution to fire propagation. For towers in Kuwait City or Manama, non-combustible cores such as mineral-filled cores or metal-insulated panels with mineral wool are standard practice to achieve compliance.

Assessments should include full-scale façade fire tests (e.g., BS 8414, NFPA 285 or equivalent tests recognized by local authorities). Ensure the selected metal panel assembly and perimeter joint details have been tested as an integrated system because untested details are commonly rejected by certifying bodies. Fire-stopping at slab edges, cavity barriers, and vertical compartmentation are essential to prevent chimney effects within the cavity behind rainscreen panels. Additionally, fixings and insulation must be non-combustible or appropriately fire-rated to avoid hidden failure paths.

Designing for fire safety often slightly increases cost and weight due to non-combustible cores and additional cavity barriers, but these are necessary trade-offs for MEP and code compliance in tall buildings across the Middle East and Central Asia. Engage façade engineers early to align panel selection, cavity design and vertical compartmentation strategies to ensure the aesthetic and thermal benefits of metal panels are not undermined by safety non-compliance.