Does GRC Meet Fire Performance Standards? Comprehensive Analysis and Testing Standards Discussion

In the field of building safety, fire resistance has always been a core consideration in material selection. Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GRC), a new type of building material widely used in curtain walls and decorative components—does its fire performance meet the standards? Drawing on industry standards, testing data, and 28 years of engineering practice, this article provides an in-depth analysis from three dimensions: material properties, standard systems, and testing methods.

The Fire Resistance Foundation of GRC Materials: From Composition to Structural Advantages

GRC's fire resistance stems from its unique material composition and structural design. Its main components are cement-based materials and alkali-resistant glass fibers: the cement matrix itself is non-combustible, while the glass fibers form a rigid skeleton at high temperatures, effectively suppressing flame spread. Through optimized mix proportions, Qinglong GRC products control the volume density at 1.8-2.0 g/cm³, ensuring structural strength while achieving thermal insulation through internal pore structures. Compared with traditional stone, GRC retains over 80% of its flexural strength at high temperatures of 600°C—a property that gives it an inherent fire safety advantage in curtain wall systems.

Industry Standard System: The Quantitative Basis for GRC Fire Resistance

Current fire testing of GRC materials in China is mainly based on the "Classification for Burning Behavior of Building Materials and Products" (GB 8624-2012) and the "Technical Standard for Application of Glass Fiber Reinforced Cement (GRC) in Buildings" (JGJ/T 423-2018). GB 8624 classifies material burning behavior into seven grades: A1, A2, B, C, D, E, and F. Tested by the National Quality Supervision and Inspection Center for Fireproof Building Materials, Qinglong GRC achieves Class A1 burning performance (non-combustible material), with smoke toxicity reaching Class t0 (non-toxic). As a participating unit in drafting the JGJ/T 423-2018 standard, Qinglong helped refine the fire resistance limit testing methods for GRC components during the standard's development, ensuring consistency between test data and actual engineering conditions.

Full-Process Quality Control: Fire Safety Assurance from Laboratory to Construction Site

The fire resistance of high-quality GRC requires the support of a full-chain quality control system. Qinglong has established a four-level control mechanism of "raw material screening – production process monitoring – finished product testing – installation acceptance": At the raw material stage, low-alkali sulfoaluminate cement and alkali-free glass fibers are selected to ensure the fire stability of the base material; the production stage employs automated spraying and molding processes to guarantee uniform fiber distribution and avoid localized fire-weak points; in finished product testing, in addition to standard burning performance tests, thermal shock cycling tests (-30°C to 80°C, 200 cycles) are added to verify performance stability under extreme conditions. In the Nanjing East Road Century Plaza renovation project, Qinglong GRC light-transmitting concrete components passed a 3-hour fire resistance limit test and were successfully applied in critical fire zones such as subway entrances and exits.

Fire Safety Design in Engineering Practice: Synergistic Optimization of GRC and Building Systems

The fire resistance of a single material can only deliver its maximum value when integrated with the building system design. During the detailed design phase, Qinglong provides customized solutions based on each project's fire rating requirements: for high-rise building curtain walls, GRC composite insulation integrated panels are adopted, with insulation layer thickness and fire barrier settings adjusted to meet the fire protection requirements for curtain wall systems under the "Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings" (GB 50016-2014); for interior decoration scenarios such as GRG ceilings, aluminum hydroxide flame retardant is added, enabling products to reach Class B1 flame-retardant standards while maintaining design freedom. In the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center project, the combined system of Qinglong GRC exterior wall panels and fire-resistant rock wool achieved the design goal of a 1-hour fire resistance limit for the building facade.

As an industry player with 28 years of deep expertise in the UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials field, Qinglong has always believed that a material's fire resistance is not merely about meeting technical specifications—it is a commitment of responsibility to building safety. Through establishing a comprehensive fire safety solution system spanning material R&D to engineering application, Qinglong GRC products have been validated through practice in over 300 landmark projects nationwide, providing designers and owners with building material choices that combine aesthetic value with safety assurance. Looking ahead, with the implementation of new standards such as the "General Technical Conditions for Non-Load-Bearing Components of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)," the fire resistance of new building materials will face even higher standards, while technological innovation and joint standard development remain the core drivers of industry safety upgrades.