Ametalin ThermalBreak® is an Extra Heavy Duty reflective insulation for use in all roof and walls types which complies with AS/NZS 4200.1:2017 Pliable building membranes and underlays, Part 1: Materials. Its closed cell foam structure provides an R0.2 thermal break, required for steel frame construction, and a Class 2 vapour barrier. The reflective surfaces contribute to system R-values when installed adjacent to air cavities.
As is required for all pliable reflective insulation products in Australia, Ametalin ThermalBreak® achieves a low flammability index (<5) when tested in accordance with AS 1530.2-1993 Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures, Part 2: Test for flammability of materials. For increased fire performance, Ametalin ThermalBreak® has also been submitted to AS 5637.1:2015 Determination of fire hazard properties, and has achieved Group 1, the best material Group Number out of 1 to 4.
Ametalin ThermalBreak® is the only Extra Heavy Duty reflective insulation product in Australia that offers a Group 1 AS 5637.1:2015 classification and an R0.2 in-situ Thermal Break.
What are Group Numbers?
Testing to AS ISO 9705—2003 Fire tests—Full-scale room test for surface products, to simulate real life conditions generates data including the amount of heat released by burning of the test materials.
Release of heat above a certain threshold is called flashover, and any product which reaches flashover during AS ISO 9705 testing cannot achieve a classification better than Group 2. Ametalin ThermalBreak® was tested for 20 minutes without reaching flashover, achieving a classification of Group 1.
| Group 1 | No flashover in first 10 minutes | No flashover in second 10 minutes |
| Group 2 | No flashover in first 10 minutes | Flashover in second 10 minutes |
| Group 3 | Flashover after first 2 minutes | Flashover before second 10 minutes |
| Group 4 | Flashover before first 2 minutes |
What about other Ametalin products?
Ametalin product testing in accordance with AS 5637.1:2015, along with supplementary flammability testing, was reviewed by Ignis Solutions professional fire engineers. Ignis Solutions determined that Ametalin ThermalBreak®, along with Ametalin SilverWrap Light Duty, are classified Group 1. All Ametalin foil laminate products with a material thickness below that of Ametalin ThermalBreak® have been evaluated as equivalent to Group 1. These products include Ametalin SilverWrap Medium Duty, Ametalin SilverSark® and Ametalin ThermalLiner®.
Is ThermalBreak™ also thermal insulation?
Ametalin ThermalBreak® will contribute to the system R-value of a wall or ceiling with its high material R-value and by forming a reflective air cavity with an unventilated air space. Combined, these can deliver upwards of R1.0 to the thermal performance of the wall or ceiling, with especially good performance against downwards heat flow in summer conditions.
For air conditioned and non-air conditioned commercial and industrial spaces, the R0.2 thermal break resists thermal bridging between external cladding and steel frame members, contributing to the required R-values as required under the National Construction Code. This R0.2 thermal break is also necessary under the energy efficiency performance requirements for steel frame housing.