The LPC Design Guide
The basic principles required to achieve adequate property and business insurance protection are defined within the LPCB Red Book and the LPC Design Guide for the Fire Protection of Buildings 2000, which includes the ‘Essential Principles’ document. These documents principally concern the protection of business by minimising fire and smoke damage and interruption to the business in the event of a fire.
Whilst not mandatory, these documents encourage consultation with insurers at the earliest stage to influence the insurance terms and should be used as a cornerstone of design.
The LPC Design Guide makes specific reference to the use of non-combustible materials in Euroclass A1 or A2. It also introduces the concept of the ‘Protected Zone’, which includes the external roof area each side of a compartment wall. Roofs in this zone require appropriate fire resistance, depending on the use of the building and the associated risk.
Systems tested to LPS 1181 Part 1 EXT-A meet fire resistance for roofs to the appropriate ‘Protected Zone’ requirements (as table below).
| Grade |
Integrity / Insullation |
Application |
| EX A60 |
60/60 |
Retail Warehouse
Superstore, Storage,
Some Industrial |
| EXT A30 |
30/30 |
Shop, Commercial |
| EXT A15 |
30/15 |
Sprinklered Buildings |
To read the definitive book of all the products listed click here
The Fire Protection Association produce the LPC Design Guide. To read this and other publications visit
The BRE have a focus on fire safety and regularly conduct testing. Click here to visit their website