Test method for roof panels to be used for passive fire roof venting

The current New Zealand prescriptive code for fire safety allows unlimited firecell floor area if at least 15% of the roof area is designed for “effective fire venting”. However neither a definition nor performance criteria for “effective fire venting” is provided. Transparent and semi-transparent 'plastic'-type panels that have been installed for natural lighting requirements have been assumed to provide passive fire venting, based on misperceptions of generic 'plastic' performance in the event of a fire. The fire venting performance of these roof panels has not been proven. Therefore guidance on the use of roof panels for passive fire venting is required.