Welcome to our Fact Check Series!

Architects & designers are inundated with so much information that it can be hard to differentiate between fact and fiction!

Check out our Fact Check Series to help you find the right answer to some of our most common questions!

Have another question for us? Send us a request or give us a call on 1300 333 833.

  • FALSE!

    There are certain locations that require a Group 1 as outlined in the 2019 NCC BCA but in most ‘specific’ or ‘other’ areas it is possible to have up to a Group 3 rating.

    The exact rating is dependent on the type of building; the section of the building; and if sprinklers are installed.

    Refer to the BCA Deemed-to-Satisfy Provision Specification C1.10 Table 3 or click here to use our free online Group Rating Calculator that instantly tells you what exact rating you will require.

    Check out our article What Group Rating number do I really need? or give our Architectural team a call on 1300 333 833 if you have any more questions.

  • FALSE!

    In most circumstances the substrate thickness of an acoustic panel will affect the fire rating of a multi-layered acoustic panel.

    It is important to review every detail in the fire certificate and ensure that it matches exactly what you want to specify. If there are ANY variations in the description of the fire certificate (including panel substrate , thickness, open area percentage and finish type.

    Have another question? Give our Architectural team a call on 1300 333 833 to discuss.

  • FALSE!

    There are so many variations of acoustic panels available due to different substrates, finish and open area percentages (in fact Atkar has over 12,000 panel variations – you can view them here on our 3D Panel Visualiser!) that it is impossible to test them all.

    If there is no fire certificate available for your preferred panel variation, it is possible to work with your supplier and fire engineer and use certificates for similar products that have been tested to receive a Performance Solution.

    Want more detail or have another question? Give our Architectural team a call on 1300 333 833 to discuss.

  • FALSE!

    Standards Australia introduced ‘AS5637.1:2015 – Determination of fire hazard properties – Wall and ceiling linings’ to help determine accurate group numbers.

    Under the Standard, products which are multi-layered & perforated must be assessed to AS5637 and Group Numbers can only be obtained when assessed to AS5637.

    AS3837 (Cone Test) or AS9705 (Full Room Test) alone can no longer be used to issue a Group Number.

    Want more detail or have another question? Give our Architectural team a call on 1300 333 833 to discuss.

  • FALSE!

    Acoustic perforated panels consist of multiple layers of materials glued together with perforated holes or slots to achieve acoustic performance. Fire experts identified that multi-layered products with perforations can reduce the fire performance of a product.

    Prior to the 2016 NCC BCA, panels were often tested only as solid panel and were therefore achieving a Group 1 Rating this is why AS5637 was introduced – it is important to ensure your wall & ceiling lining panels have been tested to AS 5637.

    Want more detail or have another question? Give our Architectural team a call on 1300 333 833 to discuss.

  • FALSE!

    The term ‘FR’ has different meaning in different industries and companies.

    For Atkar Group, our substrate MDF FR refers to Fire Retardant, but some suppliers may imply their product is Fire Rated or Fire Resistant.

    It is important that you check Fire Test Certificates regardless of the claims that the supplier may say.

    Want more detail or have another question? Give our Architectural team a call on 1300 333 833 to discuss.

  • TRUE!

    There are many components to reading a fire certificate – click to read our article Understand The Facts About Group Numbers
    for full tips to help get you though it!

    Want more detail or have another question? Give our Architectural team a call on 1300 333 833 to discuss.