FM Global has released a new research technical report, Evaluation of the Fire Performance of Aluminium Cladding Material (ACM) Assemblies Using ANSI/FM 4880, which outlines the strengths of the proposed protocol for the ANSI/FM 4880 Standard.

The company’s in-depth examination of exterior wall systems made of metal composite materials (MCM) or aluminium composite materials (ACMs) proposes a better testing protocol using 16ft-high parallel panels as outlined in the test protocol for the ANSI/FM 4880 Standard.

“While many fire engineering firms perform desktop assessments in good faith, current practices and regulations introduce the possibility that substandard, dangerous assemblies will slip through the cracks,” says FM Global vice president and manager of research Dr. Louis Gritzo.

“We can’t afford to take this risk as buildings burn and lives are lost, even in the developed world. We believe the protocol in ANSI/FM 4880 is a key to the solution.”

The research technical report complements a recently released FM Global white paper, Grenfell: The Perfect Formula for Tragedy, that explores the dangers of combustible cladding.