Fire Resistance of Wood Wool Acoustic Panels
The fire performance of wood wool panels depends on the substrate and binder. Products bonded with Portland cement or magnesium cement encapsulate the wood strands in an inorganic matrix, so flame spread during a fire is limited. Under GB 8624-2012 (classification of building construction products), common wood wool acoustic panels reach B1 (difficult to ignite), while some high-density cement-based versions reach A2.
In the European system, comparable products are often rated B-s1,d0: s1 means limited smoke release, and d0 means no flaming droplets. These two figures matter in occupied public buildings such as hospitals, schools and stations.
Compared with solid wood fibreboards, wood wool boards carry a lower fire load thanks to the inorganic cement matrix. However, the paint on the surface, the fill inside the back cavity and any wooden keels used for fixing all affect the overall burning behaviour of the system, so a system-level assessment is recommended.
When selecting products, request a third-party fire test report and confirm the grade matches the fire-zone requirements of the project. For high-risk areas such as ceilings, A2-rated products or flame-retardant back-coated panels are recommended, and the test report number should be kept in the completion file.
— Mushu Wood Wool Acoustic Panel