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By Wojciech Brożyna, MD Aluprof UK

In the UK, internal fire screens are subject to stringent performance and safety standards to ensure they provide effective fire resistance and compartmentation.

The key applicable standard is BS EN 13501-2, which classifies the fire resistance performance of building elements, including glazed screens, in terms of integrity (E), insulation (I), and radiation (W). Testing is carried out to BS EN 1634-1, which assesses the resistance of door and shutter assemblies and glazed elements to fire exposure. Additionally, the Building Regulations Approved Document B sets out the fire safety requirements for internal separations and escape routes, specifying how long a fire screen must resist fire and prevent the passage of smoke and flames in various building types and risk areas.

Aluminium framed fire screens offer a compelling combination of strength, fire performance and design flexibility that often surpasses other materials. They are lightweight yet structurally robust, allowing for slimmer profiles and larger glazed areas that maximise natural light while maintaining critical fire protection. Aluminium is inherently corrosion-resistant and durable, reducing long-term maintenance costs, and can be finished in a wide range of powder-coated colours to suit any interior aesthetic.

Combined with advanced fire-resistant glazing and internal insulation materials, aluminium systems can achieve high fire ratings without compromising on style or installation efficiency, making them a smart choice for modern commercial and residential environments. To make aluminium framing fire resistant, manufacturers incorporate specialised fire-retardant materials between the frame profiles that act as thermal barriers and insulators. These typically include intumescent strips or inserts, which expand rapidly when exposed to heat, sealing gaps and preventing the passage of flames and smoke.

Within the aluminium frames ceramic insulation, and/or gypsum-based infills are also used to maintain the structural integrity of the frame under extreme temperatures. Together with fire-rated glazing and compatible gaskets, these elements allow the aluminium fire screen system to achieve the required EI classification, ensuring both integrity and insulation performance during a fire event.

Modern aluminium fire systems are thermally broken and incorporate specialist glazing and gaskets, allowing them to meet EI30, EI60, or even EI120 classifications (maintaining integrity in minutes) while maintaining slim, elegant profiles suitable for contemporary interiors. This combination of strength and precision engineering allows for larger glazed areas and minimal sight-lines, enhancing aesthetics without compromising safety. Aluminium is fully recyclable without loss of properties, contributing to low embodied carbon and supporting circular construction practices.

Its durability also ensures long service life with minimal maintenance, making it ideal for high-traffic environments such as offices, hospitals, and educational buildings. Additionally, aluminium systems can be finished in a wide range of colours and textures through powder coating or anodising, ensuring both compliance with fire safety standards and alignment with the architectural vision of the interior space.

It is crucial to source both the frames and glazing from a single, tested supplier when specifying fire-rated glazed screens to ensure full system compatibility and certified performance. Fire resistance is achieved through a precisely engineered combination of frame, glazing, seals, and fixings that have been tested together as a complete assembly under BS EN 1634-1. Mixing components from different manufacturers can invalidate the certification and compromise the screen integrity and insulation performance in a fire situation. Using one approved supplier guarantees that the system has been independently tested and accredited as a whole, providing confidence in compliance with Building Regulations and ensuring a seamless installation backed by a single warranty and clear accountability for safety.

Aluprof offers a comprehensive range of fire-rated aluminium screens designed to meet the most demanding safety and aesthetic requirements in modern architecture. Systems, such as the MB-78EI, MB-118EI, and MB-86EI, provide certified fire resistance levels from EI15 up to EI120, ensuring effective compartmentation and protection for escape routes and high-risk zones. Each system has been tested to BS EN 1634-1 and classified to BS EN 13501-2, confirming compliance with UK and European fire standards. These profiles incorporate fire-retardant inserts and intumescent seals, maintaining structural integrity and insulation during prolonged exposure to heat while allowing for slimline, elegant frames suitable for both internal partitions and external façades.

Aluprof fire doors are high-performance aluminium door systems designed to provide superior fire resistance while maintaining modern aesthetics and functionality. Engineered using advanced thermal insulation and robust materials, these doors meet stringent European fire protection standards and also offer resistance to EI30, EI60, and EI120, ensuring effective containment of fire and smoke for specified durations. Suitable for commercial, public, and residential buildings, Aluprof fire doors integrate seamlessly with the company’s partition systems, offering both safety and design flexibility. They also allow for various glazing options, finishes, and hardware configurations, balancing protection, durability, and architectural appeal.

Complementing these systems, Aluprof offers a range of fire-rated glazing options that work in complete harmony with their aluminium framing. Glassprof Sp. z o.o. is a specialist manufacturer of fire-rated and architectural glass, based in Ogrodzona near Cieszyn, and is part of the Aluprof S.A. group. Their offer includes clear, laminated and insulated glass units capable of achieving the same EI classifications as the doors and frames, ensuring full system certification and performance consistency. By sourcing both the glazing and framing from Aluprof, specifiers benefit from a fully tested and warranted solution, guaranteeing compliance and simplifying the specification process. The result is a high-performance, visually refined fire screen system that combines safety, sustainability, and design flexibility, making it ideal for commercial, public, and residential buildings where fire protection and architectural style must go hand in hand.

At Capital Quarter 2 in Cardiff, Aluprof’s internal fire-rated aluminium screen systems were specified to deliver both safety and aesthetic excellence. The project required a high-performance glazed partitioning solution capable of providing effective fire compartmentation without compromising on natural light or visual connectivity. Aluprof’s MB-SR50N EFEKT system was specified for its proven fire resistance of up to EI60, offering robust integrity and insulation performance in line with UK Building Regulations and BS EN 13501-2 standards.

The MB-SR50N EFEKT curtain wall system used internally, features thermally broken aluminium profiles with fire-resistant insulation inserts placed inside the frame to maintain temperature stability during exposure to fire. Combined with certified fire-rated glazing, the system ensures consistent protection while maintaining the project’s contemporary design intent.

Aluprof UK have been supporting specifiers in the UK and Ireland for over fifteen years with advanced systems that include, high performance windows doors and facade systems. Many UK and Ireland based fabricators and installers supply these systems and are on hand to offer surveys and cost analysis as to what improvements can be made with likely paybacks.

Further information about the wide range of systems and specification support is available through the company website at aluprof.co.uk or for home improvement at aluprofliving.com