New fire-resistant Pyro-Foam panels, developed by MacGREGOR’s Passenger Ship division, eliminate the need for steel bulkheads to protect provisions stores and cold stores. By doing away with a steel structure the new system, which is based on self-supporting foam-filled panels, offers savings in weight, cost, and installation time.

The panels are manufactured by injecting the foam under pressure between the metal skins made of stainless, galvanised, or polyester-coated galvanised steel 0.6 - 0.8 mm thickness. Modular panels are manufactured up to 6 m in length and 1.2 m in width. They are connected using standard Camlock mechanical locking fasteners to facilitate shipboard installation. The Pyro-Foam system which uses an environment-friendly modified phenolic foam that does not contain any CFCs and has a zero oxygen depletion potential (ODP). The foam has a fine cell structure, which has a consistent thermal conductivity that remains unchanged throughout the foam’s lifetime. The material is inherently fire-resistant and therefore separate fire retardants are not required. According to the company, tests show that a foam-filled 100 mm thick panel offers adequate fire resistance for more than 60 minutes. In addition, unlike rockwool-based alternatives, the new foam-based panels are moisture resistant.

The panels are approved by Lloyd’s Register for use as A-60 equivalent fire resisting panels for refrigerated spaces. Det Norske Veritas has also accepted (on a case-by-case basis) the new system for A60 applications without surrounding steel bulkheads and specifically for use in walk-in rooms, galleys and pantries.