Class A Fire-resistant Flexible Stone: Why Is It a Must for Exterior Walls of High-rise Buildings?
FUZHEN
FIRE SAFETY GUIDE / 2026
Building Fire Safety · Material Selection Guide
Class A Fire-resistant Flexible Stone: Why Is It a Must for Exterior Walls of High-rise Buildings?
Understand what "Class A" means in fire codes, interpret fire test reports, and pick the right cladding to secure your wall for decades.
50m+
For buildings over 50 meters
in height, only Class A
materials are permitted
for exterior walls.
AClass
National Inspection Standard
Non-combustible Material
3+
Verified by Authoritative Institutions
PROLOGUE
Why does fire spread so rapidly on a wall?
The greatest danger of exterior wall fires lies in "three-dimensional combustion". Flames
spread upward along the facade and can engulf the entire building within minutes.
Indoor sprinklers and fire hydrants can barely contain the exterior fire.
Investigations into numerous high-rise fire incidents over the years point to the same
root cause: flammable and combustible exterior insulation and cladding materials. For
this reason, national codes have set increasingly strict thresholds for the combustion
performance and construction techniques of cladding materials used on high-rise
buildings.
Excerpts · Ministerial Regulations"Flammable and combustible materials are prohibited for use as external thermal insulation materials on exterior walls of high-rise civil buildings."— Provisions on Fire Safety Management of High-rise Civil Buildings, effective August 1, 2021
"For all newly-started projects, the construction techniques, equipment and materials listed in this Catalogue shall be completely phased out. Among them, 'facing tile cement mortar bonding technique' is included in the elimination catalogue."— Catalogue of Construction Techniques, Equipment and Materials Endangering Work Safety in Housing and Municipal Infrastructure Projects (Batch 1), issued September 15, 2022
Today’s protagonist — Fuzhen High-Density Class A Fire-resistant Flexible Stone (MCM Soft Ceramic) — is the solution that meets both "non-combustibility" and fire protection construction requirements under these strict regulations.
01
FIRE CODE
How exactly do fire protection codes stipulate the requirements?
Three current mandatory codes explicitly stipulate that exterior walls of high-rise buildings must adopt Class A materials.
6.5.8
GB 55037-2022 · Fully Mandatory
General Code for Fire Protection of Buildings
The decorative layer of building exterior walls shall adopt materials with Class A
combustion performance.
Implemented on June 1, 2023, fully mandatory with no exemptions.
6.7.12
GB 50016-2014 (2018 Edition)
Code for Fire Protection Design of Buildings
The decorative layer of building exterior walls shall adopt materials with Class A
combustion performance. For buildings with a height not greater than 50 meters,
Class B1 materials may be used.
In short: For buildings over 50 meters high, only Class A materials are allowed for
exterior wall decorative layers, with no alternative options.
6.6.5
GB 55037-2022 · Mandatory for Special Venues
General Code for Fire Protection of Buildings
The external thermal insulation materials for exterior walls of buildings used as
densely populated places shall have Class A combustion performance.
Schools, hospitals, commercial complexes and transportation hubs — all densely
populated sites require Class A materials without exception.
02
CLASSIFICATION
What does "Class A Non-combustible" mean?
GB 8624-2012 classifies the combustion performance of building materials into four grades. Class A non-combustible is the highest tier at the top of the pyramid.
For exterior walls, the value of Class A can be summed up in one sentence: it cuts off the fuel chain of "three-dimensional combustion". If the decorative layer itself is non-combustible, flames lose the ladder to climb up along the building facade.
03
WHY FLEXIBLE STONE
Many Class A materials are available, so why choose Flexible Stone in particular?
Traditional Class A options include natural stone, aluminum panels and ceramic boards, yet they all share the same drawbacks: heavy, rigid and thick. Flexible Stone (MCM soft ceramic) unifies the seemingly conflicting properties of "non-combustibility" and "flexibility" within a thin sheet of merely 2~4 mm.
01
Non-combustible & Ultra-light
Class A fire resistance with a self-weight of only 3~6kg/㎡, imposing no extra load
burden on high-rise structures.
02
Non-combustible & Flexible
Bendable and cuttable. It can wrap round columns to form curved surfaces, enabling
shapes impossible for natural stone.
03
Non-combustible & No Dry Hanging Required
Thin bonding construction replaces steel frame dry hanging. No hollow cavity
structure, complying with fire stopping requirements.
04
Non-combustible & Textured Appearance
95~98% restoration of natural stone texture. Fire compliance does not mean
compromised aesthetics.
Note: The thin-bed bonding system without cavities between the base wall and decorative layer can avoid the stricter restrictions for cavity external thermal insulation systems specified in Clause 6.6.8 of GB 55037-2022.
04
TEST REPORT
Fuzhen Fire Test Report
Fuzhen High-Density Class A Fire-resistant Flexible Stone (MCM Soft Ceramic) has been tested by authoritative institutions, achieving Class A combustion performance in accordance with GB 8624-2012.
INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY
Repost
XJ2024B03H000092
Tested EntityGuangzhou Fuzhen Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd.
Testing InstitutionsChina Academy of
Building Research / Shanghai Jianke / National Inspection Center
Combustion Performance Class: Class A Non-combustible, GB 8624-2012
Water Absorption: As low as 5.8%, GB/T9966.3-2020
Antibacterial Rate: ≥ 99.9%, JC/T 2039-2010
Mildew Resistance Grade: Grade 0 (No Mildew Growth), JC/T2039-2010
Chalking Grade: Grade 0, GB/T 16259-2008
Thermal Dimensional Change Rate: 0.0%, GB/T 4085-2015
Bonding Strength: ≥ 0.6 MPa, JC/T547-2017
Accelerated Weathering Resistance: No abnormality after 2500h, GB/T 16259-2008
Frost Resistance / Acid & Alkali Resistance: Qualified (Lab Tested), JG/T 2219-2014
Detailed fire classification information shall be subject to the original test report.
05
CORE STRENGTHS
Fuzhen MCM Soft Ceramic · Four Core Advantages
01 Class A Non-combustible · Fire Resistance
Complies with GB 8624-2012 Class A. It is non-combustible in fire and releases no toxic
smoke, directly meeting mandatory fire safety requirements for high-rise buildings and
densely occupied spaces.
02 Antibacterial & Mildew-proof · 99.9%
Antibacterial rate ≥99.9%, mildew resistance Grade 0. It prevents mould growth under
long-term humid conditions, ideal for basements, restrooms and medical facilities.
03 High Density · Zero Chalking
Water absorption as low as 5.8% (national inspection test result), chalking Grade 0,
weathering resistance of 2500h. Beyond fire performance, it delivers outstanding
durability.
04 Special Adhesive · Complete System
Specially developed matching adhesive with bonding strength ≥0.6MPa, achieving
100% full mortar coverage to systematically eliminate the risk of high-altitude falling
off.
06
PROJECTS
It has been successfully applied in high-rise and public building projects.
From public buildings to residential communities, high-rise renovation to scenic spot projects — every real-world application serves as solid practical verification.
G20
MCM Soft Ceramic · Specified Material for G20 Hangzhou Summit Facade
Renovation As the designated material for city-level exterior wall renovation, MCM soft ceramic passed the strictest building
safety standards required for major international events.
2016
Yangcheng Garden Project · In service for nearly 10 year
Fuzhen MCM Flexible Split Tiles were delivered in bulk for residential building facades. Remaining clean and
pristine after nearly a decade of exposure to the elements, they demonstrate the long-
term dual value of Class A fire resistance and low water absorption.
Guangxi Minzu University
For densely populated campus public buildings of the university, Fuzhen MCM Flexible Clay Panels are flexibly
installed to wrap curved surfaces.
Yangxin International Kindergarten
The exterior walls of the kindergarten adopt Fuzhen MCM Flexible Slate with color-matching design. It delivers child-friendly aesthetics and premium texture, creating a safe, healthy and comfortable growth environment for children.
Shenzhen Longhua Urban Renewal Project
Fuzhen MCM Flexible Split Tiles were selected for the high-rise
residential urban renewal project in Longhua District, Shenzhen. Featuring rapid installation,
it shortens construction periods and reduces structural load. Its non-combustible
Class A performance makes it the top choice for building renovation.
Shanghai Giant Network Office Park Renovation Project
The exterior walls of Shanghai Giant Network renovation project adopt custom Fuzhen MCM
flexible stone strips for mixed splicing. The material boasts premium performances including
antibacterial & mildew-proof property, zero chalking and Class A fire resistance. It helps
cut carbon emissions and embodies technological innovation with environmental benefits.
Wanfenglin Scenic Area Project
Fuzhen MCM flexible 3D printed fortress stone is applied in Wanfenglin Scenic Area, reproducing
the texture of natural rock. It integrates three merits: stone imitation, light weight and non-
combustibility, meeting the high standard fireproof requirements for crowded public sites.
A
FUZHEN
Fire safety regulations will become increasingly stringent, so material selection should be done right the first time.
Class A non-combustible, 99.9% antibacterial and mildew-proof rate, high density with zero chalking, and matched special adhesive system. With a water absorption rate as low as 5.8% and a complete set of authoritative certifications, Fuzhen high-density flexible stone (soft ceramic) delivers a one-stop solution for exterior walls of high-rises and public buildings.