Dr Debbie Smith Director of Fire Sciences€¦ · of European fire test methods for classification...

CE marking and passive fire protection products

Dr Debbie SmithDirector of Fire Sciences

Background 1

• In 1989, European commission introduced the Construction Products Directive (CPD) (89/106/EC)

• Intended to remove technical barriers to trade for construction products across Europe

• Construction product means any product that is incorporated permanently within the building

Background 2

• Resulted in – Publication of over 600 technical

specifications for CE marking construction products

– Development and publication of a series of European fire test methods for classification of fire performance (apply horizontally to all construction products)

European Classification

Classification standards• EN 13501 : Part 1 Reaction to Fire• EN 13501 : Part 2 Fire resistance• EN 13501 : Part 3 Fire resistance - service

installations• EN 13501 : Part 4 Fire resistance - smoke

control systems• EN 13501 : Part 5 External fire exposure of roofs• EN 13501 : Part 6 Cables (COMING SOON)

European Classifications

Commission Decision

2000/147/ECReaction To Fire • Euroclasses

A1 - F

End Use Application

• Products shall be tested so as to simulate their end use application. A product being used in different end use applications can have different classifications relating to each application.

• End use application includes:– the orientation of the product;– its position in relation to other adjacent products (substrate, fixing,

etc.).

Euro class A1 and A2 for wall and ceiling linings

• A1 – EN ISO 1182 and– EN ISO 1716

• A2 – sx, dx– EN ISO 1182 or– EN ISO 1716 and– EN 13823

Non-Combustibility Furnace - EN ISO 1182

Bomb Calorimeter - EN ISO 1716

• Measures the Gross Calorific Value for each substantial component.

• Determines the potential maximum total heat release of a product when completely burning, regardless of its end use.

Single Burning Item Test - BS EN 13823

• Measures l flame spread

l heat release

l smoke production

l burning droplets

Single Burning Item Test - BS EN 13823

Small Flame Test - BS EN ISO 11925-2

• Evaluates the ignitability of a product under exposure to a small flame

• Measures

– extent of burning/time

– flaming droplets/particles

Fire resistance

Fire resistance applies to individual elements of building construction :

• Non-loadbearing - partitions, doors, ceilings, windows etc

• Loadbearing - walls, floors, columns, beams etc

What do we measure in a fire resistance test?

• Integrity - formation of cracks or openings in a separating element (e.g. wall, door) which can allow the passage of fire

• Insulation - temperature rise on the side of the separating element away from the fire (unexposed face)

• Loadbearing capacity - collapse of a loadbearing element under applied load

BRE wall furnace

BRE column furnace

Test Methods

Non-loadbearing elements:

• EN 1364 : Part 1 Walls• EN 1364 : Part 2 Ceilings• EN 1364 : Parts 3/4/5 Curtain walling• EN 1364 : Part 6 External walls• EN 1634 : Part 1/2/3 Fire doors and

shutters

Test Methods

Loadbearing elements

• EN 1365 : Part 1 Walls• EN 1365 : Part 2 Floors and roofs• EN 1365 : Part 3 Beams• EN 1365 : Part 4 Columns• EN 1365 : Part 5 Balconies on walkways• EN 1365 : Part 6 Stairs

Test Methods

Service Installations• EN 1366 : Part 1 Ducts• EN 1366 : Part 2 Fire dampers• EN 1366 : Part 3 Penetration seals• EN 1366 : Part 4 Linear gap seals• EN 1366 : Part 5 Service ducts and shafts• EN 1366 : Part 6 Raised access floors• EN 1366 : Part 7 Closures and conveyors• EN 1366 : Part 8/9/10 Smoke extraction ducts/dampers

What’s happening today?

– Fire test performance is required for construction products to satisfy requirements of the UK Building Regulations

– BUT CE marking in the UK is voluntary

What’s happening tomorrow ?

– The CPD was replaced by the Construction Product Regulation (CPR) which came into force in April 2011

– CE marking will be mandatory in the UK for any construction product placed on the market from 1 July 2013

What do you need to do ?

• Speak to us• We can work with you to prepare for the

new legal requirements that are coming very soon

The End - Thank you for listening –Any questions ?Contact details:Dr Debbie SmithDirector of Fire Sciences BRE Global LtdGarstonWatfordHerts WD25 9XX, UKEmail; smithda@bre.co.uk