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; [email protected]