BS EN 13501-1

[edit] Introduction

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the UK National Standards Body (NSB). It publishes standards and provides a range of books, self-assessment tools, conferences and training services. It also represents UK economic and social interests in European and international standards organisations.

BS EN 13501-1 Fire classification of construction products and building elements, is the classification that enables certain products to be CE marked. It was originally published as BS EN 13501-1:2007+A1:2009 and was updated in 2018.

As of March 2025, BS EN 13501-1 is the primary standard for compliance in the UK, replacing old Class 0 ratings which appeared in the BS 476 series of British Standards for fire testing building materials and structures, evaluating performance such as surface spread of flame, combustibility, and fire resistance. The BS standard had been used for many years but is gradually being replaced by the European (BS EN) standards, with such evaluation methods such as reaction to fire being withdrawn in March 2025 and fire resistance testing valid only until September 2029.

For more information on CE marking, see CE marking in the construction industry.

[edit] Fire protection ratings

Fire reaction achieved by elements of structure, doors and other forms of construction is classified in accordance with BS EN 13501-1, excluding power, control and communications (which are covered by BS EN 13501-6).

Specifically, the following products are covered under BS EN 13501-1 (within their end use):

• Construction products.
• Floorings.
• Linear pipe thermal insulation products.

According to BS EN 13501-2, fire resistance is a measure of one or more of the following:

• Resistance to collapse (loadbearing capacity), which applies to loadbearing elements only, denoted 'R' in the European classification of the resistance to fire performance.
• Resistance to fire penetration (integrity), denoted 'E' in the European classification of the resistance to fire performance.
• Resistance to the transfer of excessive heat (insulation), denoted 'I' in the European classification of the resistance to fire performance.

[edit] Measurement

Fire reaction tests performed (alone or in combination, depending on the product) in order to comply with BS EN 13501-1 are:

• BS EN ISO 1182 - Non-combustibility test.
• BS EN ISO 1716 - Heat of combustion test.
• BS EN 13823 Single - Burning item test.
• BS EN ISO 9239-1 - Radiant panel test (floorings only).
• BS EN ISO 11925-2 - Single-flame source test

Once materials are tested, they are given a three-part designation:

• Main classification (indicated by a letter from A to F with A1 being the highest classification and F being the lowest).
• Smoke classification (indicated by the alphanumeric combination s1, s2 or s3 with s1 the highest and s3 the lowest).
• Flaming droplet classification (indicated by the alphanumeric combination d0, d1 or d2 with d0 the highest and d2 the lowest).

The standard is available to download for a fee from the BSI website.

[edit] Withdrawal of BS 476

The withdrawn BS 476 used a different set of classes 1-4 with Class 0 being the highest classification for high-risk areas (like corridors), meeting strict requirements of Part 6 and Part 7 below:

• BS 476-4: Non-combustibility test for materials.
• BS 476-6: Method for measuring fire propagation (heat release).
• BS 476-7: Surface spread of flame classification (Classes 1 to 4).
• BS 476-20 to 24: Fire resistance tests for structural elements (e.g., columns, beams, walls, doors).

Although some of the elements of BS 476 continue to be relevant in the UK for building regulations, many parts are being phased out, and many are choosing to use the EN 13501 standard, as such, because of the significance and importance of any fire related classification, when dealing with such matters further research of the specifics is recommended.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• ACM cladding.
• Approved Document B.
• Approved documents.
• British Standards Institution BSI.
• BS EN 3.
• BS 476.
• BS 7974.
• BS 9999: Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.
• BTTG.
• Building regulations.
• CE marking in the construction industry
• Combustibility.
• Fire in buildings.
• Mastic asphalt flooring.
• Material of limited combustibility.
• Non-combustible material.
• The role of codes, standards and approvals in delivering fire safety.

Comments

This article confuses BS EN 13501-1, which is about reaction to fire, with BS EN 13501-2 which is about resistance to fire. The two are not the same and consider different aspects of fire behaviour.