BS 476

[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.

Whilst elements of the BS 476 suite of standards remains relevant in some cases, and it has been sed for many years the construction industry is transitioning to the BS EN 13501 series, which is a ew, evidence-based standard for European classification. For further information regarding this standard see article BS EN 13501-1, CE marking, see CE marking in the construction industry. BS EN 13501 is available to download for a fee from the BSI website.

[edit] Fire resistance

The BS 476 suite of standards dictates the appropriate fire tests for elements of structure and materials. It also grades the level of fire resistance.

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.
• Fire resistance is measured in minutes. This relates to time elapsed in a standard test and should not be confused with real time.

[edit] Elements of structure and materials

There is an extensive list of current standards for structure and materials covered by different sections of BS 476, including:

• BS 476-3:2004. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Classification and method of test for external fire exposure to roofs
• BS 476-4:1970. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Non-combustibility test for materials
• BS 476-6:1989+A1:2009. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Method of test for fire propagation for products
• BS 476-7:1997. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Method of test to determine the classification of the surface spread of flame of products
• BS 476-10:2009. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Guide to the principles, selection, role and application of fire testing and their outputs
• BS 476-11:1982. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Method for assessing the heat emission from building materials
• BS 476-12:1991. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Method of test for ignitability of products by direct flame impingement
• BS 476-13:1987, ISO 5657:1986. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Method of measuring the ignitability of products subjected to thermal irradiance
• BS 476-15:1993, ISO 5660-1:1993. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Method for measuring the rate of heat release of products
• BS 476-20:1987. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Method for determination of the fire resistance of elements of construction (general principles)
• BS 476-21:1987. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods for determination of the fire resistance of load bearing elements of construction
• BS 476-22:1987. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods for determination of the fire resistance of non-load bearing elements of construction
• BS 476-23:1987. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods for determination of the contribution of components to the fire resistance of a structure
• BS 476-24:1987, ISO 6944:1985. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Method for determination of the fire resistance of ventilation ducts
• BS 476-31.1:1983. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods for measuring smoke penetration through doorsets and shutter assemblies. Method of measurement under ambient temperature conditions
• BS 476-32:1989. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Guide to full scale fire tests within buildings
• BS 476-33:1993, ISO 9705:1993. Fire tests on building materials and structures. Full-scale room test for surface products.

[edit] Relationship to BS EN 13501

Performance in terms of the fire resistance to be achieved by elements of structure, doors and other forms of construction is classified in accordance with BS EN 13501, 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.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Approved Document J.
• British Standards Institution BSI.
• BS EN 13501-1.
• Combustibility.
• Fire resistance of buildings.
• Fire-stopping in buildings.
• International Organisation for Standardisation ISO.