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.

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

[edit] Fire protection ratings

Fire resistance 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.

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 resistance is measured in minutes. This relates to time elapsed in a standard test and not real time.

Fire resistance 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.

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