External fire performance of roofs: A guide to test methods and classification
BRE (Building Research Establishment) is an independent, research-based consultancy, testing and training organisation, operating in the built environment and associated industries.
External fire performance of roofs: A guide to test methods and classification (DG 528) was written by S Colwell and T Baker and published by BRE on 28 February 2013.
The roof is a key element in the overall performance of the building envelope. As well as being weathertight, structurally stable and durable, roof designs must also meet the fire performance characteristics set out in the building regulations.
This BRE digest was published following the introduction of European fire test methods for determining the external fire performance of roof systems, and CE marking under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) which require that manufacturers of external waterproof coverings declare a fire performance classification for their products.
The digest explains the test methods for roofs, and how test data is used to classify external fire performance. It describes the limitations of the classification system, and highlights how important it is that specifiers correctly interpret information presented to them.
It is intended to help manufacturers provide end users with the information they need to specify the fire performance of roofing systems and explains how fire performance classifications relate to the guidance in Approved Document B.
The contents of the digest are:
- Introduction.
- CE marking and roofing product standards.
- Classification systems.
- Approved Document B and how the classification systems are used.
- Third-party approvals.
- References.
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