Non-combustible material

Approved document J, Combustion appliances and fuel storage systems defines ‘non-combustible materials’ as:

‘…the highest level of reaction to fire performance. Non-combustible materials include:

• Any material which when tested to BS 476-11:1982 (2007) does not flame nor cause any rise in temperature on either the centre (specimen) or furnace thermocouples.
• Products classified as non-combustible in tests following the procedures in BS 476-4:1970 (2007).
• Any material classified as class A1 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1:2002 Fire classification of construction products and building elements. Classification using data from reaction to fire tests.

Typical examples of such materials to be found in buildings include totally inorganic materials such as concrete, fired clay, ceramics, metals, plaster and masonry containing not more than 1% by weight or volume of organic material. (Use in buildings of combustible metals such as magnesium–aluminium alloys should be assessed in each individual case.)'

Following the Grenfell Tower Fire, a decision was taken to ban combustible materials in the cladding for buildings over 18m in height. The following change to approved document 7 came into force on 21 December 2018.

PAS 9980:2022, Fire risk appraisal of external wall construction and cladding of existing blocks of flats – Code of practice, published by BSI Standards Limited in 2022, defines noncombustible as either:

• a) any material classified as Class A1 in accordance with BS EN 13501-1:2018; or
• b) products classified as non-combustible under BS 476-4:1970; or
• c) any material which when tested in accordance with BS 47611, does not flame nor cause any rise in temperature on either the centre (specimen) or furnace thermocouples; or
• d) totally inorganic materials such as concrete, fired clay, ceramics, metals, plaster and masonry containing not more than 1% by weight or volume of organic material; or
• e) concrete bricks or blocks meeting BS EN 771-3:2003

NOTE This term is included here given its use in relation to materials used in, and standards applicable to, existing buildings. It is derived from guidance in previous versions of ADB ([10], [11], [12], [13], [14]), but this term is no longer in use in the current version of ADB ([8], [9]).

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Approved documents.
• BS EN 13501-1.
• Building regulations.
• Chimney definition.
• Clean air act.
• Combustibility.
• Combustion appliance
• Draught diverter v draught stabiliser.
• Fireplace recess.
• Fire retardant.
• Flame retardant.
• Flame retardant floormats.
• Flammable.
• Fluepipe.
• Hearth.
• Mastic asphalt flooring.