How is Reaction to Fire evaluated?

Principles on Reaction to Fire

This post is a translation of a post written by Antonio Galán on October 2016. Original post in Spanish can be read on the following link:

http://elblogdelaseguridadcontraincendios.es/como-se-evalua-la-reaccion-al-fuego/

In this post, we will know a little more about the Reaction to the Fire. In the post “What is the Reaction to Fire?” I explained you the basics concepts about Reaction to Fire as well as its difference with Resistance to Fire, because in many times the concepts are mixed and confused.

There I said that the Reaction to the Fire in Spain is evaluated according to the EN 13501-1 and EN 13501-5 standards. But what do these classification standards tell us?

In the case of the EN 13501-1 standard, it explains the general principles that have to be taken into account when testing products and materials (End use application, extended applications, etc.), the tests required to achieve a Euroclass as well as the classification criteria for each test and their relevant parameters.

At this point, you must know where the product will be installed, due to the tests and classification criteria will be different. As it already mentioned in the post mentioned above, the euroclass will depend on the place where the product will be installed, it is not the same as floors, walls or linear pipe thermal insulation.

Below, I show you a list of the tests required to achieve a specific Euroclass as well as the classification criteria

Table 1. Classes of reaction to fire performance for construction products excluding floorings, linear pipe thermal insulation products, and electric cables.

Table 2. Classes of reaction to fire performance for floorings.

Table 3. Classes of reaction to fire performance for linear pipe insulation products

 

Test methods

As you can see in the above tables, each Euroclass requires one or more tests. Now, I will briefly explain each test mentioned in the previous tables.

EN ISO 1182, Non-combustibility test.

This test consists on introducing the specimens of a product into a cylindrical furnace at a temperature of 750 °C. The test lasts 30 minutes and during this period of time is observed the appearance of sustained flaming, the temperature rise and mass loss.

EN ISO 1716, Determination of gross heat of combustion.

This test method is used to measure the gross calorific potential (PCS) of the products. In order to get this value, the test specimen of specified mass is burned under standardized conditions, at constant volume, in an atmosphere of oxygen, in a bomb calorimeter calibrated by combustion of certified benzoic acid. The heat of combustion determined under these conditions is calculated on the basis of the observed temperature rise, taking account of heat loss and the latent heat 01 vaporization 01 wáter.

EN 13823, Single Burning Item (SBI) test.

The test consists of simulating the corner of a room in which there is a fire source (single element burning). The test specimen consists two vertical wings called the short and long wings forming a right-angled corner is exposed to the burner placed at the bottom of the corner. During the test, the following parameters are automatically recorded:

– FIGRA: Fire growth rate.

– THR: Total heat release.

– SMOGRA: Smoke growth rate.

– TSP: Total smoke production

Visual observations are made of the horizontal flame spread and falling of flaming droplets and particles.

EN ISO 11925-2, Small burner test.

The small burner consists of applying on the exposed surface and / or edge of the product for determining the ignitability of the product by direct small flame. If the flame length exceeds 150 mm, the product will not have successfully passed the test.

EN ISO 9239-1, Test of the radiant panel of floors.

This test is applicable for assessing the wind-opposed burning behaviour and spread of flame of horizontally mounted floorings exposed to a heat flux radiant gradient in a test chamber, when ignited with pilot flames. If it is required, the smoke development during the test is recorded as the light transmission in the exhaust stack. It is important to note that this test in only valid for floorings.

 

Concerning to the EN 13501-5 (roofs) standard and unlike the previous case, we only have a test standard (CEN/TS 1187) but this standard offers 4 possible test methods. In Spain, method 1 (With burning brands) is required and consists of simulating the conditions a roofs exposed to external fire by placing over the surface of the specimen a basket filled with wood wool. Wood wool will be the source of ignition. During and/or after the test, parameters like external fire spread, fire penetration, openings, and damages will be measured and recorded.

(*) EN 13501-1 standard is currently being revised at European level to meets with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/364 of 1 July 2015 on the classification of the reaction to fire performance of construction products pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council

 

Bibliography (1)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/364 of 1 July 2015 on the classification of the reaction to fire performance of construction products pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council

EN 13501-1 “.Fire classification of construction products and building elements – Part 1: Classification using data from reaction to fire tests».

EN 13501-5 “Fire classification of construction products and building elements – Part 5: Classification using data from external fire exposure to roofs tests».

CEN/TS 1187 “Test methods for external fire exposure to roofs».

EN 13823. “Reaction to fire tests for building products – Building products excluding floorings exposed to the thermal attack by a single burning ítem».

EN ISO 1716. “Reaction to fire tests for products – Determination of the gross heat of combustion (calorific value) (ISO 1716:2010)».

EN ISO 11925-2. “Reaction to fire tests – Ignitability of products subjected to direct impingement of flame – Part 2: Single-flame source test (ISO 11925-2:2010)».

EN ISO 1182. “Reaction to fire tests for products – Non-combustibility test (ISO 1182:2010)».

EN ISO 9239-1. “Reaction to fire tests for floorings – Part 1: Determination of the burning behaviour using a radiant heat source (ISO 9239-1:2010)».

eBook “10 aspectos básicos sobre protección pasiva” Antonio Galán (July 2016).

(1). The year of publication of the documents mentioned above shall be those in force on the date of publication of the article

 

 

Diseño de Instalaciones de Protección contra Incendios (PCI)