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 reaction achieved by elements of structure, doors and other forms of construction is classified in accordance with BS EN 13501-1, 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.

According to BS EN 13501-2, 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 reaction 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.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• ACM cladding.
• Approved Document B.
• Approved documents.
• British Standards Institution BSI.
• BS EN 3.
• BS 7974.
• BS 9999: Code of practice for fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.
• BTTG.
• Building regulations.
• CE marking in the construction industry
• Combustibility.
• Fire in buildings.
• Mastic asphalt flooring.
• Material of limited combustibility.
• Non-combustible material.
• The role of codes, standards and approvals in delivering fire safety.

Comments

This article confuses BS EN 13501-1, which is about reaction to fire, with BS EN 13501-2 which is about resistance to fire. The two are not the same and consider different aspects of fire behaviour.