Fire safety is one of the basic requirements for all type of constructions.
It is referred to on different levels, starting from general assessment of the
construction layout down to the performance of every product used.
In EEC countries it is defined as an essential requirement in the Construction
Product Directive. Fire performance of construction elements is characterized
by REACTION TO FIRE(for products)and FIRE RESISTANCE(for systems).
The Construction Product Directive (89/106/EEC) aims to establish a Harmonised European market for construction products by removal of all technical barriers to trade. Construction products and construction works shall fulfil six essential requirements.
1. Mechanical strength and stability
2. Safety in the case of fire
3. Hygiene, health and the environment
4. Safety in use
5. Protection against noise
6. Energy economy and heat retention
Second requirement defining Fire safety of construction demands that, the work must be designed and built in such a way that in the case of fire:
1. the load-bearing capacity of the building can be guaranteed for a specific period of time
2. the production and spread of fire and smoke inside the works are limited
3. the spread of fire to nearby works is limited
4. the occupants can leave the work or otherwise be rescued
5. the safety of the rescue teams is taken into consideration
These detail the minimum essential requirements for products that will have to be complied with in order to CE mark the products. CE marking is mandatory for placing products onto the European market.
CE marking demonstrates that products are tested in conformity with the European test methods and for the given product in harmonised technical data sheet provides technical information in the form of declared by producer values, including the important reaction to fire classification.
The classification system is based on Commission Decision 2000/147/EC. The reaction to fire tests permit to evaluate how a material contribute, by its own decomposition, to a fire. The main relevant parameters are the material's igniability, rate of heat release, spread of flame, rate of smoke production,
flaming droplets/particles and occurrence or not of flash over.
The classifications are based upon the new European reaction to fire tests, which are:
- EN ISO 1182 Non combustibility test, published Feb 02
- EN ISO 1716 Determination of the gross calorific value, published Feb 02
- EN ISO 11925-2 Ignitability, published Feb 02
- EN 13823 Single burning test (SBI), published Feb 02
Depending on their performance building materials are divided into Euroclasses.