EN13501-1: Performance of Construction Materials

Introduction

The protection and safety of people (typically residents; passengers & personnel) plus equipment is one of the main criteria of any new regulation that defines fire behaviour of materials and components used in safety critical applications such as mass transit and construction projects.

In another blog we have talked further about EN 45545-2 Railway Applications – fire protection on railway vehicles.

In this blog we focus on a standard that bears plenty of similarities to that of EN45545, and this is EN 13501-1.

What is EN13501-1?

EN 13501-1 is a European standard first published in 2002 that classifies the fire performance of construction products and building elements. The “-1” denotes that this is the first component of a multi-series standard ultimately designed to ensure products and materials used fit for purpose.

Prior to its introduction – and just like EN45545 – countries around Europe had their own National Standards:

United Kingdom BS476

Standard that specifies fire tests on building materials and structures, assessing their fire resistance and reaction to fire.

Germany DIN 4102

Standard that classifies the fire behaviour of building materials, focusing on their combustibility and fire resistance.

France NF P 92-507

Standard used to classify building materials based on their reaction to fire, particularly in terms of flammability and combustibility.

EN 13501-1

EN 13501-1 differs from these traditional national standards in the test criteria, and in some instances is a lot more demanding. Whilst some elements of the previous national standards will still be used, only EN 13501-1 is used for a building material.

This harmonised standard allocates a reaction to the fire classification for all construction products, including products used within building elements with the exception of power, control and communication cables which are covered by EN 13501-6.

Like many harmonised standards, EN 13501-1 provides a standardised process for the classification of reaction to fire in construction products.

EN 13501-1 splits products into three key categories:

• Construction products, excluding floorings and linear pipe thermal insulation products
• Floorings
• Linear pipe thermal insulation products

Test Methods

To achieve EN 13501-1 classification, a combination of the following test procedures are carried out:

Classification

Under EN 13501-1, products are tested in accordance with 4 out of 5 test methods referenced above to determine performance in classes A1, A2, B, C, D, E or F.

Products classified as A1 or A2 are non-combustible (cement, concrete, glass etc) with products certified B to F becoming increasingly combustible.

EN 13501-1 classification is split into three parts, the main classification, the smoke classification and the flaming droplet classification.

The Main Classification

The main classification is its letter: A1, A2, B, C, D, E and F. A1 is the highest level of performance, while F is the lowest. Some products, such as flooring materials, are followed by the abbreviation ‘fl’ (so a B-rated flooring product will appear as Bfl).

The Smoke Classification

Some products will have a smoke classification of s1, s2 or s3. s1 equals the highest level of performance whilst s3 is the lowest performance level. There are however no smoke requirements for Class E products.

The Flaming Droplet Classification

Equally there is also a classification for flaming droplets ranging from d0, d1 and d2. d0 is the highest level of performance and d2 is the lowest performance level. Similar to the smoke classification, there is no flaming droplet requirement for floorings.

About J-Flex

J-Flex has long been stalwarts of fire safety materials and has a rich 40-year history of supplying high quality products and materials, that have, at times, been independently tested and certified/approved against leading International Standards, such as:

EN 13501 -1
Construction & building elements.

EN 45545-2
Fire Protection on railway vehicles.

UL 94 V(0)
U.S. Underwriters Laboratory Standard set for testing flammability for plastics, however the standard is widely used & accepted within the rubber industry.

NFPA130
U.S. Standard specifying fire protection & life safety requirements for underground, surface & elevated fixed guideway transit and passenger rail systems.

BSS 7239
Boeing fire test for aircraft toxicity combustion.

Def-Stan 07-247 U.K.
Ministry of Defence standard & selection of materials based on their fire characteristics.

Materials
J-Flex can supply various high performance rubber materials such as: EPDM, Vamac®, Neoprene Sponge and Silicone.

Products
Mouldings, Extruded Profiles & Tubings, Fabricated Bellows + Sheet Products, Cut Gaskets & Joints.

A Word from our Managing Director, Sam Kirk

“The findings of the recent Grenfell Tower inquiry have been nothing short of damning, highlighting the catastrophic consequences of neglecting fire safety in construction. As a business committed to supplying quality, it is our firm belief that fire safety is non-negotiable.

At the end of the day people’s lives depend on the reliability and performance of fire-rated products and materials, which is why at J-Flex Rubber Products we continue to ensure our products undergo rigorous testing and certification programmes. In an industry where safety cannot be compromised, it is critical that everyone – from manufacturers to contractors – takes their responsibility seriously.

Moving forward, fire safety must be embedded in the very fabric of how we design, construct, and maintain buildings. This is about protecting lives, and we all have a role to play in ensuring that corners are not cut, and that inadequate and sub-standard materials are never used again.”