Panels & Doors Guide

Flame Retardant Products
Flame Retardant Products
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national (class 1 & class 0) vs. european (euroclass) classifications
The fire performance for all materials to be used in permanent constructions, including wood and wood based panel
products, are stated in Approved Document Part B to the Building Regulations of England and Wales, currently
allowing the use of fire classifications to either BS 476 British Standard fire tests or European Classification to BS EN
13501-1, based on European fire tests. Similar changes in the legislation for Northern Ireland and Scotland also allow
use of either classification.
Where a particular product standard exists for a specific material (e.g. BS EN 13986 for wood based panels or BS EN
14915 for solid wood panelling and cladding), compliance is mandatory if CE marking is required and only European
fire tests can be used to provide fire classifications.
British standards
Class 1 and Class 0 have been the traditional fire
performances required in the UK for a number of years.
Class 1 (BS476 Part 7) is commonly referred to as the
Surface Spread of Flame. Class 0 (BS476 Parts 6 & 7) is
more stringent and includes Class 1 as above but also
Part 6 which is known as the ‘Fire Propagation Index’
which measures the heat released when timber burns.
european classifications
Whilst we are currently in a transitional stage between
British Standards and the new European classifications,
eventually, at some point in the next few years the
European classifications will become mandatory for
materials used for permanent constructions.
To meet the new European classifications, the rate of
fire growth, lateral flame spread, total heat release and
smoke production for wood and wood based panel
products derived from European tests are used to
classify materials as Euroclass B or C in accordance with
BS EN 13501-1. Important: a particular species /
thickness is not deemed to have full formal Euroclass
status (B or C) until a Classification report has been
issued. Companies who fire treat timber / plywood
should be able to present such certification on request
as evidence of compliance.
The thresholds to achieve Euroclass B are higher
than those for Euroclass C and, therefore, if material
conforms to Euroclass B then by definition it also
conforms to Euroclass C.
The UK transpositions for traditional classes to
Euroclasses are:
Class 1 Euroclass C
Class 0 Euroclass B
Whilst European classifications to BS EN 13501-1
currently co-exist with traditional British Standards
(BS476 Parts 6 and 7) within Building Regulations and
either can be specified, these classifications are not
equivalent because they are derived from different test
methods measuring different properties.
Therefore BS 476 Class 1 is not equivalent to Euroclass
C and in turn Class 0 is not equal to Euroclass B.
A product having a Euroclass B or Euroclass C
classification cannot be sold as Class 0 or Class 1
respectively
Medite FR MDF Euroclass B is (currently) the only
MDF that meets both Euroclass B and BS476 Class 0
standards and can be used in both situations. Other
manufacturers do not offer this so great care should be
taken when deciding which product to use.
A common question: Are the new Euroclasses as good
as the old British Standards? The answer to this is that
they are simply a new set of reaction to fire tests that
are deemed as acceptable by Building Regulations as
the old British Standards.
Building Regulations dictate the fire performance
required, depending upon the location of the fire treated
material within the building.
The fire performance commonly required for internal
wall and ceiling linings is Class 1 Surface Spread of
Flame in accordance with BS476: Part 7 or Euroclass C
in accordance with BS EN 13501-1.
The fire performance commonly required in higher risk
areas such as external cladding within 1m of a boundary,
escape routes and staircases is Class 0 BS 476: Parts 6
& 7 or Euroclass B in accordance with BS EN 13501-1.
Further processing
Most timber products can be treated by pressure
impregnation or surface coating processes to comply
with FR regulations. Please contact us for the details of
this service.
Please note that where a fire test certificate is required
for fabricated material, care must be taken to ensure
that the total composite will achieve the required result,
which can only be determined by appropriate testing.
Customers and specifiers must satisfy themselves
that the products they chose are fit for the required
applications.