Classification route
Fire classification of construction products and building elements — Part 1: Classification using data from reaction to fire tests.
intersciencefire and our sister laboratories offer CPR testing in accordance with EN 13501-1. This standard splits products into three sets: construction products excluding flooring products; flooring products; and linear pipe and thermal insulation products. Most of the fire tests are used to assess products in all sets, whilst others are used for just one product set.
Each of these sets has classification levels A1, A2, B, C, D and E, and a non-performance-determined class F. Products in class A1 are mostly based on non-organic materials, and classification into this group is gained using EN ISO 1716 (determination of the heat of combustion) and the EN ISO 1182 non-combustibility test.
Classification into classes A2, B, C and D — the major classes inhabited by most products — requires testing using either the EN 13823 (SBI) or EN ISO 9239-1, and EN ISO 11925-2. Class E only requires testing to EN ISO 11925-2. Flooring products are tested using the EN ISO 9239-1 instead of the SBI (EN 13823).
Please note that electric cables have their own classification system, which is given in EN 13501-6.
| Class | Test methods | Classification criteria | Additional classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | EN ISO 1182¹ and EN ISO 1716 | ΔT ≤ 30°C; and Δm ≤ 50%; and tf = 0 (i.e. no sustained flaming) — and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg¹ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg² ²ᵃ and PCS ≤ 1.4 MJ/m²³ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg⁴ | — |
| A2 | EN ISO 1182¹ or EN ISO 1716; and EN 13823 | ΔT ≤ 50°C; and Δm ≤ 50%; and tf ≤ 20 s — or PCS ≤ 3.0 MJ/kg¹ and PCS ≤ 4.0 MJ/kg² ²ᵃ and PCS ≤ 4.0 MJ/m²³ and PCS ≤ 3.0 MJ/kg⁴ — and FIGRA ≤ 120 W/s; and LFS < edge of specimen; and THR600s ≤ 7.5 MJ | Smoke production⁵ and flaming droplets/particles⁶ |
| B | EN 13823 and EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 30 s) | FIGRA ≤ 120 W/s; and LFS < edge of specimen; and THR600s ≤ 7.5 MJ — and Fs ≤ 150 mm within 60 s | Smoke production⁵ and flaming droplets/particles⁶ |
| C | EN 13823 and EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 30 s) | FIGRA ≤ 250 W/s; and LFS < edge of specimen; and THR600s ≤ 15 MJ — and Fs ≤ 150 mm within 60 s | Smoke production⁵ and flaming droplets/particles⁶ |
| D | EN 13823 and EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 30 s) | FIGRA ≤ 750 W/s — and Fs ≤ 150 mm within 60 s | Smoke production⁵ and flaming droplets/particles⁶ |
| E | EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 15 s) | Fs ≤ 150 mm within 20 s | Flaming droplets/particles⁷ |
| F | EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 15 s) | Fs > 150 mm within 20 s | — |
| Class | Test methods | Classification criteria | Additional classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1fl | EN ISO 1182¹ and EN ISO 1716 | ΔT ≤ 30°C; and Δm ≤ 50%; and tf = 0 (i.e. no sustained flaming) — and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg¹ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg² and PCS ≤ 1.4 MJ/m²³ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg⁴ | — |
| A2fl | EN ISO 1182¹ or EN ISO 1716; and EN ISO 9239-1⁵ | ΔT ≤ 50°C; and Δm ≤ 50%; and tf ≤ 20 s — or PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg¹ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/m²² and PCS ≤ 1.4 MJ/m²³ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg⁴ — and critical flux⁶ ≥ 8.0 kW/m² | Smoke production⁷ |
| Bfl | EN ISO 9239-1⁵ and EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 15 s) | Critical flux⁶ ≥ 8.0 kW/m² — and Fs ≤ 150 mm within 20 s | Smoke production⁷ |
| Cfl | EN ISO 9239-1⁵ and EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 15 s) | Critical flux⁶ ≥ 4.5 kW/m² — and Fs ≤ 150 mm within 20 s | Smoke production⁷ |
| Dfl | EN ISO 9239-1⁵ and EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 15 s) | Critical flux⁶ ≥ 3.0 kW/m² — and Fs ≤ 150 mm within 20 s | Smoke production⁷ |
| Efl | EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 15 s) | Fs ≤ 150 mm within 20 s | — |
| Ffl | EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 15 s) | Fs > 150 mm within 20 s | — |
| Class | Test methods | Classification criteria | Additional classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1L | EN ISO 1182¹ and EN ISO 1716 | ΔT ≤ 30°C; and Δm ≤ 50%; and tf = 0 (i.e. no sustained flaming) — and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg¹ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg² and PCS ≤ 1.4 MJ/m²³ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg⁴ | — |
| A2L | EN ISO 1182¹ or EN ISO 1716; and EN 13823 | ΔT ≤ 50°C; and Δm ≤ 50%; and tf ≤ 20 s — or PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg¹ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg²² and PCS ≤ 1.4 MJ/m²³ and PCS ≤ 2.0 MJ/kg⁴ — and FIGRA ≤ 270 W/s and LFS < edge of specimen and THR600s ≤ 7.5 MJ | Smoke production⁷ |
| BL | EN 13823 and EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 30 s) | FIGRA ≤ 270 W/s and LFS < edge of specimen and THR600s ≤ 7.5 MJ — and Fs ≤ 150 mm within 60 s | Smoke production⁵ and flaming droplets/particles⁶ |
| CL | EN 13823 and EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 30 s) | FIGRA ≤ 460 W/s and LFS < edge of specimen and THR600s ≤ 15 MJ — and Fs ≤ 150 mm within 60 s | Smoke production⁵ and flaming droplets/particles⁶ |
| DL | EN 13823 and EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 30 s) | FIGRA ≤ 2100 W/s; THR600s ≤ 100 MJ — and Fs ≤ 150 mm within 60 s | Smoke production⁵ and flaming droplets/particles⁶ |
| EL | EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 15 s) | Fs ≤ 150 mm within 20 s | Flaming droplets/particles⁶ |
| FL | EN ISO 11925-2⁸ (exposure = 15 s) | Fs > 150 mm within 20 s | — |
Table notes
EN 13823
Reaction-to-fire testing for construction products exposed to thermal attack from a single burning item.
EN ISO 11925-2
Determines the ignitability of building products in the vertical orientation when subjected to impingement of a standard small flame.
EN ISO 1182
Determines the non-combustibility performance of homogeneous products and substantial components of non-homogeneous building products.
EN ISO 1716
Determines the potential maximum total heat release of a product when completely burning, regardless of its end use.
EN ISO 9239-1
Measures the critical radiant flux of horizontally mounted floor covering systems exposed to a flaming ignition source in a graded radiant heat environment.
The required class depends on your product's end use and the national regulations of the market you sell into. Our technical team can confirm the classification route and the exact tests required.
