Fire

Fire resistance and reaction

In terms of fire safety, it is necessary to make a distinction between:

• Fire resistance (length of time for which the material limits spread in spite of the action of the fire)
• Fire reaction (fuel that the material can bring to the fire and development of the fire)

Fire resistance (3 classifications)

Fire resistance »indicates the length of time, during a fire, that a construction element (floor, wall, metal structure,…..) conserves its mechanical properties.

• R Classification (formerly FS, Fire stability): length of time that the work remains stable (Resistance mechanical). The construction element conserves (during the indicated time), its load-bearing and self load-bearing capacities.
• RE Classification (formerly FP, Fireproof): in addition to R classification, the tested element must be resistant to flames and inflammable gases (Resistant). The element prevents (for the indicated time), the spread of combustion gases and smoke on the non-affected side.
• REI Classification (formerly FS, Fire stop): in addition to RE classification, this classification limits the rise in temperature of the surface not exposed to the fire Thermal Insulation) to 140°C (on average) and 180°C (maximum). The element prevents (for the length of time indicated), heat spreading from the non-affected side.

SUMMARY TABLE

N/A: Non applicable

Fire reaction

«Fire reaction », indicates the way the material behaves as a combustible.

Combustibility corresponds to the quantity of heat emitted by complete combustion of the material (reference to calorific power).

Inflammability corresponds to the quantity of more or less inflammable gases emitted by the material under the action of a heat source.

« Euro classes » (classification recognized in all European Union member countries), replacing type M classifications (French classification) in accordance with the decree of 21 November 2002.

The classification system (Euro classes) now takes two other criteria into account to complement the M classification system: smoke given off (S for smoke) plus potential projected burning droplets (D for drop or droplets)

S = smoke production and opacity (quantity and speed):

• - s1 : low quantity /speed
• - s2 : average quantity/speed
• - s3 : high quantity/speed

D = production of burning droplets and debris:

• - d0 : no debris (droplet or particle) before 600 seconds
• - d1 : no debris burning for over 10 seconds before 600 seconds
• - d2 : neither d0 nor d1 (does not satisfy classification criteria)

EUROCLASSES-M categories equivalence table