Fire safety

Fire resistance measures how well a tested wall or ceiling system can resist fire and help prevent its passage from one part of a building to another for a defined period. This is important where compartmentation and protection are required.

Reaction to fire describes how a material behaves when exposed to fire and how much it may contribute to flame spread, smoke development or burning droplets, especially in the early stages of a fire. Both are important when assessing fire safety performance.

The right solution depends on the building type, the application and the required level of fire performance. It is important to consider the full system build-up, not just one product in isolation, because fire resistance depends on how the complete wall or ceiling system has been tested. Always refer to the relevant technical documentation before specifying.

Euroclass is the European classification system used to rate the reaction to fire performance of building materials. Ratings range from A1 and A2, which indicate the highest levels of fire performance, through to B, C, D, E and F. Depending on the classification, additional information may also be given for smoke production and flaming droplets, such as A2-s1,d0.

No. Fire safety performance should be assessed in the context of the full tested system, not one product alone. A board or ceiling component may contribute to fire performance, but the required level of fire resistance depends on the complete build-up, installation method and application. Reviewing the full system documentation is essential before specification.