Fire Retardant Products

National (Class 1 & Class 0)

versus 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.

British Standards
Class 1 and Class 0 have been the traditional fire performances
required in the UK for a number of years. Class 1 (BS 476 Part 7) is
commonly referred to as the Surface Spread of Flame. Class 0 (BS
476 Parts 6 & 7) is more stringent and includes Class 1 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.
Whilst European classifications to BS EN 13501-1 currently co-exist
with traditional British Standards (BS 476 Parts 6 & 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 BS 476 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 BS 476
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.
If you have a special requirement or treatment not listed
t: 01865 860350/1.

Further processing
Most timber products can be treated by pressure impregnation or
surface coating processes to comply with FR regulations. Please
contact us for details of this service.
Please note: where a fire 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.

Veneered Boards / Fire Retardant Products

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.

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Fire Retardant Products

Questions you should ask about your fire retardant treated timber
Other
impregnation
VERSUS treatments
& coating
products

Arch Timber Protection is now part

of the Lonza group

Timbmet, working in partnership

with Arch Timber Protection, a Lonza
company, are aware that protecting
against the threat of fire is one of the
most critical elements of any new build
project. Not all fire retardant treatments
for panel products are what they claim.

Proven history of performance and durability?

Accredited by the British Board of Agrment (BBA)?

Approved by London Underground?

Are you sure that your fire

retardant boards will protect
your reputation and help save
lives?

Product listed and approved by the UK Wood

Protection Association?

Independent Euroclass classification reports for

each timber species, timber thickness, for use
with or without air gaps - BS EN 13501-1?

DRICON is a proven quality fire retardant

treatment for panels with performance
you can trust. Specified and used with
confidence around the world for over 25
years, DRICON treated panel products have
never failed to give that all important extra
time in a fire situation. Time to limit fire
damage to the building. Time to save lives.

Product approved by the Fire Protection

Association?

Approved by Chiltern International against the

TF2000 6 storey timber frame staircase test?

Recommended by the NASC for protection of

scaffold boards?

Meets durability standards lasts the lifetime

of the building with no maintenance tested
to prEN 15912?

Applied by an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001

accredited company?

Applied by a controlled impregnation process?

From a supplier operating to the UK Wood

Protection Association Quality Scheme?

Treated with products manufactured by the

supplier?

Applied to all faces of the timber?

Available for a wide range of species?

Reduces smoke generation?

Non-corrosive to metal fastenings?

Does not reduce the strength of the timber?

Non-hygroscopic does not absorb water or

give rise to efflorescence?

Treated products free from surface salt

deposits?

Treated products have enhanced biological

durability?

Fire Retardant Products

| 13

FR Tropical Plywood

Arch Timber Protection is now part

of the Lonza group

ATP Generic is a Type DI fire retardant impregnation treatment suitable for plywood to provide a Euroclass B and /or Euroclass C fire performance
in accordance with BS EN 13501-1 depending upon plywood species and thickness. Impregnation with ATP Generic is a vacuum/pressure process
followed by kiln drying.
Applications: Exhibition work, shop fittings and temporary general construction work.
2440 x 1220mm
3.6mm

5.5mm

9mm

WBP (Class 3) Euro Class B

WBP (Class 3) Euro Class C
WBP (Class 3) Euro Class C without air gap

12mm

18mm

* Available: 2745 x 1220mm ex stock

FR Birch Ply DRICON

A proven quality fire retardant treatment for panels. DRICON treated panels give extra time in a fire situation - time to limit fire damage to a
building and time to save lives.

Chudovo Birch Ply WBP (Class 3) with or

W/O 25mm Air Gap DRICON Euro Class B

12mm

18mm

Fire Retardant Products

2440 x 1220mm

Medite FR MDF Euro Class C

Identified by red stripe and conforms to BS 476 Part 7, surface spread of flame.
If your requirement falls outside of our standard range please call us with your specifications t: 01865 860350/1
Thickness

Certification

2440 x 1220mm

4mm

FSC

6mm

FSC

9mm

FSC

12mm

FSC

15mm

FSC

18mm

FSC

25mm

FSC

* Available: 2745 x 1220mm ex stock

3050 x 1220mm

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Fire Retardant Products

Medite FR MDF Euro Class B
Identified by double red stripe and conforms to BS 476 Parts 6 & 7.
Thickness

Certification

2440 x 1220mm

3050 x 1220mm

12mm

FSC

18mm

FSC

25mm

FSC

Finsa FR MDF Euro Class B

This board does not comply with BS 476 Parts 6 & 7 and may not be acceptable if Class 1 or Class 0 have been specified.
Thickness

Certification

2440 x 1220mm

3050 x 1220mm

6mm

PEFC

9mm

PEFC

12mm

PEFC

15mm

PEFC

18mm

PEFC

25mm

PEFC

Registered Member A/19

www.wood-protection.org

FIRE RETARDANT TREATED PLYWOOD

FOR PERMANENT END USES
Type HR Process

FIRE PROTECTED
PLYWOOD