ROCKWOOL

F I R E S A F E I N S U L A T I O N

Fire Protection
A guide to risk and changes in legislation
Fire Protection- A guide to risk and changes in legislation ..... 3
EXPLORING EUROCLASSES & EU FIRE TESTS....................... 4
Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 4
WHAT ARE EUROCLASSES?....................................................................5
Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 5
CE MARKING INCLUDING FIRE PERFORMANCE........................................................ 6
EU CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS .................................................................................... 7
THE 7 EUROCLASSES FOR REACTION TO FIRE ........................................................ 8
CLASSIFICATIONS SMOKE AND FLAMING DROPLETS/PARTICLES ................... 10
FLASHOVER AND PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION ..................................................... 12
COMMON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS - LIKELY EUROCLASES .......................... 13
PRODUCT.................................................................................... 13
EU CLASSIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS FOR RESISTANCE TO FIRE
EXCLUDING VENTILATION SERVICES AN OVERVIEW OF EN 13501-2. ........... 15
THE TRANSPOSITION OF EUROCLASSES ................................................................ 21
EU FIRE TESTS ......................................................................................24
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 24
EU LARGE-SCALE REFERENCE FIRE TESTS.......................................25
EU REACTION TO FIRE TESTS ................................................................................... 26
EU RESISTANCE TO FIRE TESTS ............................................................................... 27
BUILDING DESIGN & EMPLOYER RISK INFORMATION......... 30
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 30
RISK ASSESSMENT INFORMATION.......................................................31
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 31
FIRE PRECAUTIONS (WORKPLACE) REGULATIONS 1997, AS
AMENDED 1999 ........................................................................................32
The Requirements ....................................................................................32
Awareness & Understanding..................................................... 33
THE EU PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE....................................................................... 34
Implications for Building Owners and Designers ............................................................ 34
FIRE LOADS & TOXIC EMISSIONS .............................................................................. 35
SMOKE & RISK .............................................................................................................. 36
DUTY OF DISCLOSURE................................................................................................ 37
THE COOKE REPORT RISK ASSESSMENT OF EXTERNAL CLADDING.............. 38
WAREHOUSE & DISTRIBUTION BUILDINGS- Managing the threat from fire ............. 39
FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING & BRITISH STANDARDS........................42
INSURER REQUIREMENTS .....................................................................44
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 44
THE LPC DESIGN GUIDE FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS. ............... 45
COMPARTMENTATION & INSURERS.......................................................................... 46
PROTECTED ZONES .................................................................................................... 48
LPC CONSTRUCTION DESIGN SHEETS..................................................................... 50
LPC CODE OF PRACTICE FOR FIRE PROTECTION IN THE FOOD AND DRINK
INDUSTRY...................................................................................................................... 52
ACRONYMS AND ORGANISATIONS ........................................ 54
LINKS........................................................................................... 57

Page 2
Fire Protection- A guide to risk and changes in legislation
The fire safety of the built environment is immensely important to everyone -employers,
designers, architects, fire authorities, the construction industry and, of course, the people who
inhabit buildings- the general public. Whatever your interest, this document aims to provide
you with comprehensive information on current fire issues, such as:

Recent changes in statutory duties have directly placed the liabilities for fire safety and
risk assessment on the employer and his agents via the Workplace Regulations.

New European tools for testing and classifying the performance of construction
products and systems in fire have introduced significant changes for everyone
designing and specifying fire safe buildings. Further changes in both UK and Europe
are anticipated, including the environmental impact of fires.

Worldwide insurer losses often mean higher premiums and conditional cover,
depending on the level of combustible materials in the building elements. Employers,
their designers and agents need to understand all the hazards and associated risks in
fire, and adopt better fire safety management.

Page 3
EXPLORING EUROCLASSES & EU FIRE TESTS
Introduction
Euroclasses arise from new classification systems for both the reaction to fire and
resistance to fire performance of construction products. They provide a common method for
comparing the performance of products in fire across the European Union. Around 80% of all
construction products will need to be characterised for performance in fire.

National regulations and guidance have been amended so that the old traditional parameters
have been transposed into the new classifications agreed across the EU. Scotland changed
their Technical Standards with effect from March 2002, while changes in England & Wales
become effective from March 2003, after extensive consultation.

During the transition period the old and new systems will co-exist, as we familiarise
ourselves with EU Supplement(s) to national regulatory guidance, and as product
manufacturers complete the procedures for providing fire performance data on the product
CE Mark labels. Specifiers will be required to use the new Euroclasses in design
specification, to enable tenders to be submitted from all over the EU.

Importantly, the Euroclass system provides additional information to aid the risk assessment
requirements under the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, as amended a Duty
on most employers. In particular, data will be available to indicate the tendency of a
construction product to generate smoke and flaming droplets/particles it is recognised that
smoke is responsible for around two thirds of deaths in fire incidents.

What are Euroclasses?

Provides information on the different Euro-classification systems for Reaction to Fire,

and for Resistance to Fire; their origins, underlying principles and key features

EU fire tests.

Provides background information on the EU Reference test(s), the fire tests used for
EU classification for Reaction to Fire, and listings of Fire Resistance tests for
particular applications of construction elements.

Other fire tests

Identifies other fire tests that may be encountered by specifiers, insurers or building
owners/employers. The information provides a brief overview of certain ad hoc
tests, research on fire test methods, and fire tests used within the insurance
community.

Page 4
WHAT ARE EUROCLASSES?
Introduction
In the past, each country in the European Union has developed its own fire tests in support of
its national building regulations and guidance. Consequently it has been extremely difficult to
compare the data arising from these different fire tests. Manufacturers have had to make tests
in each country to sell their products.

Now, for the first time, a common system of fire testing and classification of the resulting test
data for construction products is being implemented across the EU member states. This move
is part of the CE Marking initiative to allow the free trade of goods throughout the European
Union.

The key points of the new systems are:

CE Marking including fire performance

EU classification systems

The 7 Euroclasses for Reaction to Fire

Classifications Smoke and flaming droplets/particles

Flashover and product differentiation.

Common construction products likely Euroclasses

EU classification of construction products for Resistance to Fire, excluding ventilation

services an overview of EN 13501-2.

The Transposition of Euroclasses

Further information can be obtained by visiting the website of the European Commission or
via our LINKS section.

Page 5
CE MARKING INCLUDING FIRE PERFORMANCE
Why CE Mark?

In order to allow the free movement and sale of construction products within the European
market, the European Community adopted the Construction Products Directive [CPD] in
December 1988. This intent required the removal of national barriers to trade through the
adoption of 6 Essential Requirements to protect the health and safety of citizens within the
European Community.

Whats involved?

Part of the CE Mark criteria is the products performance in fire. To declare this performance,
it has been necessary to develop and adopt harmonised Product Standards and Fire Test
methods for evaluating products that are recognised by all
EC Member States.

The harmonised evaluation process relies on various product attributes, including

performance in the early stages of a fire [Reaction to Fire] and, in some cases, the
performance in a fully developed fire as part of an installed system [Resistance to Fire].

A bit more detail

CE Marking is not the result of fire testing alone.

The new European Product Standard or European Technical Approval Guideline, ETAG, will
state :

which type of Fire Performance needs evaluating

which Fire Tests have to be undertaken to evaluate the performance
what level of Attestation of Conformity is required to verify the Factory Production
Control process in the manufacture of the product.

Agreed system levels of Attestation of Conformity will apply to each product. Those claiming
the best performance will be tested more thoroughly to the highest level.

Fire tests must be conducted at an Approved Fire Laboratory, and the results processed by
an Approved Notified Body, to provide a Certificate of Conformity that includes a European
Classification for the fire performance of the product or system.

The product/system manufacturer will make the Declaration of Conformity for fire
performance within the CE Marking label applied at the point of production.

Page 6
EU CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
There is more than one Classification System

There are already a number of different classification systems for the fire performance of
construction products that are described in the various parts of EN 13501 Fire classification
of construction products and building elements. There may be additions in the future for
particular applications. The following summary lists the current systems :

Part 1 Classification using test data from reaction to fire tests for the fire performance of
products in the early stages of a fire.

Part 2 Classification using data from fire resistance tests for systems in the fully developed
stages of a fire.

Part 3 Classification using data from fire resistance tests on components of normal building
services installations

Part 4 Classification using data from fire resistance tests on smoke control systems

Part 5 Classification using data from external fire exposure to roof tests, from burning
debris carried in the air and deposited on a roof.

There may also be classification systems, in the future, which use larger full scale tests
alone, under agreed fire exposure conditions.

Where can I find out more?

European Standard EN 13501 is common to all EU Member States. It is presented as BS EN

13501 in the UK, as DIN EN 13501 in Germany etc., to include the prefix of the national
standards body responsible for publication.

Not all Parts of BS EN 13501 are published as yet.

Each classification system document describes the specific fire tests that need to be carried
out, and the performance limits that must be attained. Each document also states how the
classification is to be presented on the CE Mark label.

NB. It should be recognised that fire tests provide comparative data for the differentiation of
products and systems. This data is not necessarily descriptive of what will happen, or how
quickly or slowly, in a real fire. However, the harmonised European fire tests and resulting
classification systems have been developed with the specific aim of being a useful
representation of the way a product is used in a building and what might happen to it in a real
fire.

Page 7
THE 7 EUROCLASSES FOR REACTION TO FIRE
Why the need for the Euroclass System?

Prior to the introduction of Euroclasses, a manufacturer would have to undertake more than
30 different fire tests for Reaction to Fire in order to make sales in the various EU countries.
Because the test results were expressed differently in each country, meaningful comparisons
and acceptability of data was virtually impossible.

The Euroclass system simplifies this daunting task, so that tests in one country will be valid
across the European Community as a whole. Each Member States national requirements or
guidance will now incorporate Euroclasses.

Test methods for the Euroclass System

Some products do not react significantly to fire, while others react quickly even to very small
flame exposures. So the tests chosen for each Euroclass level reflect the expected
performance and safety of test technicians. A suite of EU test methods is available for use,
and selected as appropriate for each level of classification. Some tests are completely new.
Other tests are based on ISO experience and adapted by EU countries as ENs.

The following table indicates the tests and typical test criteria used to determine the 7 new
Euroclass categories. A1 is the best classification, E and F are the lowest classification,
based on potential fire growth rate. Different limits are used for each level of classification.
Full details are in the Classification document BS EN 13501-1 for Reaction to Fire.

In addition, classes B, C and D will be accompanied by additional information to

indicate the smoke release rates in 1 of 3 levels [s1, s2 and s3]. Euroclasses A2 to E
will also have information available to indicate the hazardous release of flaming
droplets/particles [d0, d1 and d2].

The Euroclass attained will be indicated on the product within the CE Mark label.

Euroclass Test Method(s) Test criteria Additional

A1 Non-combustibility
AND Calorific content
A2 Non-combustibility
OR Calorific content
AND
Single Burning Item [SBI]
B Single Burning Item [ SBI]
AND
Small flame test for 30s
C Single Burning Item [SBI]
AND Small flame test for
30s
D Single Burning Item [SBI]
AND Small flame test for
30s
E Small flame test for 15s
F No performance determined
information
Temperature rise. none
Mass loss.
Sustained flaming
Total energy in product.
Energy per internal &
external component
As above Smoke production
As above &
Fire growth rate. Flaming droplets or
Lateral flame spread & particles
total heat release in 600s
As SBI above Smoke production &
Lateral flame spread in Flaming droplets or
60s particles
As SBI above Smoke production &
Lateral flame spread in Flaming droplets or
60s particles
As SBI above Smoke production &
Lateral flame spread in Flaming droplets or
60s particles
Lateral flame spread in Flaming droplets etc
20s

Page 8
Basis for Classification

The Euroclass system relies on suites of small/medium-size fire tests as shown in the table
above. But in order to reflect the likely Reaction to Fire performance of a construction product
in a real fire, test data needs to correlate with larger scale test results. To this end the
European Commission has decided that a real fire can be represented by a large scale
Reference Test the Room Corner Test ISO 9705, that will be the focus of a new European
Standard EN 14390, full-scale room test for surface products.

In this test a garage sized room is lined on the walls and ceiling with the product to be
assessed, and exposed to a small gas flame in the corner for 10 minutes at 100 kW
[burning waste paper basket] and for a further 10 minutes at 300 kW [burning armchair]. So
the test represents the early stage of a fire that could grow to reach flashover around 6000C,
when flames will escape through the door of the room.

The test apparatus allows the heat release and smoke release to be measured when
collecting all the effluents leaving the room. This allows the Fire Growth Rate index [FIGRA]
and Smoke Growth Rate index [SMOGRA] to be determined, as well as the total heat and
smoke release.

The EC has decided that the FIGRA index will be the basis of European classification
for construction products as well as the time to flashover - when tested in the
Reference Room Corner test, the underlying basis of the new system, as below.

Euroclass [ in reference FIGRA index [Kw/s] Time to flashover

test]
A1 Less than 0.15 No flashover
A2 Less than 0.15 No flashover
B Less than 0.5 No flashover
C Less than 1.5 Flashover after 10 minutes
D Less than 7.5 Flashover 2 10 minutes
E More than 7.5 Flashover before 2 minutes
F No performance determined

NB. The Reference test is not to be used for routine testing only for resolving any Appeal
as it is considered too expensive.

So the selected suite of small-scale tests, correlated to the Room Corner Test, will be used
for determining European classifications by approved test laboratories.
These small-scale tests may yield different FIGRA and SMOGRA information compared to
the large Reference Test. However, the European classification system has been constructed
so that, wherever possible, the classification ranking from small-scale tests will be similar to
that obtained in the Reference Test.

Page 9
CLASSIFICATIONS SMOKE AND FLAMING DROPLETS/PARTICLES
Information available

[1] In the EU classification system for Reaction to Fire, a construction product will be
classified as Euroclass A1, A2, B, C, D, E or F depending on its tendency for burning.

[2] The product testing will provide data, represented by the signs s1, s2 or s3, which indicate
the tendency to release smoke. Smoke causes over 60% of deaths in fire across the EU. The
measurement of smoke release has been put into these 3 broad bands that can be translated
as a little or no smoke s1 quite a lot of smoke s2 substantial smoke release s3.

[3] Some construction products, like those made of polystyrene, can melt and ignite to form
Flaming Droplets. Wooden products, on the other hand, will tend to char before the char falls
away as Flaming Particles to expose more material. These flaming droplets/particles will
tend to initiate new fires away from the original point of ignition, and must be considered when
the products are used horizontally in ceiling or roof applications. The classification system
ranks the level of release of Flaming Droplets /particles as d0 [none], d1 [some] and d2 [quite
a lot].

The information outlined in [2] and [3] above will be made available as additional information.
However it must be declared within the CE Marking label, even if some countries fail to
regulate for the production of Smoke or Flaming Droplets/particles in their national guidance.

Bringing all this information together indicates the complete Euroclass for a construction
product as defined in BS EN 13501-1, paragraph 12.1 for Reaction to Fire.
The total combinations are:

A1

A2 s1,d0 A2 s1,d1 A2 s1,d2

A2 s2,d0 A2 s2,d1 A2 s2,d2
A2 s3,d0 A2 s3,d1 A2 s3,d2

B s1,d0 B s1,d1 B s1,d2

B s2,d0 B s2,d1 B s2,d2
B s3,d0 B s3,d1 B s3,d2

C s1,d0 C s1,d1 C s1,d2

C - s2,d0 C s2,d1 C - s2,d2
C s3,d0 C s3, d1 C - s3,d2

D s1,d0 D - s1,d1 D s1,d2

D s2,d0 D s2,d1 D s2, d2
D s3,d0 D - s3,d1 D s3,d2

E E d2

NB. Smoke is naturally assumed to be produced from Euroclass E products and is not measured. A
similar assumption is made for Flaming Droplets/particles that are only measured in the categories as
above.

Page 10
Using the Information
For specifiers, it may be critical in the design, hazard and risk evaluation, to assess the
difference between, for example, a Class C s1, d0 product and a B s3,d2 product. Is the B
or C burning data the dominant issue, or is the high smoke production a more vital
characteristic?

Page 11
FLASHOVER AND PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION

The Flashover Principle

Flashover is the rapid transition to a state of total surface involvement in a fire of all
the combustible materials within an enclosure.

Flashover is characterised by the spontaneous ignition of combustible smoke and/or toxic

effluents from a fire, with the smoke acting as the conveyor belt for the rapid change to total
surface involvement of all combustible materials, people included.

Flashover can also be described as the moment when fire threatens to leave the room of
origin to cause spread of fire into adjacent spaces in an uncontrolled explosive manner. In so
doing, it is likely to increase the risk potential for loss of life by a factor of some 300%.

Differentiation of Products by Flashover

The Euroclass system for reaction to fire is based on the tendency of a product to promote
the conditions for flashover in a room or enclosure. There are seven Euroclasses from A1 to F
- see the table below.

The data from a battery of small/medium scale fire tests is used for the classification
process in correlation with a large-scale reference test. Flashover is not measured in
the small-scale reaction to fire tests of construction products. It is however measured
in the larger Room Corner Test ISO 9705 - the reference test for Euroclasses in the EU
reaction to fire classification system. The reference test is also used as the appeal
system when there is uncertainty regarding the classification of some contemporary
products, or when initial classifications are formally challenged.

Euroclass Flashover in the Room Corner

Reference test
A1 No flashover
A2 No flashover
B No flashover
C Flashover between 10 20 minutes
D Flashover between 2 to 10 minutes
E Flashover before 2 minutes
F No data available

Euroclass A1, A2 and B products are much safer in fire than Euroclass C, D and E
products. This new classification system indicates the hazard and ensuing risk of
flashover. Class E products are likely to be extremely volatile in fire, to produce
copious amounts of noxious smoke, to limit escape and to overwhelm any occupants
before they can escape. In the case of some lining products, flashover can occur in
seconds not minutes, well before the time that any threat is recognised or reacted to in
a real life fire.

Products that do not exhibit flashover in the reference test [Euroclass A1, A2 & B] are
differentiated and classified on their proximity to non-combustibility and according to their
potential heat release rate under specified exposure conditions.

Page 12
COMMON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS - LIKELY EUROCLASES
The following synopsis is extracted from the results of research conducted by Warrington Fire
Research* for the Government under a Partners in Innovation sponsored project involving
industry.
For full details see www.wfrc.co.uk
The classification below is for Reaction to Fire and does not indicate the long-term
stability of installed products in fire. Therefore Resistance to Fire should also be
considered when selecting products.
PRODUCT
Low density glass wool
High density glass wool
Calcium silicate board
Rockwool + glass tissue face
Rock wool + alu-foil facing
Glass wool + alu-foil facing
Silicate based mineral masonry paint
Cement particle board
Gypsum wallboard Ordinary
FR Gypsum wallboard
HD mineral wool + 2 coat render
EPS behind plasterboard
Duplex embossed wall-covering
FR MDF (01)
Birch plywood FR0
Birch Plywood FR1
Gravure printed VINYL wallpaper
Vinyl wall-covering fabric backed
European redwood FR0 TG Board
European redwood FR1 TG Board
Unfaced phenolic foam
European plywood FR2 TG Board
Birch plywood FR2
FR MDF (02)
PIR block foam
Phenolic foam alu-foil for ducts
PVC-U cellular cladding system
PVC-U cellular cladding system
Gravure printed vinyl wallcovering
with paper backing
Expanded polystyrene type A
PIR foam + alufoil facing
Extruded polystyrene XPS
Wood fibre medium board vac.
Press
PUR foam + flexible laminate facing
PIR Sprayed foam
Expanded polystyrene type N
UK LIKELY EUROPEAN CLASSIFICATION
Class A1 A2 B C D E F
NC A1
LC A1
LC A1
0 A1
1 A1
0 A2,s1,d0
0 A2,s1,d0
0 A2,s1,d0
0 A2,s1,d0
0 A2,s1,d0
0 A2,s2,d0
0 B,s1,dO
0 B,s1,d0
0 B,s1,d0
0 B,s1,d0
1 B,s1,d0
0 B,s2,d0
0 B,s2,d0
0 B,s2,d0
1 B,s2,d0
2 B,s2,d0
3 C,s1,d0
3 C,s1,d0
1 C,s2,d0
1 C,s2,d0
0 C,s2,d0
2Y C,s3,d2
1 C,s3,d2
0 D,s2,d0
Unclassi D,s3,d0
f
0 D,s3,d
0
Unclassi D,s3,d1
f
0 E,
1 E
4 E
4 F
Page 13
NB: All un-faced products manufactured by Rockwool Ltd have been fire tested by an
approved notified test laboratory as Euroclass A1. This classification is now indicated
on the CE Marking label on all factory-made Rockwool un-faced building products.

Page 14
EU CLASSIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS FOR
RESISTANCE TO FIRE EXCLUDING VENTILATION SERVICES AN
OVERVIEW OF EN 13501-2.
Why the need for a new system?

In the past, the fire testing of construction systems for Resistance to Fire has varied in
different EU member states. This is because each country has evolved its own methods,
using furnaces of different sizes, with different fuels, and different characteristics. While the
nominal fire exposure has been similar, these variations mean that test results from different
countries are difficult to compare. Some countries have different requirements to others.

The new Euroclass system for Resistance to Fire, prEN 13501 2, reflects new fire test
provisions for these differences, not by changing the design of furnaces, but by rationalising
the method by which the temperatures in the furnace are measured, using new plate
thermocouples, higher pressurisation of the furnaces and other adjustments.

In general, this means that test results are comparable across the EU, regardless of the
national location of the fire test laboratory. For the UK, it means that the test exposure is a
little more severe than before, and some products may be rated or classified at a slightly
poorer level than previously. This is partly due to new harmonised Resistance to Fire test
methods and the new EU classification of fire resistance data provided by these tests.

New Fire Classification Methods

When compared to existing UK nomenclature and that of some other countries, the way the
EU expresses the classification of the test results is different. Despite the changes,
requirements already used in most EU member states will still be available in the overall
classification.

EU member states will be permitted to select the particular performance appropriate to

national requirements, and may well ignore some parts of the classification. However,
manufacturers will be required to use the entire classification system when supplying
construction systems into other EU countries.

Fire Exposure Level

In most system applications, the fire exposure conditions will be the same, but some
applications require different fire exposures to be evaluated. Fire tests will be made selecting
from 5 fire exposure scenarios:

5 FIRE EXPOSURE SCENARIOS

[1] The standard temperature-time curve (post flashover)

[2] The slow heating curve (smouldering fire)
[3] The semi-natural fire
[4] The external fire exposure curve
[5] Constant temperature attack
.

[1] The standard temperature-time curve (post flashover fire)

This is defined by:

Temperature T = 345log10(8t +1) +20

Where t = time for exposure [minutes], T = 0C. This is the generalised fire scenario that most
construction systems will be subjected to, representing a fully developed fire in a
compartment.

Page 15
[2] The slow heating curve (smouldering fire)
This exposure is only suitable when heat reactive elements may be susceptible, or reduced
by exposure, in the growth stage of a fire below 500 0C. Further details are given in the test
document EN 1363-2

[3] The semi-natural fire

In this fire exposure, the fire gas temperatures adjacent to the soffit of a ceiling shall reach
1000 0C within 10 to 20 minutes of the start of the test, and is usually provided by fire from a
softwood timber crib. Further detail is available in test method prENV 13381-1

[4] The external fire exposure curve.

This is a time-temperature relationship representing the exposure of the external face of a
wall to a fire emerging from a window in the building, or from a free burning external fire.
Further detail is available in test method EN 1363-2

[5] Constant temperature attack.

Some elements will be evaluated by a notional constant value of temperature. For example
20 0C for evaluating the leakage rate of smoke control doors at ambient temperature.
200 0C for evaluating the leakage rate of medium temperature smoke control doors.
500 0C for evaluating the fire performance of raised floors.
1000 0C for evaluating soot fire resistance of chimneys and chimney related products.

Resistance to Fire Characteristics

EC document Interpretive Document2 requires the assessment of the characteristic

Load-bearing capacity and/or Integrity in fire and/or Insulation in fire.

Other characteristics are also named, as indicated in the following table. Many of these
characteristics will only be used according to particular member state requirements. However,
manufacturers who export goods to other EU Member States will be required to have data
available on all the characteristics.

Summary of Resistance to Fire characteristics :

DESIGNATORY CHARACTERISTIC PURPOSE

LETTER
R Load bearing capacity
E Integrity
I Insulation
For doors or shutters,
one of I1 or I2 will be
used depending on
measuring conditions
W Radiation
M Mechanical action
To maintain load bearing without loss of
structural ability
To withstand fire exposure, on one side
only, without fire passage to the other
side as flames or hot gases, which may
cause ignition on the unexposed side
To withstand fire exposure, on one side
only, without the transmission of fire as
a result of significant transfer of heat
from the hot side to the cold side, so
that ignition of the cold surface,
materials near it, or radiation onto
people close by are avoided.
The ability of the element to withstand
fire exposure on one side only, and to
reduce the transmission of fire, from
significant radiated heat through the
element, from the unexposed side to
adjacent materials.
Satisfying I will normally satisfy W for
the same period of time.
The ability of the element to withstand

Page 16

C Self closing
S Smoke leakage
Sa at ambient temp.
Sm at ambient and at
2000C
G Soot fire resistance The ability of the element to resist soot
K Fire protection ability
impact of a predefined force, shortly
after the time for the desired R, E or I
classification.
The ability of a door or shutter
assembly to close automatically,
thereby shutting an opening,
irrespective of the availability of a
power supply [pass/fail]
The ability of the element to reduce or
eliminate the passage of gases or
smoke from one side of the element to
the other
fires in chimneys and chimney related
products, including aspects of leakage
and thermal insulation
The ability of a wall or ceiling covering
to provide for the material behind the
covering protection against ignition,
charring and other damage, for specific
periods.
Coverings are the outermost parts of
elements such as walls, floors and
roofs.
Page 17
Classification Periods of Fire Resistance

The classification period is declared in minutes, using one of the periods 15, 20, 30, 45, 60,
90, 120, 180, 240 or 360. The requirement may vary between different EU member states.

Declaration of Performance

Combinations of designatory letters, as appropriate to the application, are used as part of the
classification of performance for Resistance to Fire, supplemented by the time, tt in minutes,
of the nearest lowest class satisfied. When characteristics are combined, the time declared
will be that for the characteristic having the shortest time.

For example, an element with a load-bearing capacity of 155 minutes, integrity of 80 minutes,
and insulation of 42 minutes will be classified as R 120 / RE 60 / REI 30.

For load-bearing elements, the classes shall be expressed as

REI tt, - where tt is the time satisfying the load bearing capacity, integrity &
insulation criteria.
RE tt - where tt is the time satisfying the load-bearing capacity & integrity criteria.
R tt - where tt is the time satisfying the load-bearing capacity criterion alone.

For non load-bearing elements, the classes are

EI tt - where tt is the time satisfying the integrity and

insulation criteria
E tt - where tt is the time satisfying the integrity criterion alone.

Other Classification Parameters :

ADDITIONAL CLASSIFICATION PARAMETER

W when the radiation criteria is required and has been satisfied, the designatory
Letter W is used in a similar way to R, E and I criteria, e.g. REW 30 or EW 30.

EXPANDED PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS

Similarly, the classification may be expanded, according to requirements, as

M used as REI 30-M

C for doors and shutters equipped with a self-closing device, the expansion is
EI2 30-C0, where the classes C0 to C5 are defined in test document prEN
13916.

S for elements with requirements on smoke leakage, as EI2 60-Sm when the
classification is determined under ambient conditions Sa and/or medium
temperature conditions Sm.

IncSlow where the response to the slow heating curve has been additionally
evaluated, as EI 30-IncSlow.

sn where the semi-natural fire is an additional regulatory requirement to the

standard time-temperature exposure [ only relevant for lightweight horizontal
protective membranes with low thermal inertia ], and expressed as R 60-sn.

ef where performance against external fire exposure instead of the standard time-
temperature exposure is determined, and expressed as EI 60-ef.

Page 18
r - where performance against constant temperature attack of 500 0C [reduced
temperature exposure] instead of the standard time-temperature exposure is
determined, expressed as RE 30-r.

PARTICULAR PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS

G - The performance parameter G will be used for chimneys and chimney related
products designed to be resistant to soot fires, as tested in prEN 13216-1.

K The performance parameter K, Fire Protection Ability, will be used for any covering which
provides fire protection to products behind it, as tested in prEN 14135 for various periods.

Presentation of Classification

The combination of R, E, I and W shall be deduced from test data. Expanded performance
parameters shall be added when relevant.

The classification shall be presented according to the following template, and for load-bearing
elements the applied load and/or load level shall be included in the classification report.

R E I W t t - M C S IncSlow sn ef r

The document EN 13501-2 also lists the tests to be carried out per application.

Other Dedicated Classifications:

Other classification terminology is used for particular applications, as indicated in the following
list:

CLASSIFICATION OF FACADES (CURTAIN WALLS) and EXTERNAL WALLS (INCLUDING

GLAZING)

Relevant tests include prEN 1364-3 and prEN 1364-4 for parts of curtain walls.
When the elements are tested from both sides, with standard-time temperature curve from
inside, and external fire exposure curve from outside, the lowest time determines the
classification

Tests and classifications may be performed from 1 side only, inside or outside, and in these
cases, identified by

io when classification is envisaged from inside to outside.

oi when classification is envisaged from outside to inside.
oi when classification is envisaged from inside to outside and outside to inside.

i.e. compare EI 60 (io) with fire on inside only, with EI 60 (oi) for fire exposure from both
outside and inside.

CLASSIFICATION OF CEILING MEMBRANES WITH INDEPENDENT FIRE RESISTANCE

Tests are conducted to EN 1364-2 and could be for fire exposure above the ceiling [a], or
from below the ceiling [b], or from both above and below the ceiling [ a and b].
So for a ceiling membrane providing 30 minutes integrity and insulation, the possibilities are
respectively expressed as -

EI 30 (ab) or EI 30 (ba) or EI 30 (ab)

Page 19
CLASSIFICATION OF PENETRATION SEALS [FOR PIPES]
When penetration seals for piped services are to be classified, 4 different pipe end
configurations are defined in the test standard prEN 1366-3, with ends capped or uncapped
inside/outside the fire test furnace.
The classification is specified for the relevant condition as
EI 30 U/U or similar
In accordance with the table below, which defines the Pipe End Configuration

Test condition Pipe end configuration

Inside the furnace Outside the furnace
U/U Uncapped Uncapped
C/U Capped Uncapped
U/C Uncapped Capped
C/C Capped Capped

CLASSIFICATION OF LINEAR JOINT SEALS

These seals ate tested in accordance with prEN 1366-4, but different test configurations are
possible, as follows

Test Condition Designatory Letter

Specimen orientation
horizontal supporting construction H
vertical supporting construction vertical joint V
vertical supporting construction horizontal joint T
Movement capability
No movement X
Induced movement (in %) M%
Type of splices
Manufactured M
Field F
Both manufactured and field B
Joint widths range (in mm) W 00 to 99

The classification obtained for the linear joint seal is therefore specified typically as
EI 30 H M100 B W 30 to 90

CHARACTERISATION DATA FOR APPLIED PROTECTION TO STEELWORK

The fire tests will allow the data to be subjected to thermal analysis so as to produce a series
of tables and graphs relating to fire resistance periods of 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, 180 and 240
minutes. In addition, the minimum thickness of protection material will be indicated for limiting
design temperatures of 350 0C, 400 0C, 450 0C, 500 0C, 550 0C, 600 0C, 650 0C, 700 0C, 750
0
C on steel members with various section factors denoted by Am/V.
Care should be taken to ensure that any thickness data provided is appropriate to the steel
size and the appropriate limiting design temperature selected from 350 750 0C.

Page 20
THE TRANSPOSITION OF EUROCLASSES
Throughout the EU, existing national classifications for the performance of building
products in fire do not automatically equate with those arising from the new
Euroclasses, so products cannot typically assume a Euroclass unless they have been
suitably tested or documented as classified without further testing.

To enable the use of the Euroclass system in support of national Building Regulations, the
government regulators of each member state have agreed to make a progressive
transposition to include Euroclasses within published guidance or requirements. The
Euroclass transposition may vary from one EU member state to another, according to national
needs, but all EU countries will use the same Euroclass classification system.

The transposition documents are/will be expressed in terms of the new EU Classification

systems for Reaction to Fire and for Resistance to Fire, as supported by published European
Product Standards, classification and fire test methods. Currently, Scotland has already
declared new Technical Standards incorporating Euroclasses. England & Wales have
published selected Amendments to Approved Document B - further Amendments are likely
because transpositions for the whole range of building products are only possible when the
relevant Product Standard has been published.

Some of these Product Standards are still being finalised. However, the Product Standard for
Mineral Wool Insulation was one of the first to be published and it has been possible to
include the Euroclass in CE Marking for Mineral Wool Insulation products since March 1st
2002. Further, these products must have CE Marking labels from 1 March 2003 if intended for
cross-border sales, and into or out of the UK.

The transpositions for various countries are indicated below.

Transpositions for England & Wales [POP UP TEXT 1]

Transpositions for Scotland [POP UP TEXT 2]

Transpositions for Republic of Ireland [POP UP TEXT 3]

Transpositions for Northern Ireland [POP UP TEXT 4]

Transpositions for England & Wales

The Euroclass system permits wider and more comprehensive differentiation of products for
their fire performance than the old British Standard system. This makes it a welcome tool for
specifiers.

Amendments 2002 to Approved Document B (Fire Safety) 2000 edition, were published in
December 2002 - and applicable from 1 March 2003. The text is only concerned with
transposition issues and does not amend the intended guidance.

The full document is available on www.safety.odpm.gov.uk/bregs/brads.htm or from the

Stationery Office at book.orders@theso.co.uk by e-mail. It is envisaged that further
amendments for product use not yet covered - will be published when it becomes viable to
do so and the amended guidance will subsequently be included in reprints of Approved
Document B.

Page 21
REACTION TO FIRE
In broad terms, the transpositions for Reaction to Fire can be summarised as:

British Standard Transposition to Euroclasses

Non- combustible A1,
or considered as A1 without the need for further
testing as defined in Commission Decision
96/603/EC dated 4th October 1996.
Limited combustibility A2 s3,d2 or better
Class 0 B s3,d2 or better
Class 1 C s3,d2 or better
Class 3 D s3,d2 or better

Notes.
1. When a Reaction to Fire classification includes s3,d2 this means that there is
no limit set for smoke production and/or flaming droplets/particles.

2. References to ratings provided by manufacturers and trade associations

should be carefully checked to ensure that the product is suitable, adequate
and applicable for the construction to be used. Small differences in detail, such
as thickness, substrate, colour, form, fixings, adhesives etc may significantly
affect the rating or classification.

RESISTANCE TO FIRE
In the case of Resistance to Fire, the transposition process is primarily concerned with the
introduction of the REI format of classification. The specific provisions of test for fire
resistance periods remain effectively unchanged, even though the European fire test methods
are considered more onerous for some elements of construction.

The Amendment document contains Notes to Tables to explain various apparent differences
between the old and new systems for example, in regard to Cavity Barriers the
requirement becomes EI 30, but note 11 clarifies that an insulation value of 15 minutes will be
deemed to satisfy in this instance. New commentary is also given on the minimum size of
steel elements that are deemed to satisfy the minimum period of 15 minutes fire resistance to
EN fire test methods.

Transpositions for Scotland

Scottish Technical Standards D & E were amended in September 2001 for application from 1
March 2002. The changes included transposition to Euroclasses. The full documents should
be read for all conditions to be taken into account.

The Scottish process demanded that the changes were made before all the finalised EN
documents were available. Therefore, the Euroclass categories used for Reaction to Fire may
need to be updated to include reference to Smoke and Flaming Droplets/particles in any
subsequent review. However, the lack of reference to these properties is not considered a
barrier to trade by the Scottish Office, as there are currently no requirements set for them in
Scotland. Nevertheless Scottish manufacturers would need to include information for
production of smoke and flaming droplets/particles in their CE Marking if the products are to
be sold in other EU countries.

REACTION TO FIRE
Scotland has introduced the concept of risk to the application of Reaction to Fire
classifications for construction products, as indicated in the following table.

Page 22
 Performance risk British Standard Transposition to
Euroclasses
Non-combustible Non- combustible A1 or A2
Low Class 0 B
Medium Class 1 C
High Class 2 or 3 D
Very high A material which does not meet the criteria for high risk

NOTE:
A sandwich panel used for internal walls or linings in a building of purpose groups 1 or
2 must be fully filled with a core that consists of non-combustible material [paragraph
D7.3].

RESISTANCE TO FIRE
Scotland has also introduced the concept of duration to periods for Resistance to Fire, as
well as the European REI classification format.

Duration Fire resistance period as

R, E, EI, or REI where relevant
Short 30 minutes
Medium 60 minutes
Long 120 minutes

Transpositions for Republic of Ireland

No details have yet been published

Transpositions for Northern Ireland

No details have yet been published

Page 23
EU FIRE TESTS
Introduction

Each Member State within the EU has historically developed its own fire
tests. However, the result from each test have not been comparable across
national borders. For this reason new harmonised tests, used in all EU
countries, have been adopted.
The new harmonised classification systems for declaring the performance in fire of
construction products, elements of construction and fire protection systems, rely on the
implementation of a wide variety of fire tests.

These fire tests are designed to represent the way in which an installed product would
perform, and provide results that can be compared, from one product to another, in a
consistent manner throughout the EU. The results in time [minutes] do not necessarily
represent the actual time that a construction element or fire protection system will function
satisfactorily in a real fire.

Classification Systems

Some of these tests are used to determine the Reaction to Fire Classification of performance
in fire of a product. Others support the Resistance to Fire Classification of performance in fire
of an element of construction or a fire protection system.

Fire Tests

Reaction to Fire tests tell us how a product will become

involved in the growth of fire in the room of origin, up to the
time when flashover occurs, or does not occur. The data from
the selected small /intermediate test methods has been
correlated to data arising from more expensive larger test
methods, see EU Large-scale Reference Fire Tests.
The Reaction to Fire tests have been selected so that, in combination, they allow us to rank
products from the best performing Euroclass A1 to the poorest Euroclass E or F. The various
combinations of tests have been selected so that results from the smaller-sized tests correlate
with data from the larger, more expensive, full-scale tests that have been deemed to
represent real fires. Some of these EU fire tests are completely new, others have been
adopted for EU use from elsewhere.

Resistance to Fire tests tell us how an element of construction or fire protection system will
inhibit a fully developed fire from causing structural collapse of the element, or prevent the fire
from passing from the room of origin into an adjacent room, corridor or other space.

Resistance to Fire tests have, in the main, been designed to reflect the particular uses of
elements of construction, allowing comparison throughout the EU, without undue change to
established experience. However, the new tests are expected to be a little more severe than
those previously used in the UK.

Page 24
EU LARGE-SCALE REFERENCE FIRE TESTS
Introduction

The European Commission has declared that 'real fire experience' should be
the basis for adopting new fire tests to underpin the EU Fire Classification
systems. The best way to test a product or system to reflect 'real fire
experience', and collect relevant data, is to use an appropriate large-scale fire
test.
However large-scale fire tests are usually expensive to perform and not in widespread use at
all test laboratories - so a system using less expensive small-scale tests is to be preferred.
But such a system must incorporate the ability to favourably compare ranking data from the
selected small-scale tests, to the ranking data obtained from the larger 'reference' test, so that
a form of correlation can be created between the two test formats, large and small scale.

In practice this meant that it was necessary to select large-scale fire tests that could act as
EU 'Reference Tests' for fire performance. These reference tests would provide information
typical of a real fire experience. The test data could be used when a referral /appeal process
is deemed necessary to compare information obtained in smaller-scale fire tests. For example
the ISO 9705 Room Corner reference test [RCT] has been chosen as the reference test for
the Euroclass classification system for reaction to fire performance of room lining products
such as plywood, MDF, insulation materials and plasterboard products [The RCT test will be
standardised as prEN 14390 Full scale room test for surface products].

Sometimes, correlations between large and small test data can be difficult to establish since
full scale building systems may be more susceptible to fire attack than small scale tests might
indicate. For example, fire performance at joints and fixings is not challenged in a small-scale
surface spread of flame test.

In the following illustration, compare the fire growth rates FIGRA in the two tests, ISO 9705
Room Corner reference test [RCT] and the smaller SBI test for lining products identified in the
diagram as products a to j. The results are quite different, but follow a correlated trend for
Euroclasses A1, A2 to F. Other small-scale tests may be needed in the classification process
to tighten any correlation.

Page 25
When different applications [not linings] for construction products are considered, the reliance
on correlation with other reference tests needs to be established. The following chart
indicates the possible process for such applications.

While decisions are taken on the use of the EN 14390 Full-scale Room test [derived from ISO
9705 Room Corner] as the reference test for Room Lining applications, more work is needed
to finalise the choice of reference test for other applications. The process is indicated below.

EU REACTION TO FIRE TESTS

The EU harmonised Reaction to Fire classification system is based on the selective use of the
following tests, depending on the excellence of classification expected.

In addition, there are several separate procedures for the Attestation of Conformity of
construction products, which allow manufacturers to indicate the classification obtained within
the CE Mark label attached to products. The required Attestation of Conformity procedure
indicates that a minimum quality of performance is repeatedly available. The best claims
require the most thorough attestation method.

A Suite of Tests

The following EN test numbers will be prefixed by BS for publication in UK, and prefixed by
DIN in Germany etc.

EN ISO 1182 Non-combustibility test

EN ISO 1716 Determination of calorific value
EN 13823 Single Burning Item test (SBI test)
EN ISO 11925-2 Ignitability test
EN ISO 9239-1 Burning behaviour of floor coverings, using a radiant heat
Source [this test replaces SBI test, for floorings, in table
below]. The classification thus obtained is suffixed eg CFL

The Reference Test

Page 26
To ensure that the results from the suite of smaller-scale tests are reliable, a larger full scale
EU reference test for Reaction to Fire has been used to compare the performance in fire of
construction products, particularly with regard to the tendency to exhibit flashover in a room.
The data from the small-scale tests is, in general, processed to correlate to the classifications
arising from the larger full-scale test.

Originally the EU experimental work focussed on the ISO 9705 Room Corner Test as the
reference system. This test has been adapted by the EU as prEN 14390 Fire test Full scale
room test for surface products and will be used for cases of Appeal, if results from the smaller
suite of tests are challenged.

Tests selected for each classification of Lining Systems

Euroclass Tests required

A1 Non-combustibility test AND
Determination of calorific value
A2 Non-combustibility test OR
Determination of calorific value AND
Single Burning Item test
B Single Burning Item test AND
Ignitability test
C Single Burning Item test AND
Ignitability test
D Single Burning Item test AND
Ignitability test
E Ignitability test
F No performance determined

EU RESISTANCE TO FIRE TESTS

The harmonised EU Resistance to Fire classification system, EN 13501-2, depends on the
selective use of one or more fire tests - see Table below for test standards.

Note:
The EN [European Norm] fire resistance test standard numbers are grouped in families which
reflect the application of construction products. The appropriate fire exposure level, as
indicated in the classification system information, will determine the test(s) selected. Test
requirements are also indicated in the Annex to the Product Standard for the particular type of
system under consideration.

Resistance to Fire tests will only be carried out by a recognised Approved Laboratory. The
final classification for fire resistance that arises from these tests will be issued by a
recognised Notified Body. The test data and classification will be suitable for use in any EU
Member State.

Availability of Information

Test standards that are still in the process of adoption are indicated as prENs, whereas ENs
have already been approved and released by CEN - the European Standards body.

In the UK, each EN test standard will be prefixed by BS, since publication will be via the
British Standards Institution, BSI eg, BS EN 1363-1 Fire resistance tests Part 1: General
requirements.

It should be noted that a fire resistance test is made on a building element of defined size,
and in a particular way. To extend the use of data for use on much larger buildings elements,

Page 27
rules for Extended Applications (EXAPs) are often required. The Table below indicates where
such rules are likely to apply.

Fire Resistance Test Documents

Test Application EXAP No.

Standard If known
Number.
GENERAL
EN 1363 -1 Fire resistance tests, general EXAP 1 General principles
requirements
EN 1363 -2 Alternative and additional procedures
EN 1363 -3 Verification of furnace performance
NON LOAD-BEARING ELEMENTS
EN 1364 -1 Walls EXAP 2 Non load-bearing walls
EN 1364 -2 Ceilings EXAP 3 Non load-bearing
ceilings
prEN 1364 -3 Curtain walls - full configuration EXAP 4 Curtain walling
prEN 1364 4 Curtain walls part configuration
prEN 1364 5 Semi-natural fire test for facades and
curtain walls
EXAP 5 Industrial wall cladding
prEN 1364 6 External wall systems
is now an
Annex of EN
1364-1

LOAD BEARING ELEMENTS

EN 1365 1 Walls EXAP 6 Load-bearing walls
EN 1365 2 Floors and Roofs EXAP 7 Floors and roofs
EN 1365 3 Beams EXAP 8 Beams
EN 1365 4 Columns EXAP 9 Columns
prEN 1365 5 Balconies and walkways
prEN 1365 -6 Stairs

SERVICE INSTALLATIONS
EN 1366 1 Fire resisting ducts EXAP 10 Fire resisting ducts
EN 1366 2 Dampers EXAP -11 Dampers
prEN 1366 3 Penetration seals EXAP 12 Penetration seals
prEN 1366 4 Linear joint seals EXAP 13 Linear joint seals
prEN 1366 5 Service ducts and shafts EXAP 14 Service ducts and
shafts
prEN 1366 6 Raised floors EXAP 15 Raised floors
prEN 1366 7 Closures for conveyors
prEN 1366 8 Smoke extraction ducts EXAP 16 Smoke extraction
ducts
prEN 1366 9 Single compartment smoke extraction EXAP 17 Single compartment
ducts smoke extraction
ducts
prEN 1366 Smoke control dampers EXAP 18 Smoke control
10 dampers
prEN 1366 -11 Fire protective systems for essential
services

DOOR & SHUTTER ASSEMBLIES

EN 1634 1 Fire doors and shutters EXAP 19 Fire doors & shutters

Page 28
prEN 1634 2 Equipment for fire doors
EN 1634 -3 Smoke control doors EXAP 20 Smoke control doors

EXTERNAL FIRE PERFORMANCE

OF ROOFS
ENV 1187 or Fire performance of roofs exposed to
CR 1187 external fire

CONTRIBUTION TO FIRE
RESISTANCE OF STRUCTURAL
MEMBERS
ENV 13381 1 Membrane protection horizontal
ENV 13381 2 Membrane protection vertical
ENV 13381 3 Concrete elements
ENV 13381 4 Steel elements
ENV 13381 5 Flat concrete/profiled sheet composite
elements
ENV 13381 6 Concrete filled hollow steel columns
ENV 13381 -7 Timber elements

Page 29
BUILDING DESIGN & EMPLOYER RISK INFORMATION
Introduction
Historically, building designers have tended to focus on the compliance of designs with
Approved Documents via Building Control agencies. However, the introduction of the Fire
Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 - as amended 1999, has placed a new Duty on
Employers, with liability on a criminal level, to make and maintain a risk assessment of their
workplace(s).

This means that design information will be an important element in the preparation of such a
risk assessment. There will also be a duty of disclosure between the employer and the insurer
of the workplace with regard to the presence of any hazards and associated risks.

This section of our web site provides you with helpful information on:

Risk assessment information

Fire safety engineering

Insurer requirements

Composite sandwich panels

Installation and accreditation

Page 30
RISK ASSESSMENT INFORMATION
Introduction

This section of the site aims to provide Employers and Designers with
information on topical issues, some of which may be new to them.
Increasingly the risk assessment approach is being used in all walks of life.
With regard to buildings, and especially the building fabric, there are legal
duties arising from the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, as
amended in 1999, but there are also other criteria to consider from the Duty of
Disclosure to insurance bodies, to a mix of environmental issues:
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, as amended 1999

The EU Precautionary Principle

Fire loads and toxic emissions from insulation materials

Smoke and risk

Duty of Disclosure

The Cooke Report - risk assessment of external cladding

Warehouses and distribution buildings Managing the risk from fire

Hotels & the European Commission (not yet published)

Page 31
FIRE PRECAUTIONS (WORKPLACE) REGULATIONS 1997, AS
AMENDED 1999
The Requirements

Employers are legally required to carry out a fire risk assessment of their
workplace that should identify all potential fire hazards and any associated
risks. Thereafter they should take action to minimise or eliminate any such
hazards and risks, and provide a safe system for maintenance as appropriate.

Where there are 5 or more employees, a written record of the fire risk
assessment must be kept. This is a criminal, rather than a civil, liability on
employers. There are 6 other legal duties relating to nominated persons,
consulting employees, other employers in the same building, control of
premises, means of contacting emergency services, and cooperation by
employees.

Employers also need to be aware of the provisions of the Management of

Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) as they relate to
fire precautions.

Need help with your fire risk assessment?

The Government has published Fire safety an employers guide ISBN 0-

11-341229-0, which is available from: The Stationery Offices Accredited
Agents [see Yellow Pages], or from HSE Books Tel : 01787 881165 Fax
01787 313995, see website www.open.gov.uk/hse/hsehome.htm.

The guide explains what needs to be done to comply with the law relating to
fire issues. It shows how to carry out your fire risk assessment and identify
the safeguards that you should have in your workplace. Details include:

Identifying Fire Hazards

Sources of ignition
Sources of fuel - fire load including contents and building materials
Sources of oxygen

Deciding who could be harmed

The people at risk - employees, visitors, fire-fighters.
How they will be warned and how they will escape?

Evaluating the risks and deciding whether your existing precautions

are adequate or if more needs to be done.
Fire fighting
Means of escape
Maintenance and testing of equipment
Fire procedures, checks and training
Good housekeeping

Recording your findings and actions

Page 32
Awareness & Understanding

Research by CACFOA [Chief & Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association]

showed that in 2001, a significant number of employers did not understand
their responsibilities [including criminal liability] for making and maintaining a
Fire Risk Assessment under the amended Regulations.

The document 'Fire Precautions [Workplace] Regulations Compliance

Survey July 2001', published by CACFOA demonstrated the extent of
employers lack of awareness, commitment and implementation of Risk
Assessment responsibilities.

CACFOA emphasises that if a risk based fire safety regime is to be effective,

it must be understood and embraced by those it is designed to protect. Yet
the overall level of awareness at that time was only 58.8%, or 71.5% in
premises with fire certificates. Only 25.7% of those questioned were aware
that guidance was available in Fire Safety - An Employers Guide.

CACFOA are located at Tamworth and can be contacted on Tel 01827 61516.

Page 33
THE EU PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
The EU Commission published a Communication on the Precautionary Principle as
02/02/2000; COM [2000] 1. This is an interpretation document, not a binding document, but
sets out how the Commission services have to use the concept. The Communication states
that

The EU should weigh the benefits and costs of action or inaction

There are 6 guidelines for the Commission Services:

[1] PROPORTIONALITY to the chosen level of protection.

[2] NON DISCRIMINATORY - meaning that comparable situations should not

be treated differently.

[3] CONSISTENCY with any previous decisions.

[4] EXAMINING COSTS AND BENEFITS - which means the total costs to the
entire community, including the cost of lack of action. This is much broader
than a cost-benefit analysis and it includes non-economic considerations such
as, for example, acceptability to the public. The Commission emphasises that
the European Court has ruled that the protection of health takes precedence
over economic costs.

[5] SUBJECT TO REVIEW IN CASE OF NEW SCIENTIFIC DATA.

[6] ASSIGNING RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCING SCIENTIFIC

EVIDENCE. The Commission notes that, increasingly, there is a reversal of
proof in the sense that businesses have to do the necessary scientific work
and demonstrate that their products are safe.

Implications for Building Owners and Designers

It seems entirely reasonable that the designers of new buildings should seek and make
provisions, so that in the event of fire, the potential hazard and pollution of the
neighbourhood, community and environment is minimised.

As part of the risk assessment process, building owners and designers will be well advised to
take note of the Precautionary Principle, particularly with regard to the impact of fire on the
health of people working in a building or living in the locale.

For the future, besides the obvious threat to life safety from smoke and fire hazards, any
ensuing litigation might include the pollution emanating from fires involving some
contemporary building materials - which can actually themselves fuel a fire, emit noxious
fumes and contaminate the fire brigades water run off. Is it a valid precaution to avoid
specifying such materials in the building envelope?

Choosing non-combustible building products will be a much easier task under the new
Euroclass classification system for Reaction to Fire, shown as part of the CE Mark. The
Precautionary Principle with regard to building design will be well served by this system.

Page 34
FIRE LOADS & TOXIC EMISSIONS
The new Euroclasses for reaction to fire provide 7 levels to enable designers and employers
to assess the likelihood of a construction product contributing to flashover and thereby
promoting the spread of fire see Flashover and Product Differentiation.

The Euroclass system also provides information for the tendency of a construction product to
participate in the growth of fire, release smoke and flaming droplets - see Common
construction materials likely Euroclasses.

However the Euro-classification for reaction to fire does not visibly quantify the fire load
inherent in construction products. The Fire Load of a construction product is defined as the
sum of the calorific energies which could be released by the complete combustion of all the
combustible components in a product. This is important because some products can
contribute a significant part to the total fire load of a building.

The Toxicity of the combustion gases released by construction products in fire is another
important criteria - at present not detailed in the Euroclasses system. As environmental issues
become more pressing in government deliberations, so this aspect of building fires and the
effect on local communities is likely to be highlighted.

The following information may be helpful to employers and designers. We intend to expand
the data when appropriate.

Flashover & Fire Load

Construction Product Can it promote Inherent fire load,

flashover? Mega-joules per cubic metre
Rockwool insulation No 5
Phenolic foam Yes 500
Polystyrene foam Yes 700
Polyurethane foam Yes 1100
Polyisocyanurate foam Yes 1100
Extracted from Fire Prevention 332 May 2000, and from LPC Code Practice for fire protection in Food & Drink
industry

Toxicity of Combustion Gases

In the absence of a recognised UK test, we include the following information as provided 20th
June 2000 by Rockwool Isolation S.A, Paris tested to NF X 70100 @ 6000C; LNE Dossier
No. 9110670.

Construction Product Toxicity of combustion gases, expressed as mg/g

CO CO2 HCN HCl HBr SO2
Rockwool 17 83 - - - -
Extruded polystyrene 96 1041 - 4 16 0.5
Expanded polystyrene 165 1881 - 1 3 0.5
Polyurethane 442 1357 38 45 - 0.5
Polyisocyanurate 598 1170 34 28 - 0.5

NB The release of corrosive gases is also important to insurers positioning when

considering the potential contamination of sensitive plant, equipment and services.

Page 35
SMOKE & RISK
For a thorough fire risk assessment or for calculations in a fire safety engineering solution, the
effect of smoke upon building occupants needs to be considered.

Historically, the UK Government has not legislated to minimise smoke emissions from
construction products, preferring to focus on the spread of smoke. Arguably this position had
been taken to minimise the cost to industry by avoiding extra test requirements. However, the
test procedures leading to the new EU Euroclass classifications for reaction to fire inherently
provide comparative information on smoke production rates, at no extra cost to industry. NB -
The information is a required input of modern fire safety engineering procedures.

Data on the causes of deaths in fire 1999, is provided by official Fire Statistics, United
Kingdom 2000, published February 2002 by DTLR, now Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
[1999 being the most recent year for which data on cause of death has been officially
specified].

UK Fire Statistics 2002 623 attributed deaths in 1999

Historically, UK has not required limits in smoke generation from building products
Between 1987 97, a 100% increase occurred in those effected by gas or smoke

For complementary information see :

Classifications smoke and flaming droplets/particles.
Common construction materials likely Euroclasses.

Page 36
DUTY OF DISCLOSURE
The legislative duty on most employers to produce a written risk assessment will also assist
them in securing realistic insurance cover, and maintaining that insurance umbrella. The risk
assessment will identify all potential hazards, the associated risks and actions taken both
within the business property and within the elements of the building enclosure(s) which house
the business. The fire safety management of the business will also be an important feature.

Insurers assess risk to the business on the basis of the information provided by the employer
and/or the employers agent. In general, insurance contracts are agreed and renewed on the
basis of utmost good faith. Therefore, the facts disclosed need to be true.

Utmost good faith not only means that the facts disclosed must be true, but also includes an
obligation to inform the insurer if the facts could influence an insurers judgement in accepting
or declining a business risk, or in fixing the premium and terms and conditions of the contract.
This obligation arises independently of any specific request made by the insurer or insurance
broker.

Any alteration, inaccuracy or incompletion of data should be immediately advised to the

insurer - once discovered. Similarly, any alteration to the business activity should be notified
to the insurer. If such notification is not made, then loss of cover could ensue, since a breach
of either of these obligations can result in the policy being pronounced void since inception, or
the insurer refusing to accept liability for an individual claim.

If any non-disclosure or misrepresentation is deemed fraudulent, insurers may sue for

damages as well as the policy being voided from inception.

Almost all policies require that there should be full disclosure of changes of circumstances
during the period of the policy. Insurers will reserve the right to decline to insure in respect of
those changed circumstances, so any contemplated changes should also be advised to
insurers.

For more information on the employers duty of risk assessment, see Fire Precautions
(Workplace) Regulations 1997, as amended 1999.

For other relevant risk assessment information, see Flashover and product differentiation and
Common construction materials likely Euroclasses.

Page 37
THE COOKE REPORT RISK ASSESSMENT OF EXTERNAL CLADDING

Sandwich panels for external cladding - fire safety issues and implications for the
risk assessment process is a ground-breaking Report, researched and written by Dr
Gordon M E Cooke BSc PhD CEng MIMechE MICE FIFireE, International Fire Safety
Consultant & Visiting Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, City University,
London. It is available as ISBN 0 954 2078 0 7. Click HERE to download The Cooke
Report pdf.

The Cooke Report contains valuable information for everyone concerned with fire safety and
the built environment as typified by contemporary sandwich panel buildings - superstores,
factories, warehouses, offices, stadia, prisons, schools and hospitals all over the UK.

The Report . . .

Demonstrates that fire safety guidance is essential for external sandwich panel cladding -
the building envelope.

Maintains that the risk posed by combustible-cored sandwich panels in the external
building envelope, as well as that for internal partitioning, should be recognised by
building owners, employers and designers for the purposes of their risk assessments. It is
contended that none of the risk assessment guidance currently available helps the
specifier to come to a decision as to whether or not the risk in using combustible-cored
panels is acceptable.

Confirms that combustible-cored sandwich panels are today being used in building
envelopes other than those for low life-risk warehousing and temperature-controlled
environments. Schools, hospitals, prisons, retail outlets and other public buildings make
use of this type of construction without appropriate regulation or guidance.

Highlights the advantages of sandwich panel construction which offers fast track, cost-
effective energy efficient building envelopes, with an array of aesthetically pleasing
shapes and finishes. It points out that sandwich panels which incorporate non-
combustible insulation cores and properly attached steel faces, can be safely specified in
all relevant building applications.

Emphasises the fact that sandwich panels with combustible foamed plastic insulation
cores polystyrene and polyurethane materials carry the risk of being a potential
hazard in fire. Official DETR guidance currently recognises this risk in Appendix F of
Approved Document B of the Building Regulations Fire Safety 2000 Edition, but only for
internal structures. However it is advisable that a risk assessment be carried out to
determine the suitability of combustible-cored sandwich panels for external cladding and
in other applications.

Reviews a number of ad hoc fire tests currently being used to provide data on the fire
performance of sandwich panels. It demonstrates that the fire sources used in these
tests are smaller than the fire sources generally present in UK buildings. Therefore the
data obtained from such tests could give employers, designers and regulators a
misleading view of fire safety.

Stresses the responsibilities of people and their need for information - where a risk to
property and business economies exists, and where a risk of environmental
contamination [air and water] is identified, then owners, employers and designers should
be appraised of the advantages of choosing sandwich panels with non-combustible
insulation cores.

Page 38
WAREHOUSE & DISTRIBUTION BUILDINGS- Managing the threat from
fire

New Guidance

Large single storey warehouse and distribution buildings are becoming commonplace. They
are often located in areas remote from local fire service intervention, or where regional by-
laws for added fire protection are not imposed.

The potential for a serious fire in these large buildings is now recognised. Often more than
2000m2 in size, with some over 20,000m2, they may include mezzanine floors, gallery levels,
high bay racking and automated goods retrieval.

There have been at least 240 large fires during the 1990s. A large fire in a storage and
distribution building constitutes a major threat to the business assets, local employment and
pollution of the environment. It is acknowledged that there is a pressing need to mitigate the
hazards to occupants, fire-fighters and local residents.

A new guidance document Fire Precautions in Warehouses and Distribution Buildings was
published by the Fire Protection Association in autumn 2002. The document, ISBN 1 902790
18-9, was jointly produced by the Association of British Insurers, BRE, Chief & Assistant Chief
Fire Officers Association, DTLR (now Office of Deputy Prime Minister), Fire Brigades Union,
FPA, UK Warehousing Association and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, with a
Foreword by the Fire Safety Advisory Board.

Target Audience

The Guide is intended to assist developers, designers, property owners and managers in
satisfying their statutory duties and commercial responsibilities. It is also intended to assist
building control bodies and fire authorities in taking an informed and consistent approach.

Contents

The document addresses 3 main areas:

- Part 1 examines the commercial benefits to business
- Part 2 looks at the application of Building Regulations and fire safety legislation.
- Part 3 deals with operational fire safety management of such buildings.

Potential Fie Issues

o Densely packed goods show rapid vertical then horizontal fire spread.
o BRE research - fire may reach the top of 10 metre racking within 2 minutes.
o Employees in modern facilities are more remote from colleagues.
o Grave fire fighting issues and safety problems for fire-fighters.
o Operational difficulty in gaining access to fight a fire.
o Water cannot be applied to internal fire from outside until collapse has begun.
o It may be deemed unsafe for fire-fighters to enter a building, except for rescue.
o Collapse of portal frame structures often needs heavy lifting equipment to reach the
seat of a fire.
o Fire safety legislation and Building Regulations are limited to minimum provisions for
life safety.

Page 39
Commercial Interests

Fire is a serious threat to the viability of any business.

Reinvestment only attains the position before the fire occurred.
The drain on resources will limit investment for growth.
Hidden losses in the form of business interruption can threaten ongoing business.
Deferred customers may never return.
High costs incurred for stock replacement.
Delays can cause permanent loss of market share.

Fire Safety Management

Good fire safety practices for the business.

Contingency planning to offset any disruption on and around the site.
A long term recovery plan.
Property and business protection see The LPC Design Guide.
Fire risk assessment see Fire Safety: an employers guide

Legislation

Designers, developers, owners and occupiers of buildings will have dealings concerning fire
safety with both a building control body and the fire authority.

(a) Building control bodies in relation to compliance with Building Regulations and
Approved Document B - Fire Safety.

(b) The fire authority in relation to fire safety under the Fire Precautions Act 1971, the
Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 as amended 1999; and either directly
or indirectly under other legislative controls concerning the safety of people in relation
to the operation and use of certain buildings once occupied.

The requirement for an employer to carry out a fire risk assessment is contained in regulation
3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Operational Fire Safety Management

The complexity and potential dangers of fire fighting in warehouse and distribution buildings
require careful and extensive pre-planning by fire brigades, warehouse operators and others
as appropriate. Regular reviews and evaluations of the attendant risks are necessary as the
nature of these buildings means that the usage, contents and occupancy is subject to change:

Examine the variety of possible tactics.

Identify the hazards that are likely to be present.
Assess the availability of agency resources that may be required.
The construction of the building frame, combustibility of sandwich panels etc
Nature of the building contents, fire load, hazards
Any in-built provisions for fighting fire.
Water supplies and water pressures.
Use and type of smoke ventilation equipment.
The internal/external facilities for fire fighting, fire engines and equipment.
Any isolated workers, or contract staff with minimal training
Effective security, key holding and communication systems.

Page 40
Fire-fighting

It is well known that fires in large buildings present special hazards. Is internal access to a fire
complex or likely to be impeded by the storage systems? The following problems may well be
relevant:

Building size, number of fire compartments

Travel distances for fire-fighters
Length of water hoses
Ease of accessibility
Difficulties caused by congestion
Location of the seat of the fire
Potential for rapid spread of fire and flashover
Rapid loss of visibility due to dense smoke
Collapse of racking, falling stock
Collapse of building structure and fabric of the building
Properties of stored materials
Conditions for withdrawal of fire fighters
Spread of fire to ancillary buildings

Associated Hazards

A continual risk assessment is required during fire fighting. Some examples are :

Will collapse of internal racking affect the building structure?

Serious smoke problems from packaging and materials such as polystryrene and
polyurethane high heat output may promote flashover.
Inadequate communications at the scene of a fire.
Potential effects of pollutants on the local environment.
o Contamination of water courses
o Effect of smoke on the community
The need to involve the Environment Agency.

Page 41
FIRE SAFETY ENGINEERING & BRITISH STANDARDS
British Standards have published BS 7974:2001 entitled Application of fire safety engineering
principles to the design of buildings Code of Practice. The Standards guidance and
recommendations promote effective and competent engineering judgement about likely
interactions and potential interactions of appropriate data input into relevant sub-systems, as
indicated below:

Grid diagram from BSI publication BS 7974:2001 is reproduced with permission from BSI
under licence number NC20030009. British Standards can be obtained from BSI Customer
Services, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL (Tel +44 (0) 20 8996 9001).

For example, the time to flashover arising from ignition of a particular material, is likely to
have a significant interaction with the development of fire and the spread of fire beyond the
enclosure of origin. Note that time to flashover is the underlying principle of the 7
Euroclasses for reaction to fire.

Page 42
Supporting Sub-systems

The Sub-systems are described in greater detail within the eight Published Documents which
act in support BS 7974. These Published Documents contain guidance and information on
how to undertake detailed analysis of specific aspects of fire safety engineering in buildings.
They are identified as

PD0 - Guide to the design framework and fire safety engineering procedures.

PD1- Initiation and development of fire within the enclosure of origin [subsystem 1]

PD2 - Spread of smoke and toxic gases within and beyond the enclosure of origin
[subsystem 2]

PD3 - Structural response and fire spread beyond the enclosure of origin
[subsystem 3]

PD4 - Detection of fire and activation of fire protection systems [subsystem 4]

PD5 - Fire service intervention [subsystem 5]

PD6 Evacuation [subsystem 6]

PD7 Probabilistic fire risk assessment [subsystem 7]

Benefits

It is intended that the use of BS 7974 and the supporting Published Documents will
help to facilitate the practice of fire safety engineering and in particular will :

Provide the designer with a disciplined approach to fire safety

Allow the safety levels for alternative designs to be compared

Provide a basis for selection of appropriate fire protection systems

Provide opportunities for innovative design

Provide information on the management of fire safety for a building

Fire is an extremely complex phenomenon and gaps still exist in available knowledge.
BS 7974 is intended to provide a framework for a flexible but formalised approach to
Fire Safety Design that can also be readily assessed by the approvals bodies.

Page 43
INSURER REQUIREMENTS
Introduction
Building Regulations and supporting Approved Documents, or Technical Standards [in
Scotland], are intended for the protection of the lives of building occupants and those in and
around the building, but not for property protection or for the survival of the business
occupying a building.

Insurer fire tests and requirements are wholly intended for cost effective fire protection of the
building and for minimising any business interruption from fire.

Fire Tests

The insurer focus is on containing a fire to the room of origin, preventing premature collapse
and minimising any progressive collapse, so as to be back in business the day after any fire.

As a result, the Fire Resistance requirements are sometimes higher than those demanded by
governments.

In the case of Reaction to Fire, insurers requirements tend to be based on the performance in
fire of full-scale assemblies of building components. These larger fire tests are to be
compared with the small-scale fire tests on individual product samples as referenced in
government guidance in Approved Document B Fire Safety, which supports Building
Regulations.

Information

The following pages provide more information on insurer requirements:

The LPC Design Guide for the fire protection of buildings

Compartmentation and Insurers

Protected zones

LPC construction design sheets

LPC code of practice for fire protection in the food and drink industry

Insurers fire tests

o LPS Standards
o FM Global standards

Page 44
THE LPC DESIGN GUIDE FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS.
The Loss Prevention Council [LPC], now part of BRE [previously Building Research
Establishment] published The LPC Design Guide for the fire protection of buildings, 2000 a
Code of Practice for the protection of business on behalf of the Association of British Insurers
[ABI], and published by the Fire Protection Association [FPA] see LINKS for these
organisations.

The LPC Design Guide provides guidance on the principles of passive fire protection in
connection with property protection and other aspects of business risk management. It
includes sections on:
o Contribution to fire growth
o Compartmentation of buildings - see Protected Zones and Compartmentation &
Insurers
o External fire spread
o Recommendations for cost effective fire protection of industrial and commercial
buildings for property protection, and preventing significant business interruption.

The document is applicable to all new non-domestic buildings, major extensions and the
refurbishment and upgrading of many existing buildings.
It strongly recommends early and close liaison between client, building designer and insurer,
to make due provisions for the all-important protection of the business in fire.

Strategy

The principles and basic strategy are:

Wherever practicable, contain the fire to the room of origin.
Prevent premature structural collapse and minimise progressive collapse.
Prevent fire spread into/from adjoining premises
Identify fire resistance levels appropriate to the occupancy

Construction Design Sheets

This LPC Design Guide 2000 reflects the long fire test experiences of the Loss Prevention
Council by including 150 pages of LPC Construction design sheets as:

Information on generic building products per main application

Main function of application of each product group
General advice on which fire test evidence for designers
Generic data on a broad range of building product types.

In addition, the following characteristics have been provided to allow comparison between
products in the same application group:

Contribution to fire growth, pre-flashover

Surface spread of flame
Fire resistance
Contribution to fire load, post flashover
Integrity in fire
Temperature rise in fire
Smoke resistance

Page 45
COMPARTMENTATION & INSURERS
Objectives

To prevent fire spread between adjoining buildings

To prevent fire spread between fire compartments in one building, horizontally and
vertically.

Full details are available in LPC Design Guide for the fire protection of buildings available
from www.thefpa.co.uk Note that compartmentation for means of escape is covered in
Approved Document B, Fire Safety guidance document supporting building regulations.

Common Faults:

o Poor workmanship especially for fire-stopping

o Inadequate design, allowing fire spread over or round a firewall.
o Insufficient protection to connected structures, leading to premature collapse.
o Inadequate design for provision of fire doors and shutters.
o Non-use of cavity barriers to sub-divide ceilings and other voids. Fire resistance
ratings of 30 minutes integrity and 30 minutes insulation should be used, i.e., EI 30 in
Euroclass terminology

Compartment Wall Categories

Walls designed to separate different occupancies not in the same ownership or

occupation, where these walls do not contain openings for doors, glazing or services.

Walls separating different areas of the same occupancy with all buildings occupied by
the same company, where these walls contain openings for doors, glazing and
services.

Walls designed to separate occupancy types eg. factory from offices, storage
from retail or commercial areas.
Walls designed to restrict the compartment size within an occupancy
Walls designed to separate hazards or sensitive equipment within an
occupancy.

Note: the LPC Design Guide, Appendix 3B - Robust Materials, lists steel faced Mineral Wool
cored [rock derived] sandwich panels as suitable for use as compartment walls, provided the
panels are at least 100 mm thick core with a density at least 100 kg/m3 and steel thickness
not less than 0.7 mm

Compartment Floor Categories

Compartment floors are an important element in restricting the vertical spread of fire within or
between occupancies of one building. They can be compromised by the inadequate fire
protection of shaft enclosures, lifts, stairwells, service penetrations etc.
The LPC Guide defines requirements for 3 types of compartment floors, differentiated by
both occupancy and type of business being undertaken in each occupancy:

Floors designed to separate different occupancies or occupancy types.

Floors in the same occupancy type, by one company or more, in the same type of
business.
Floors in the same occupancy type, in compartments containing high hazards or
valuable contents that are vital to the business.

Page 46
Compartmentation External Walls & Roofs

Compartment walls or floors can be compromised if fire passes around or over them, via
external walls or roofs. Insurers recommend this potential route for spread of fire is avoided
by requiring external walls and roofs in the Protected Zones to have specific minimum fire
resistance, when compared to the rest of the building.

Page 47
PROTECTED ZONES
Where buildings are divided into 2 or more fire compartments, the purpose of the separating
compartment wall is to ensure that the spread of fire from one compartment to another is
prevented. Note that partition walls are not compartment walls but are used to create rooms
within a fire compartment.

The external enclosure of a building will play a key role in ensuring that fire spread around or
over the compartment wall is inhibited. The specification for the fire performance of external
walls and roofs must ensure that they do not permit the spread of fire around or over any
compartment wall within the building.

The LPC Design Guide for the fire protection of buildings introduces this concept as the
Protected Zone which is defined as the sections of roof, external walls and supporting frame
adjacent to and within a specified distance on each side of a compartment wall. Designers
should be aware that the external walls, roofs and supporting frame in the protected zone
may well require a higher fire resistance than walls and roofs elsewhere in the building,
depending on the findings of the risk assessment.

Page 48
Extent of Protected Zone

The protected zone along the external wall is the distance between compartment wall and the
next structural member on each side of the compartment wall. This may need to be further
extended if fire exposure from an adjacent building is likely to compromise the
compartmentation. If the next structural member is within 1 metre of the compartment wall,
the protected zone should be extended to the next structural member. In addition, if part of
the wall is less than 1 metre from the relevant boundary, as defined in Approved Document B
Fire Safety, supporting Building Regulations, higher fire resistance levels will be required.

It is important that external walls, roofs and supporting framework in the protected zone are
provided with adequate fire resistance or alternative protection to prevent the early spread of
fire from one side to the other.

- For compartment walls parallel to the line of the roof ridge, the protected zone
depends on the risk assessment for the business, but is often not less than 5
metres.

Note that whilst risk assessments arising from the Fire Precautions (Workplace)
Regulations 1997 are intended to protect people in buildings, the risk assessment for
the insurer will need to include both risk to people and the business which is housed
in the building, including any business interruption which may arise.

- For compartment walls at right angles to the line of the roof ridge, the protected
zone should extend to the next structural member beyond 1 metre from the wall.

Fire Resistance Requirements

The requirements for protected zones will vary according to the use of the building, the risk
assessment and the associated business risk. While actual requirements should be confirmed
at the earliest opportunity with the insurer, additional requirements can be found in Loss
Prevention Standard LPS 1181: Part 1, Appendix B.

The figures indicated below are those appearing in the draft document August 2002.

External Grade Integrity Insulation Typical application,

[minutes] [minutes] see Table 2.2 of
LPC Design Guide
EXT A60 60 60* Retail warehouse 4b,
superstore, industrial
6b, and storage 7a
EXT A30 30 30* Shop 4a,
commercial,
industrial 6a
EXT A15 30 15 Fully sprinklered
buildings

* Roof and external wall cladding systems which achieve an insulation time within 90% of this
figure may be deemed to satisfy the requirements.

Page 49
LPC CONSTRUCTION DESIGN SHEETS
The entire broad based guidance text is to be found in Section 6 of the LPC Design Guide for
the fire protection of buildings available from www.thefpa.co.uk

Purpose

The intention of the construction design and data sheets is to provide:

Information on generic products with respect to the main applications.

Main application functions of each product group.
General advice on the performance data to be obtained by designers
Generic data on a broad range of building products

Passive Fire Protection Products

The information is based on selected factors to allow comparison of products in the same
application group

Contribution to fire growth, pre-flashover

Surface spread of flame
Fire resistance
Contribution to fire load, post flashover
Integrity
Temperature rise
Smoke resistance

Whilst specific fire resistance levels can be obtained directly from the product manufacturer,
Approved Product information can be obtained from the Loss Prevention Council Board an
approvals body within BRE Certification. Approved Products are now published in the LPCB
Red Book at www.redbooklive.com

The LPC Ratings System

5 Star excellent performance

4 Star good performance
3 Star satisfactory performance
2 Star not recommended
1 Star unacceptable

Scope

Construction design sheets are available for a number of broad applications, including
o Structural frames and trusses
o Roof cladding systems1
o Compartment walls and cavity barriers
o External wall cladding systems2
o Compartment floors
o Fire doors
o Service sealing
o Fire resistant glazing
o Protection of air distribution systems

Page 50
1
ROOF CLADDING SYSTEMS

System Contribution to Fire Smoke Strength & Durability

fire growth resistance resistance impact
resistance
Composite sandwich panels
PUR core 2 star 3 star 3 star 4 star 4 star
PIR core 2 star 3 star 3 star 4 star 4 star
LPCB 4 star 3 star 3 star 4 star 4 star
approved
PIR core
Mineral wool 5 star 5 star 4 star 5 star 4 star
core [rock]
Built-up roof systems
Mineral wool 5 star Depends on 4 star 4 star 4 star
core [rock] MW used &
joint type
Dry-lining protected
Calcium 5 star 5 star 4 star 3 star 4 star
silicate
board
Gypsum 5 star Discuss with 4 star 3 star 4 star
board maker

2
EXTERNAL WALL CLADDING SYSTEMS

System Contribution to Fire Smoke Strength & Durability

fire growth resistance resistance impact
resistance
Composite sandwich panels
PUR core 2 star 3 star or less 3 star 4 star 4 star
PIR core 2 star 3 star or less 3 star 4 star 4 star
LPCB 4 star 3 star but 3 star 4 star 4 star
approved check with
PIR core LPCB*
Mineral wool 5 star 5 star 4 star 4 star 4 star
core [rock]
Built-up panel systems check with manufacturer
Dry-lining protected systems
CaSi board 5 star 5 star 4 star 3 star 4 star
Gypsum 5 star 3 star check 4 star 3 star 4 star
board re ext. fire

Page 51
LPC CODE OF PRACTICE FOR FIRE PROTECTION IN THE FOOD AND
DRINK INDUSTRY
The full document was published in 1999 as ISBN 0 902167 29-4 and is available from The
Fire Protection Association on www.thefpa.co.uk

Main Purpose

Over the last decade a significant number of serious fires, and costly insurance claims, have
occurred in the food industry. The objective of the Code of Practice is therefore to provide
advice on the protection of the material assets of a business and its ability to trade. Protection
of property also has benefits for the life safety of occupants of food industry buildings.

Many of the food industry fires have featured rapid development of fire that has been
attributed to the relatively high fire loads in the buildings. However the building elements
themselves have also been called into question in terms of fire loading. Sandwich panels with
combustible insulation cores, used for both external and internal applications, have been
implicated as fire load contributors in some major conflagrations see Properties of some
construction products .

The Code supports effective fire risk assessment. This plays a vital part in effective fire safety
management. A careful assessment of all potential hazards and associated risks will be
integral to the legal duty of most employers see Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations
1997, as amended 1999.

Key Objectives

One of the key objectives of the Code is to promote the use of internal and external
construction elements that are either non-combustible or have been shown by large-scale fire
tests to possess appropriate properties in fire. Other objectives are:

The selective replacement of hazardous construction elements

Use of fire compartment walls to isolate vulnerable business areas from those
possessing high fire loads

Sandwich Panel Performance in Fire

The Code provides data that gives an indication of some relevant factors for metal faced
sandwich panels [1 = good; 5 = bad]. Details can be confirmed with individual manufacturers.

Core type Fire Ease Fire Fire Thermal Smoke

load of spread resistance Insulation production
Note ignition Note 2 Note 3 Note 4
1
Expanded polystyrene 5 5 5 5 2 5
Polyurethane foam 5 5 3 5 1 4
Polyisocyanurate foam 5 3 3 4 1 4
Modified phenolic foam 5 2 3 3 ? 3
Glass foam 1 1 1 1 ? 1
Mineral wool [ rock] 1 1 1 1 3 1

Key: ? = Data not yet available

Note 1. These comparisons are based on current designs and construction. Developments in
design, particularly joint construction, may lead to improved fire performance
Note 2. Fire resistance is measured for a complete construction, including the supporting
structure and joint detail. Even core types rated 1 for fire resistance will only achieve that
rating if properly constructed and installed

Page 52
Note 3. Thermal insulation in this table refers to the thermal insulation provided by the panel
during normal use and not to the insulation value under fire conditions, as defined in
paragraph 3.3.1 of the original document. The values given are intended as a guide to the
relative insulation properties of the different cores. In practice, equivalent insulation
performances may be obtained by increasing or decreasing the thickness of the core.

Note 4. These values give an indication of the relative levels of smoke and toxic gases
produced by the core material once exposed during a fire.

For other details please refer to LPC Design Guide for fire protection of buildings.
Further useful information can be found in the Cooke Report Risk assessment of external
cladding.

Page 53
ACRONYMS AND ORGANISATIONS

ACRONYM FULL NAME

ABE Association of Building Engineers
ABI Association of British Insurers
ACF Arson Control Forum [part of ODPM]
ACFSE Alliance for Consumer fire safety in Europe
AD-B Government Approved Document B, Fire Safety guidance
AFNOR French standards organisation
AIRM Association of Irish Risk Managers
AIRMIC Association of insurance risk managers
AoC Attestation of Conformity, in EU
APME Association of plastic manufacturers in Europe
ASFP Association of Specialist Fire Protection
BASA British Automatic Sprinkler Association
BBA British Board of Agrement
BCC British Cladding Council
BFPSA British Fire Protection Systems Association
BFSA British Fire Services Association
BIIBA British Insurance & Investment Brokers Association
BPF British Plastics Federation
BRC British Retail Consortium
BRE Building Research Establishment
BRUFMA British Rigid Urethane Manufacturers Assoc.
BSA Built-up (cladding & roofing) systems association
BSI British Standards Institution
CACFOA Chief & Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association
CBI Confederation of British Industry
CEA Comite Europeen des Assurances
CEN European Committee for Standardisation
CEN FAN Fire Advisory Network within CEN
CEPMC Council of European Producers of materials for construction
CFBAC Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council
CFPA Confederation of Fire Protection Associations in Europe
CIA Chemical Industries Association
CIB Conseil International du Batiment International Council for
Research & Innovation in Building and Construction
CILA Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters
CPA Construction Products Association
CPD European Commissions Construction Products Directive
CTBUH Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
CTIF Comite Technique International de Prevention et dExtinction du
Feu, Paris
DETR Now ODPM
DIN German standards organisation
DTI Department of Trade and Industry
DTLR Now ODPM
DSMA Doors and Shutters Manufacturers Association
EAPFP European association of passive fire protection
EC European Commission
ECCS European Convention of Constructional Steelworks
EFRA European flame retardant association
EGOLF European group of fire laboratories
EN European Norm /Standard
fEN European fire standard

Page 54
 hEN Harmonised European Standard
prEN Draft European Standard
ENV European pre-standard
EOTA European Organisation for Technical Approvals
EPIC Engineered Panels in Construction, a trade association for
sandwich panel makers, mainly those using PUR and PIR core
materials
EPS Expanded polystyrene
ETA European Technical Approval
ETAG European Technical Approval Guideline
EU European Union
EURIMA European Insulation Manufacturers Association
EURISOL UK Mineral Wool Association
FBU The Fire Brigades Union
FETA Fire extinguishing trades association
FEU Federation of the European Union Fire Officers Association
FIC Fire Industries Confederation
FIRAS Accreditation scheme for fire protection installers
FM Factory Mutual Global
FOBFO Federation of British Fire Organisations
FPA Fire Protection Association
FRA Flat Roofing Alliance
FRS Fire research station [ now part of BRE]
FSAB Fire Safety Advisory Board
FSDG Fire Safety Development Group
FSE Fire Safety Engineering
FSFG Fire Safety Framework Group pre FSAB
FTSG Fire test study group
HSE Health & Safety Executive
IACSC Int. Association of Cold Storage Contractors
ID Interpretation Document, in EU
IFE The Institution of Fire Engineers
IFPO Institute of Fire Prevention Officers
IIRSM International Institute of Risk & Safety Management
IL Association of fire testing laboratories of European Industries
ISO International Organisation for Standardisation
ISOPA European Isocyanate Producers Association
IWA International Waterproofing Association
KEYMARK A quality scheme for construction products @ www.key-mark.org
KWIKSPEC Quick specification advice for building elements @
www.rockwool.co.uk
LGA Local Government Association
LPC Loss Prevention Council [ part of BRE]
LPCB Loss Prevention Certification Board [ part of BRE]
LPS Loss prevention test standard
MCMRA The Metal Cladding & Roofing Manufacturers Ass.
MMMF or Man made mineral fibres, comprising 4 separate insulation product
MW groups
- rock wool, glass wool, slag wool and ceramic wool with different
physical properties including performance in fire
NFPA National Fire Protection Association, USA
NFRC National Federation of Roofing Contractors
NIST National Institute of Science & Technology, USA
ODPM Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
PANAMA An international association of sandwich panel manufacturers
PFPF Passive Fire Protection Federation
PiI Government Partners in Innovation project scheme

Page 55
PUR Polyurethane
PIR Polyisocyanurate, a modified urethane material
RIAS Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland
RIBA Royal Institute of British Architects
RICS Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
SPRA Single ply roofing association
UAP Unique Acceptance Procedure, in EU
WFRC Warrington Fire Research Centre
XPS Extruded polystyrene

Page 56
LINKS
Description
ABE, Association of Building
Engineers
ABI, Association of British
Insurers
AON on panels
Arson Control Forum, ODPM
Arson, Crime reduction
toolkits
Arson Prevention Bureau
ASFP, Association of
Specialist Fire Protection
BBA Approvals from British
Board of Agrement
BRE, Building Research
Establishment, UK
British Insurers & Investment
Brokers Association
BSI, British Standards
information
BSI European CPD EN
standard tracker information
CEN European standards
CEN FAN, fire advisory
network
Chartered Institute of Loss
Adjuster
Chartered Insurance Institute
Library online
Cooke, Prof Dr G.M for fire
advice
CPA, Construction Products
Association
DTI, Dept of Trade and
Industry
EAPFP, European
association for passive fire
protection
EOTA, European
Organisation for technical
approvals
European Commission
EU dangerous substances in
construction products
EU Guidance Papers
EU Precautionary Principle
EU standing Committee on
Construction minutes
European Green Buildings
Forum
Fast guides, Hascombe
Enterprises Ltd
FBU, Fire Brigades Union
FIC, Fire Indiustries
Web-site address
www.abe.org.uk
http://www.abi.org.uk and
www.abi.org.uk/consumer2/memberslist
www.aon.com/about/publications/techmatters/2002_06
Statistics - www.arsoncontrolforum.gov.uk
Enquiries www.acf.enquiries.odpm.gsi.gov.uk
www.crimereduction.gov.uk/toolkits
www.arsonpreventionbureau.org.uk
www.asfp.org.uk
www.bbacerts.co.uk
www.bre.co.uk
www.biba.org.uk
www.bsi-global.com
www.cpd-tracker.com
http://www.cenorm.be/standardization/tech_bodies
www.cenorm.be/standardization/sectoractivities/construction/
membership/constructionsectorfireadvisorynetwork
www.cila.co.uk
www.ciilo.org
www.cookeonfire.com
www.constprod.org.uk
www.dti.gov.uk
www.EAPFP.com
http://www.eota.be
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/construction.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/construction/internal/dan
gsub/dangmain.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/construction/internal/guid
pap/guidpap.htm
http://TheEPC.be
http://odpm.gov.uk/safety/bregs/cpd/scc/scc09.htm
www.egbf.org
www.fastguides.co.uk
www.fbu-ho.org.uk
www.the-fic.org.uk
Page 57
Confederation
Fire news, British fire www.fire.org.uk
services & links
Fire safety Design www.firesafetydesign.net
Fire Safety Engineering http://www.wfrc.co.uk/consultancy/Benefeu.htm
Benefits of FSE in European
Union - report
FPA, Fire Prevention www.thefpa.co.uk
Association
Fire stopping council, www.firestop.org
international
Fire product supplies www.fireuk.net
Fire, USA web information www.fs-business.com
Fire, world information www.fs-world.com
Foresight Directorate, UK http://www.foresight.gov.uk/default/024.htm
FSDG, Fire Safety www.fsdg.org.uk
Development Group
FSE, Fire safety engineering www.firemags.com
magazine
GAN Insurance www.groupama.co.uk
General Products Safety www.dti.gov.uk/CACP/ca/consultation/gpsdcon.pdf
Directive
HSE, Health and safety www.hsedirect.com
executive
Historic buildings fire www.english-heritage.org.uk
research committee
IFE, Institution of Fire www.ife.org.uk
Engineers
Institute of Fire Prevention www.fire.org.uk
Officers
Insurance Times articles http://www.insurancetimes.co.uk
Interflam see Interscience
Comm.
Interscience www.intercomm.dial.pipex.com
Communications
Irish Government www.environ.ie
KEYMARK quality mark www.key-mark.org
scheme
Lloyds of London www.lloydsoflondon.com
Lloyds Non Marine www.nma.org.uk
Underwriters Association
LPCB, Loss Prevention www.brecertification.co.uk
Certification Board
Office of Deputy Prime www.odpm.gov.uk
Minister [was DTLR or
DETR]
Risk Assessment 5 steps www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg163.htm
Royal and Sun Alliance www.royalsun.co.uk
Schools regulations www.dfee.gov.uk/schbldgs/reg.htm
Sotttish building regulations http://www.scotland.gov.uk/development/bc
Swedish National Research www.sp.se/fire
& Testing Institute various
fire information
UK Regulatory Reform Bill www.official-doc.co.uk/doc/cm47/4713.htm
WFRC, reports on Radar 1, www.wfrc.co.uk
2 and 3 fire projects

Page 58
Rockwool Limited

Tel: 01656 862621

Fax: 01656 862302

Pencoed. Bridgend. cf35 6ny

e info@rockwool.co.uk
www.rockwool.co.uk