Applus+ gives presentation on reaction-to-fire testing to construction professionals in Barcelona.
Applus+ took part, on 14th June 2016, in the seminar on passive fire protection in the construction industry that was organised by CAATEEB (Barcelona’s technical college for building surveyors, technical architects and engineers).
The event was aimed at construction professionals who play an influential role in the choice of building materials, such as engineers and architects. It is critical that these professionals have a comprehensive understanding of fire-safety standards and, in particular, how different building materials behave in the event of fire.
At the seminar, experts from Applus+ gave a presentation entitled ‘Fire scenarios. Reaction to fire: the origin of the RCT/SBI tests and the Euroclasses. European standard’. In their presentation, they outlined the process of harmonisation of
reaction-to-fire tests at a European level and how this led to the current Euroclass system.
This system enables the classification of construction materials (wall, ceiling, floor and cable coverings, etc.) according to parameters including the material’s own contribution to fire, the intensity of the smoke it gives off and whether or not it generates flaming droplets.
The conference focussed primarily on detailing the testing required for Euroclass classification: the SBI (Single Burning Item) test, which is used in the classification of the majority of construction products; tests for specific products such as the FRP (Floor Radiant Panel) test for flooring; and tests to determine specific properties such as calorific value (EN ISO 1716), non-combustibility (EN ISO 1182) or ignitability in direct contact with a small flame (EN ISO 11925-2).
Applus+ is a European benchmark in reaction-to-fire testing and Euroclass classification, carrying out the required regulatory testing and
CE marking of construction materials in its own
fire laboratories.