Published 18 January 2023
The purpose of evaluating fire resistance is to examine how a building element reacts to specific heat and pressure conditions. This process quantifies the element's ability to withstand high temperatures by measuring its loadbearing capacity, fire containment (integrity), thermal transmittance (insulation), and other characteristics.
Within Great Britain's regulatory frameworks, British Standards and European Normative test methods co-exist as a means of demonstrating compliance. However, it's important to note that European Normatives relating to fire resistance testing have been gradually replacing their British counterparts.
Standards are technical specifications defining requirements for products, production processes, services or test-methods. These specifications are voluntary. They are developed by industry and market actors following some basic principles such as consensus, openness, transparency and non-discrimination. Standards ensure interoperability and safety, reduce costs and facilitate companies' integration in the value chain and trade.
European Standards
European Standards are under the responsibility of the European Standardisation Organisations (CEN, CENELEC, ETSI) and can be used to support EU legislation and policies.
Below, is a comprehensive list of European Standards that relate to the fire resistance of building elements.
BS EN 13501-2: 2016 - Fire classification of construction products and building elements - Classification using data from fire resistance tests, excluding ventilation services
BS EN 13501-2 is the second part of the multi-series standard that is applicable to the fire classification of construction products and building elements. It is the procedure for classification of construction products and building elements using data from fire resistance and smoke leakage tests which are within the direct field of application of the relevant test method. Classification on the basis of extended application of test results is also included in the scope of BS EN 13501-2.
BS EN 1363-1:2020 - Fire resistance tests - General requirements
BS EN 1363-2:1999 - Fire resistance tests - Alternative and additional procedures
BS EN 1364-1:2015 - Fire resistance tests for non-loadbearing elements - Walls
BS EN 1364-2:2018 - Fire resistance tests for non-loadbearing elements - Ceilings
BS EN 1364-3:2014 - Fire resistance tests for non-loadbearing elements - Curtain walling. Full configuration (complete assembly)
BS EN 1364-4:2014 - Fire resistance tests for non-loadbearing elements - Curtain walling. Part configuration
BS EN 1365-1:2012 - Fire resistance tests for loadbearing elements - Walls
BS EN 1365-2:2014 - Fire resistance tests for loadbearing elements - Floors and roofs
BS EN 1365-3:2000 - Fire resistance tests for loadbearing elements - Beams
BS EN 1365-4:1999 - Fire resistance tests for loadbearing elements - Columns
BS EN 1366-1:2014+A1:2020 - Fire resistance tests for service installations - Ventilation ducts
BS EN 1366-2:2015 - Fire resistance tests for service installations - Fire dampers
BS EN 1366-3:2021 - Fire resistance tests for service installations - Penetration seals
BS EN 1366-4:2021 - Fire resistance tests for service installations - Linear joint seals
BS EN 1366-5:2021 - Fire resistance tests for service installations - Service ducts and shafts
BS EN 1366-6:2004 - Fire resistance tests for service installations - Raised access and hollow core floors
BS EN 1366-8:2004 - Fire resistance tests for service installations - Smoke extraction ducts
BS EN 1366-9:2008 - Fire resistance tests for service installations - Single compartment smoke extraction ducts
BS EN 1634-1:2014+A1:2018 - Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door and shutter assemblies, openable windows and elements of building hardware - Fire resistance test for door and shutter assemblies and openable windows
BS EN 1634-2:2008 - Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door, shutter and openable window assemblies and elements of building hardware - Fire resistance characterisation test for elements of building hardware
BS EN 1634-3:2004 - Fire resistance and smoke control tests for door and shutter assemblies, openable windows and elements of building hardware - Smoke control test for door and shutter assemblies
British Standards
British Standards are under the responsibility of the national standards body (BSI) and can be used to support UK legislation and policies.
Below, is a comprehensive list of British Standards that relate to the fire resistance of building elements.
BS 476-20:1987 - Fire tests on building materials and structures - Method for determination of the fire resistance of elements of construction (general principles)
BS 476-21:1987 - Fire tests on building materials and structures - Methods for determination of the fire resistance of loadbearing elements of construction
BS 472-22:1987 - Fire tests on building materials and structures - Method for determination of the fire resistance of non-loadbearing elements of construction
BS 476-23:1987 - Fire tests on building materials and structures - Methods for determination of the contribution of components to the fire resistance of a structure
BS 476-24:1987 - Fire tests on building materials and structures - Method for determination of the fire resistance of ventilation ducts
BS 476-31.1:1983 - Fire tests on building materials and structures - Methods for measuring smoke penetration through doorsets and shutter assemblies - Method of measurement under ambient temperature conditions