Is your BS EN 13501-1 test evidence up to date?
- andrewmcghee6
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Keeping your BS EN 13501-1 reaction to fire test evidence is not simply an administrative task, it’s risk control. If you place construction products on the market, your test evidence must reflect what you sell today, not a version of the same product that you tested years ago.
Fire performance can change over time through changes to the raw materials, supply-chain, manufacturing processes and product development. Each change, even something minor, can alter how your product behaves when exposed to fire.
A BS EN 13501-1 classification only applies to the exact product tested, in the exact configuration tested, for the stated end use application. If your product has changed, your classification may no longer apply which puts your business, and possibly lives, at risk.
Ask yourself, does your reaction to fire evidence still match your product exactly as supplied today? This question is being asked more often by clients, insurers, specifiers and building occupants.
In practice, BS EN 13501-1 reports older than five years old are frequently questioned. Not because it’s a fixed rule, because confidence in relevance reduces over time. When fire test evidence is outdated or unclear, suppliers are left behind and miss out on opportunities.
Don’t get caught out, review your test evidence and the scope of your products regularly by asking yourself these questions…
Has the manufacturing process changed?
Has the raw materials or supply chain changed?
Have product variants been introduced?
Is the test evidence up to date?
Does the scope and classification clearly identify the product?
Does the scope and classification match the real end use?
If you’re unsure, or the answer is no, your reaction to fire test evidence may not be adequate.
Maintaining your BS EN 13501-1 classifications supports building safety and protects your commercial position.
If you want to discuss your product testing, talk to one of our reaction to fire experts by clicking here: https://www.uktestcert.com/contact-us
United Kingdom Testing & Certification (UKTC) is a UKAS accredited laboratory operating from a UK-based fire resistance and reaction to fire laboratory. Manufacturers from across the UK & Europe trust UKTC with their testing & certification . Read more about its reaction to fire services by clicking here.
