Reaction to Fire

Asses a construction material's contribution to the development and spread of a fire with a reaction to fire test.

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Reaction to Fire testing examines the characteristics, such as combustibility, of building materials to determine their contribution to fire development and spread. Such materials can be classified into one of seven classes under BS EN 13501-1 according to their reaction to fire:

A1 – Non-combustible materials, do not contribute to the development of a fire
A2 – Materials with limited combustibility, do not contribute to the development of a fire
B – Combustible, limited contribution to fire
C – Combustible, minor contribution to fire
D – Combustible, contributes to fire
E – Combustible, will only resist a small flame for a few seconds
F – Materials that have not been classified or have not met minimum requirements of class E.

To obtain a classification, products are tested according to the following test methods:

A table featuring the classification results and the relevant test methods including BS EN ISO 1416, BS EN ISO 1182, BS EN ISO 13823, BS EN ISO 11925-2

BS EN 13823:2020 + A1 2022

Single Burning Item (SBI)

This procedure, likely the most recognisable of the tests, specifies a method of test for determining the reaction to fire of construction products when exposed to thermal attack by a single burning item.

BS EN ISO 1182:2020

Non-Combustibility Test

This test identifies products that will not, or not significantly, contribute to a fire, regardless of their end use. This test has been developed to identify construction products which produce a very limited amount of heat and flame when exposed to temperatures of approximately 750°C.

BS EN ISO 11925-2:2020

Small Flame

The Small Flame test method determines the potential maximum total heat release of a product when completely burned, regardless of its end use. This determines the absolute value of the heat of combustion for a product without accounting for inherent product variability.

BS EN ISO 1716:2018

Calorific Value

This test determines the potential maximum contribution of a product to a fire by measuring the gross heat of combustion.

Frequently asked questions

BS 476 Part 22 is a key standard within the UK's building safety regulations that specifies methods for testing the fire resistance of non-loadbearing elements of construction, such as doors, shutters, and various types of ducts and dampers. This standard is instrumental in determining how these elements will perform in the event of a fire, ensuring they meet the necessary safety requirements to protect building occupants and property.

Third-party certification is independent verification that a product or service fulfils certain criteria. With passive fire protection products, this normally involves a certification body assessing test results, carrying out a factory production control audit and undertaking periodic inspections to ensure constancy of performance. UKTC work with many approved certification providers, including Bluesky Certification, IFC Certification and UL Solutions.