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Full testing to achieve a classification involves testing to one or more standards, conditioning of the specimen prior to testing and testing of multiple specimens. An indicative test involves a single test only, and can give an indication of the performance of a product at a lower cost and in a shorter timescale than full testing. This is useful where a product is still at the development stage.
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A detailed discussion with the client is required before producing a full quotation for reaction to fire testing. There are possible variations in the approach to testing, and a full knowledge of the product is required in order to give advice on the best course of action for the client. Questions may be asked about the product, its variations and its end use. Questions about the product variables: - Material
- Thickness
- Colour
- Density
Questions about the products end use application: - Mounting and fixing
- Substrates used
- Air gap
- Exposed edges
- Joints
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The following product variations and end use applications can all affect the performance of a product, and can be assessed using the SBI test: Product variable: End use application: - Mounting and fixing
- Substrates used
- Air gap
- Exposed edges
- Joints
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Each specimen is constructed from a “short wing” and a “long wing”. The long wing is 1500mm high by 1000mm wide. The short wing is 1500mm high by 495mm wide. All tolerances are ± 5mm.
A minimum of 3 specimens are required. Further specimens may be required if a product produces a result on the border line between two classification and the higher classification is sought. Further specimens may also be required for testing of variations in the product, or for specimen analysis when writing the test reports.
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The SBI test replicates a small fire in the corner of a room, with the room corner being constructed from the product to be tested. A flame from a burner with a known output is applied to the product. The products of any resulting combustion are measured, and these allow calculation of the energy that the product has contributed to the fire. Classification will be assessed on the rate of energy production, the total energy produced over a certain period of time, lateral spread of flame and the observation of any flaming particles that may fall from the product.
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The specimen must be 250 (+0, -1) mm x 90 (+0, -1) mm. A minimum of 8 specimens are required, with more specimens required if the product is to be tested on its edge as well as its surface. Further specimens may be required for specimen analysis when writing the test report.
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The SFI test uses a single small flame source to assess the ignitability of the product. The product is mounted in the test apparatus in a vertical orientation and the flame is applied. Observations are made on whether the product has ignited, the flame propagation up the product, and any flaming particles that may fall from the product.
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The main reaction to fire tests are commonly referred to by the title of the test in words, or a shortened version of this. The main tests used to establish European reaction to fire classifications are listed below, with the commonly used names for these tests highlighted in bold: | BS EN ISO 1182: 2010 | Reaction to fire tests for building products - Non-combustibility test |
| BS EN ISO 1716: 2010 | Reaction to fire tests for building products - Determination of the gross heat of combustion (Bomb calorimeter) |
| BS EN 13823: 2010 | Reaction to fire tests for building products - Building products excluding floorings exposed to the thermal attack by a single burning item (SBI) |
| BS EN ISO 11925-2: 2010 | Reaction to fire tests - Ignitability of building products subjected to direct impingement of flame - Part 2: Single-flame source test (SFI) |
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Reaction to fire testing can be conducted on products with very different performance. Products that do not easily combust will not produce observable test results in a test designed to challenge a product that ignites and burns easily. For this reason there is a range of European tests used to cover the different classifications, just as there is a range of tests used for the British test standards.
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To achieve a classification, a product must be tested to the required standards, and the required performance achieved. The resulting reports are then used to create a classification document.
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