Fire protection
Proof of adequate fire protection plays an important role when a builder decides for timber construction. Fire protection requirements are usually stipulated by national building regulations on the basis of the EU Construction Products Directive (CPD), the future Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
Building materials
Egger OSB and Egger DHF with panel thicknesses of 9 mm up and a density of > 600 kg/m³ are classified in Euroclass D-s2, d0 – normal flammability according to EN 13986 without further testing (CWFT).
EGGER DHF belong to the Euroclass C-s2, d0 according to the classification report in line with EN 13501-1. S2 corresponds to the classification “with limited release of smoke“ and d0 corresponds to the classification “without burning droplets”.
The following table shows the classification of wood-based materials without additional fire protection due to their density and thickness in line with EN-compliant manufacturing, without additional tests, on the basis of EN 13986:
Wood Based Panels | EN | Minimum density according to EN
(kg/m3) | Minimum thickness according to EN
(mm) | Designation (excluding flooring) | Designation of flooring |
Chipboard | EN 312 | 600 | 9 | D-s2, d0 | DFL-s1 |
Medium-density fibreboards | EN 622-3 | 600 400 | 9 9 | D-s2, d0 E, pass | DFL-s1 EFL |
Softboards | EN 622-4 | 250 | 9 | E, pass | EFL |
Medium-density fibreboards (MDF) | EN 622-5 | 600 | 9 | D-s2, d0 | DFL-s1 |
OSB | EN 300 | 600 | 9 | D-s2, d0 | DFL-s1 |
The classification of wood-based materials can be improved with specific treatment. The classifications made possible through such measures are Euroclass B or C for wood-based materials. The treatment can be carried out by using specific additives during the production of the wood-based materials or with appropriate surface treatments. As a general rule, even in the case of further upgrades, the complete construction must be tested and classified.
Overview of classification according to EUROCLASS
The following table compares the possible material classifications according to EN 13501-01 with the previously valid national classifications of the materials.
Euro-class | Typical materials | Previous national classifications |
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| AT | BE | DK | FI | FR | DE | GR | IT | NL | NE | PT | SK | ES | SE | CH | GB |
B | Low flammability wood-based materials | B1 | A2 | A | 1/l | M1 | B1 | 3 | 0.1 | 1 | ln1 | M2 | B | M1/ M2 | I | - | 0/1 |
C | Wall cladding made of gypsum fibreboard | >B1 | A3/ A4
| - | 1/lI | M2 | - | 3 | 1 | 2 | ln2 | M3 | B | M3 | II | - | 1 |
D | Unprocessed wood and wood-based materials | B2, B1
| A3/ A4 | B | 1/- | M3/ M4 | B2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | ln2 | M4 | C2 | M3/ M4
| III | - | 3 |
E | Fibreboard with low density | B3 (B2, B1) | A4 | U | U | M3/ M4
| B3 /B2 | 4 | 4 | 4/5 | U | - | C3 | M4 | U | - | 4 |
Building components
The fire protection regulations for wood components are based on European regulations which define the corresponding protection targets (e.g. REI). On the basis of the classification of a component in combination with the standardised definition of the resistance period (30, 60, 90, etc. minutes), its performance can be derived directly.
- R: load capacity
- E: brick partition (smoke and flames insulation)
- I: insulating effect
- M: mechanical stress for firewalls
- K: capsule criterion
For example:
A wall structure with the test results at 96 minutes R, 75 minutes E, 40 minutes I could be classified as follows: REI 30 / EI 30 / E 60 / R 90.
The classification of the fire resistance of components is based on EN 13501-2. For specific applications, additional national proofs of usability may be required.