BS EN 13823: 2010+A1:2014
Single Burning Item (SBI) test
The principal reaction to fire test method adopted within the European suite of tests incorporates a totally new method that exposes the products to direct flame impingement.
The single burning test item is designed to simulate the flame exposure that would be experienced by material lining the walls of a room when a “wastepaper basket” ignites adjacent to the walls in the corner of a room.
The test method primarily measures the heat energy contribution to the fire from the specimens and calculates a Fire Growth Rate (FIGRA). Secondary measurements conducted within the test apparatus calculate the volume of smoke produced by the fire, categorised according to Smoke Growth Rate (SMOGRA) indices.
The test apparatus also measures oxygen consumption as well as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide production. These gas concentrations help identify the heat release and the burning characteristics of the tested specimens.
BS EN ISO 11925-2: 2010
Single Flame Ignitability (SFI) test
All products must pass this Single Flame Ignitability (SFI) test before undergoing the EN 13823 (SBI test). The SFI test involves a small, cigarette lighter size flame applied to either the edge or surface of the test specimen for a short duration. The time to ignition and flame spread across the specimen is recorded.
BS EN ISO 1182: 2010
Reaction to fire for building products — non-combustibility test
This standard specifies a method of testing to determine the non-combustibility performance, under specified conditions, of homogeneous products and substantial components of non-homogeneous products.
BS EN ISO 1716: 2018
Reaction to fire tests for products — determination of the gross heat of combustion (calorific value)
This standard specifies a method for the determination of the gross heat of combustion of products at constant volume in a bomb calorimeter.
BS EN 13501-1:2007+A1:2009
Fire classification of construction products and building elements (Part 1: Classification using data from reaction to fire tests)
This standard provides the reaction to fire classification procedure for all construction products, including products incorporated within a building element.
TABLE: Comparison of European and UK fire standards/classifications