EN 13501-1 is an important part of the EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR), which specifies the classification criteria for the reaction of construction products under fire conditions. This standard aims to classify the fire response performance of all building products through a unified set of test methods. This includes products such as wall linings, flooring, linear ducting, insulation and more
The classification system of EN13501-1, the most common fire performance standard in Europe, actively considers the connotation of combustion characteristics. It also extends from simple flame propagation and spread to include characteristic parameters such as combustion heat release rate, combustion heat release, combustion smoke density and combustion product toxicity.EN 13501-1 covers the following EN/ISO test methods:
ISO EN 1182 Tests on the burning behavior of building products - Non-combustibility test
ISO EN 9239-1 Determination of the burning behavior of floor coverings - Radiant heat source test
ISO EN 1716 Test methods for the calorific value of building materials
ISO EN 13823 Tests on the burning properties of building materials or products
ISO EN 11925-2 Tests on the flammability of building materials, Part 2: Tests on single source of fire
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Horizontally & Vertically Burning Test Apparatus For Plastic
Compliance: UL 94-2012 V-0 V-1 V-2 HB/ ASTM D3801
The plastic vertical horizontal combustion tester is not directly related to the EN 13501-1 standard, but it may provide important supplementary data when evaluating the flame retardant properties of plastic materials. In particular, in some cases this data can help to make a more comprehensive analysis. Understand how materials behave in fire.
Key Test Results:
1.Burning Rate:
The rate at which the material burns, typically measured in millimeters per minute (mm/min) for horizontal tests. This helps determine how quickly a material will propagate a flame.
2.Flame Spread:
The extent to which flames spread across the surface of the material, observed in both vertical and horizontal orientations. This indicates how far and fast a flame can travel on the material's surface.
3.Dripping Behavior:
Observation of whether the material drips flaming particles or non-flaming particles when exposed to fire. This is particularly relevant in vertical tests and helps assess if the material contributes to the spread of fire by dripping burning material.
4.Afterflame Time:
The duration for which the material continues to burn after the ignition source has been removed, typically measured in seconds. This indicates the material's tendency to self-extinguish or continue burning.
5.Afterglow Time:
The duration for which the material continues to glow (without flames) after the ignition source has been removed, typically measured in seconds. This helps assess the potential for smoldering combustion.
Compliance: ISO 5660-1:2002 / ASTM E1354.
Although the Cone Calorimeter may be used for testing related to EN 13501-1, it is not a test instrument derived from that standard. The Cone Calorimeter is a general purpose test device used to evaluate heat release and other combustion characteristics of materials for use in a variety of fire protection standards and test methods.
Key Test Results:
1.Heat Release Rate (HRR):
This is the most important parameter, indicating the amount of heat released per unit time during combustion, typically expressed in kilowatts per square meter (kW/m²). The HRR curve shows the dynamic heat release of the material throughout the burning process.
2.Total Heat Release (THR)：
This measures the total amount of heat released over the entire combustion period, usually expressed in kilojoules per square meter (kJ/m²). It helps evaluate the overall fire load of the material.
3.Effective Heat of Combustion (EHC):
This indicates the amount of heat released per unit mass of the material during combustion, usually expressed in megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg).
4.Time to Ignition (TTI):
This measures the time it takes for the material to ignite under standardized heat radiation conditions, typically expressed in seconds.
5.Mass Loss Rate (MLR):
This indicates the rate at which the material loses mass during combustion, usually expressed in grams per second (g/s).
6.Smoke Production Rate (SPR):
This measures the amount of smoke produced by the material during combustion, typically expressed in square centimeters per second (cm²/s). This parameter helps assess visibility issues during a fire.
7.Total Smoke Release (TSR):
This indicates the total amount of smoke produced over the entire combustion period, usually expressed in square meters (m²).
8.Yield of Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide:
This measures the amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) produced during combustion, typically expressed in kilograms per kilogram (kg/kg).
9.Oxygen Consumption Rate:
This assesses the combustion intensity by measuring the amount of oxygen consumed during burning. This parameter is closely related to the heat release rate.
Compliance: ISO 19700
Key Test Results:
1.Specific Optical Density (Ds):
This is the measure of smoke concentration, which is determined by the light obscuration caused by smoke in a chamber. It is usually expressed as a dimensionless number (optical density). Higher values indicate more smoke production.
2.Maximum Specific Optical Density (Ds,max):
The highest value of specific optical density recorded during the test. This indicates the peak smoke production during the combustion process.
3.Smoke Production Rate (SPR):
The rate at which smoke is produced over time, usually expressed in units such as m²/s. This helps understand how quickly smoke accumulates during the test.
4.Total Smoke Production (TSP):
The cumulative amount of smoke produced over the entire duration of the test, typically expressed in square meters (m²). This provides a measure of the total smoke output from the material.
5.Time to Maximum Smoke Density:
The time it takes to reach the maximum specific optical density during the test. This indicates how rapidly the material produces smoke when exposed to heat or flame.
6.Transmittance (%):
The percentage of light that passes through the smoke-filled chamber, which inversely indicates the smoke density. Lower transmittance values correspond to higher smoke densities.
Compliance:JIS7201/BS2782/ANSI ASTM D2863/ISO4589-2:1996
Key Test Results:
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI):
This is the main result of the test, representing the minimum concentration of oxygen, expressed as a percentage, that is needed to sustain the combustion of the material. It is calculated using the formula:
whereandare the volumetric flow rates of oxygen and nitrogen, respectively.
Burning Behavior:
Observations about the nature of the material's combustion, such as whether it burns steadily, drips, or self-extinguishes. These qualitative observations provide additional context to the LOI value.
Flooring Radiant Heat Flux Test Apparatus
Compliance:EN ISO9239-1:2002/ASTM E648-2014
Key Test Results:
1.Critical Radiant Flux (CRF):
The critical radiant flux is the key result of this test, representing the minimum radiant energy required to sustain flame propagation on the flooring material. It is typically expressed in watts per square centimeter (W/cm²). A higher CRF value indicates better resistance to flame spread.
2.Flame Spread Distance:
The distance over which the flame spreads across the surface of the flooring material during the test. This helps assess how far the flames can travel under the influence of radiant heat.
3.Time to Ignition:
The time it takes for the flooring material to ignite when exposed to the radiant heat source. This provides insight into the material's ignition resistance.
4.Heat Release Rate (HRR):
Although not always directly measured by this specific apparatus, the test can provide data that indirectly relates to the rate at which the material releases heat when burning. This can help evaluate the potential fire load.
5.Visual Observations of Burning Behavior:
Qualitative observations of how the material burns, including characteristics such as melting, dripping, or char formation. These observations provide additional context to the numerical data.
Compliance:EN IS EN 13823:2002 
Key Test Results:
1.FIGRA (Fire Growth Rate Index):
This is a measure of the rate at which the fire grows, calculated as the maximum of the ratio of heat release rate (HRR) to time (kW/s). It indicates how quickly the fire intensity increases.
2.THR600s (Total Heat Release in the first 600 seconds):
This is the total amount of heat released by the material in the first 600 seconds of the test, expressed in megajoules (MJ). It provides an overall measure of the fire load during the early stages of combustion.
3.SMOGRA (Smoke Growth Rate Index):
This measures the rate of smoke production growth, calculated as the maximum of the ratio of smoke production rate (SPR) to time (m²/s²). It indicates how quickly smoke production increases.
4.TSP600s (Total Smoke Production in the first 600 seconds):
This is the total volume of smoke produced in the first 600 seconds of the test, expressed in square meters (m²). It provides an overall measure of the smoke generated during the early stages of combustion.
5.LFS (Lateral Flame Spread):
This measures the lateral spread of flames across the surface of the material. It indicates how far flames can travel horizontally on the material’s surface.
6.s1, s2, s3 Classification:
These classifications relate to the smoke production rate.
s1: low smoke production
s2: medium smoke production
s3: high smoke production
7.d0, d1, d2 Classification:
These classifications relate to the presence of flaming droplets/particles.
d0: no flaming droplets/particles
d1: flaming droplets/particles that persist for a short time
d2: flaming droplets/particles that persist for a longer time
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