Fire Retardant Panels

U.K. Building Regulations call for the use, especially in public areas, for material that conforms to stringent fire regulations. Approved Document B details the regulations.

Currently we are in a period of harmonisation of European Standards and so classifications under BS EN 13501-1 are coming into play. The test methods used in this “new standard” are different to the “old BS476” so direct comparisons cannot be made. Broadly where Class 1 was required the European standard equivalent is Euroclass C and where Class O was required Euroclass B suffices.

Typically internal wall and ceiling linings are Euroclass C and cladding within high risk areas such as escape routes and staircases are EuroClass B.

Generally HPL is not a fire hazardous material. Standard grades of HPL will pass the test for areas of low flame spread. Fire retardant laminate can, when bonded to suitable substrates with correct Adhesives meet the most arduous of the regulations.

All too often “fire retardant laminate” is misunderstood to equal a fire retardant panel. The adhesive and the substrate are critical to producing a panel that is tested and proven to meet the fire retardancy specification.

Morland, together with Formica and Medite have a tested formulation for Euroclass B, s1- d0 fire retardant panel.

The classification is derived from the BS EN 13501-1 Euroclass System. This evaluates material by testing to a standard BS EN13823:2010 for fire safety under three catergories :-

1 Flammability. The time for fire to take hold, how much and how quickly the panel then acts as fuel for the fire are the criteria. The measurement of these criteria is done by looking at the amount of heat released by the panel and the potential for the way that heat is released ( EG Sudden flaring) to contribute to fire propagation. Class A is non-combustible to Class F very flammable. Morland/Formica/Medite achieved Class B which is  broadly comparable to the BS476 class O.

2 Smoke Production. Unlike the BS476, test EN13823 looks carefully at the smoke production, as smoke is often the greater threat to life than fire, when trying to evacuate a building. s1 is the lowest category of smoke production and the maximum smoke allowed to achieve s1 is 30m2/s2. Our results achieved 2m2/s2.

3 Flaming droplets. The thoroughness of EN13823 is shown by the measure of flaming droplets. Paint finishes can often emit flaming droplets that transmit the fire elsewhere. The d0 suffix indicates that our panel emitted no flaming droplets as measured by EN13823.

There are few Formica finishes not available in the FR grade but all the colours, patterns and woodgrains are. We can also offer FSC R certification for the whole panel construction.

To meet the regulations laminate cannot be tested in isolation: the combination of the laminate, adhesive and substrate must be tested in the form they are to be used. Any change to one of these components necessitates re-testing and subsequent certification.

Morland understand the characteristics of the substrates and the surfaces and so can recommend panel formulations. For advice or a quote give us a call