Fire protection classes for floor coverings according to DIN EN 13501-1
Fire safety is more relevant than ever, and the safety aspect is absolutely essential, especially at large events like trade fairs. Since we constantly rely on Fire protection classes Regarding the products we offer, especially those we are addressing, we would like to clarify the situation at this point.
What are fire protection classes?
Fire protection classes categorize materials into groups and classify their flammability. A basic distinction is made between four different classes:
1. Non-flammable – especially mineral materials such as concrete, gravel, metal
2. Flame retardant These materials are inherently flammable, but do not continue to burn on their own after the ignition source is removed and are self-extinguishing.
3. Normally flammable These materials can be ignited and continue to burn at a normal rate even after the ignition source is removed. They are often not permitted at trade fairs. Examples: wood (thicker than 2 mm), cork
4. Leicht entflammbar – Highly flammable and not permitted in public spaces. Examples: paper, straw, wood (thinner than 2 mm), standard plastics such as PE/PP.
Fire protection according to DIN EN 13501-1
For a long time, different national fire safety regulations applied in each country. In German-speaking countries, the following was often the case: DIN-4102 1 The standard represented by DIN 4102-1 classified fire protection into classes A1-2 and B1-3, with B1 representing the "flame-retardant" fire protection class. Therefore, the B1 certificate was long considered the standard for fire protection in public buildings. While DIN 4102-1 is still occasionally used, it is However, it is now outdated and obsolete.In France, it was the M1 certificate according to NF P 92 503, which defined a material as "very difficult to ignite" and is considered even stricter than B1.
To harmonize the many nationally differing fire protection regulations, a Europe-wide standard was developed in 2001: The EN-13501 1This regulation, which has since been valid throughout Europe, also divides fire protection classes according to letters – but also includes additional information. other factors The categorization includes: smoke development (characterized by “s” (smoke)) and the dripping behavior (indicated by “d” (droplets)).
This further categorization means that class B is no longer automatically "flame-retardant". Floor coverings are also marked separately with the suffix "fl" (flooring).
The following table illustrates how the different requirements for the fire behavior of floor coverings are classified:
Which type of flooring is suitable for which application?
The distinction between the different fire protection classes is an important factor for the safety of buildings in Europe – in public spaces, only floors with the fire protection classification are permitted. Bfl and Cfl s1 (difficult to ignite, no or very little smoke development) They must be installed. Because if a fire were to break out at a large event such as a trade fair, the consequences would be disastrous if the materials used in the construction caught fire quickly or produced a lot of smoke. In some cases, this could even cost lives. Flame-retardant materials contribute to the rapid containment of the fire.
All floor coverings from Weberfloors will be the Fire protection class Bfl and Cfl with the Additional s1 classified as such and are therefore difficult to ignite. Our floors are therefore ideally suited for the trade fair and event sector.
If you have any questions about fire classes, standards, or choosing the right product, please feel free to contact us!