Fire Perfromance

Fire Performance

One of the most common requirements is that the material used complies with Class O. This is a requirement of Building Regulations Approved document B and can be complied with by using materials that are either:-

Classified as Non-Combustible when tested in accordance with BS476: Part 4

Deemed to be of Limited Combustibility when tested to BS476: Part 11

Achieved  Class 1 Surface Spread of Flame when tested to BS476: Part 7 and achieved a fire propagation index (1) of not more than 12 and a sub-index (i1) of not more than 6 when tested to BS476: Part 6

Reaction to Fire is the term for a product classified in accordance with the Harmonised European Norm (hEN) EN13501-01. If tested by a “Notified Body” the results are valid throughout the European Union and accepted by all member countries.

Reactions to fire classifications

A1 Non – combustible

A2 Limited combustibility

B No Flashover

C Flashover occurs after 10 minutes

D Flashover occurs between 2 and 10 minutes

E Flashover occurs before 2 minute

F No performance determined

Products classified in accordance with harmonized European standards of BS EN13501-1 can be deemed to be Class 0 if they achieve a “Reaction to Fire” classification of “A1, A2 or B”. Euroclass performance classifications also include the additional criteria of “Smoke “and ”Flaming droplets” on most classification below “A1”.  The smoke has three classification S1, S2 and S3 with S1 being the lowest and similarly flaming droplets are classified as d0, d1, and d2.

When a suspended ceiling is installed under a structural floor to form a “construction” it can then be tested to see what degree of fire resistance it is capable of providing. Typically the floor construction is of timber joists with timber flooring, steel beams supporting concrete or a lightweight mezzanine floor with particle board flooring.

Structural performance

The effective performance is reported in minutes and reflects the constructions ability to not deflect beyond set limits, not allow the break through of the fire and to maintain a prescribed level of insulation. In practice, it is important to install the ceiling in accordance with the test report and ensure that any intrusions into the ceiling plane have a similar level of fire resistance to that of the ceiling.

Marine & offshore Metal Ceilings

Burgess By System’, offer Clip-in Tile systems for use in both Marine and Offshore Installations. Clip-in 600 x 600mm Stainless Steel tiles are available for use in aggressive/high humidity areas such as galleys, together with painted tiles for other areas.

Fire resistant tests – Marine 

Fire resistance tests for the latest International marine applications have also been completed to IMO A.754(18)/A-30/B15 ceiling standard.

This is a very stringent test to ensure the metal Category A certification requires that the suspended ceiling remains integral and that decking temperature above the suspended ceiling does not exceed 180˚C. Category B certification requires that the suspended ceiling remains integral and that the temperature of the decking above does not exceed 225˚C.

These tests are more demanding than their equivalent BS476 requirements, which reflects the importance of the sealing membrane in the protection of metal decking above the ceiling in marine applications.

Burgess By System’ Clip-in ceilings, have achieved A-30, B-15 ratings in accordance with the requirements of this standard.