What does it really mean fire resistance? What are the challenges and threats to fire safety that come with it?

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN FIRE RESISTANCE? WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES AND THREATS TO FIRE SAFETY THAT COME WITH IT?

Companies often use the term “fire-resistant product”.

Well, it seems that’s only a part of the information.

Fire resistance, in general, is the ability of a product/system to withstand a fire condition in a certain time.

When discussing fire resistance, it's essential to consider the rating of it. Fire resistance is directly linked to the rating or classes, conditions, and criteria during the test (relevant standards).

Fire resistance rating is determined during a fire test under standard conditions, such as specific pressure inside the furnace and, e.g., ISO time-temperature curve, with specific tolerances for those conditions.

There are prescribed criteria based on the product type, where the most common are loadbearing capacity, integrity, insulation, and radiation.

A product, such as a door that has been subjected to the EN1634-1 test and has fulfilled all criteria for a specific time, e.g., 60 minutes, can be recognized as an EI60 door (60-minute rated).

However, this rating or class will not tell You the whole story as it doesn't need to. So, what are you missing? Did EI60/60-minute doors pass the test by a whisker, like 60 minutes and one second, or did it pass with a big margin? As the end-user, you will not get this information unless the manufacturer reveals it.

So, here we come to the next part. What are the challenges and threats to fire safety that come with it?

If You focus solely on classes/fire rating and pass-failed criteria, you will start building the product to pass the test rather than enhancing fire safety in the building. There is a thin line between them.

A fire test is used to place the product on the market, which is most/all manufacturers' objective.

Some of them may be willing to repeat the test as many times as necessary, sometimes without making significant changes. This may happen when, for some reason, a specific design needs “to get papers.” They exploit the fact that fire resistance testing is based on a single product test. Basically, passing one test (e.g., doors tested from both sides) may be sufficient to enter the market.

We also need to remember that test results refer only to the tested sample of the product. It is the manufacturer's liability to ensure that the production process results in a product that retains the same properties and performance.

Let’s continue to enhance fire safety, ensuring our buildings and occupants are well protected.