A material’s fire performance is an extremely important factor in assuring public safety and evacuation in the event of a fire. As such, reaction-to-fire testing is a mandatory requirement of the technical codes, standards and regulations of the construction and transport industries.
In Europe, construction materials must be tested in line with the Euroclass system, which classifies a product according to its reaction to fire (flammability, smoke opacity and toxicity, etc.).
Each member state’s national legislation incorporates this European classification and defines the permitted uses of each type of material, with the optional inclusion of supplementary requirements.
In the field of vehicles and transport systems (automotive, rail, maritime or aerospace), materials must be tested against the standards and requirements set by the sector or manufacturer (OEM) in question.
An accredited reaction-to-fire testing laboratories
Our fire laboratories in Europe, located in Spain and France, are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited by ENAC/ILAC (nº 9/LE895) and and Accreditation no. 1-1995 by COFRAC. We carry out more than 200 fire and thermal tests per year in accordance with European and national regulations. See the complete list of our accreditations. We can provide our clients with:
- The Euroclass reaction-to-fire classification of their construction materials – a certification that is recognised at a pan-European level
- Test reports citing the flammability performance of materials used in a range of industries, especially in aerospace and railway.
Applications and product tested
- Construction and industrial materials: thermal insulation materials, panels and boards, sandwich panels, wood and plastic coatings, plastics, floors, suspended ceilings, structural-protection elements, paints, windows and partitions
- Other products: cables, electrical materials, toys, aerosols, textile coverings
Reaction- to-fire testing capabilities
- Euroclass classification (A1, A2, B, C, D, E and F plus the following subclasses: “s” for smoke, “d” for droplets and “fl” for flooring)
- Materials classification (M0 to M4)
- Flammability (various) and oxygen index (LOI)
- Accelerated ageing and flammability of textiles (curtains, upholstered furniture, etc.)
- Fire behaviour of cables and electrical components
- Opacity of smoke emitted by burning materials
- Thermal tests: thermal resistance, U-value (thermal transmittance)
We test to sector standards in a wide range of sectors
Construction materials
- EN ISO 1182: Reaction to fire tests for products - Non-combustibility test
- EN ISO 1716: Heat of combustion
- EN ISO 11925-2: Flammability when subjected to direct impingement. Test on a single source of flame
- EN ISO 9239-1: Floor coatings. Reaction to fire through a radiant heat source
- EN 13823: Exposure to the thermal attack by a single burning item (SBI)
- EN 13238: Conditioning and general rules for the selection of substrates
- CEN/TS 1187: Roofs: External. Fire exposure. Burning torch method
Cables
- EN 60332-1-2+A1+A11: 1 kW pre-mixed flame
- BS-EN 61034-2+A1: Smoke density
- EN 60754-2: Determination acidity and conductivity
- BS-EN 50399+A1: Heat release and smoke production measurement on cables during flame spread test.
Aerospace
Applus+ Laboratories is recognised by EASA and BOEING, qualified by AIRBUS and Dassault Aviation.
- CS/FAR 25, Appendix F (FAA): Materials for Cabin Interior. Flammability (Part I), Heat release rate (Part IV), Smoke density (Part V), Seat cushions (Part III) and Flame penetration resistance (Cargo liners Part III).
- ABD0031: Flammability (AITM 2-0002A/B, AITM 2-0005, AITM 2-0038, AITM 2-0004), Smoke density and toxicity (AITM 2-0007A/B, AITM 2-0008A/B).
- BSS: Flammability (BSS 7230, BSS 7234), Heat release rate (BSS 7322), Smoke density and toxicity (BSS 7238, BSS 7239).
- Dassault specifications (DGQT): Flammability, Heat release rate, Smoke density, toxicity and seat cushions.
- RCTA DO-160G: Flammability
Railway
- EN45545-2:
- ISO 5060-1: Measurement of MAHRE
- ISO 5658-2: Vertical radiant panel
- ISO 5659-2: Smoke density
- EN 17084 & EN 45545-2: 2013 (Ann. C): Smoke toxicity
- ISO 4589-2: Oxygen index
- UL 94 rating: Vertical and horizontal
According to the requirements: R1, R2, R3, R6, R7, R9, R11, R12, R17, R19, R21, R22, R23, R24 and R26.
Applus+ Laboratories also offers tailor-made trials to suit your specific needs and conditions.
Others (Marine)
- IMO 2010 FTP code Part 1: Non-combustibility
- IMO 2010 FTP code Part 2: Smoke and toxicity
- IMO 2010 FTP code Part 5: Test for surface flammability
- IMO 2010 FTP code Part 7: Test for vertically supported textiles and films
- IMO 2010 FTP code Part 8: Upholstered furniture
- IMO 2010 FTP code Part 9: Bedding components
- EN ISO 5660-1: Heat release rate (cone calorimeter method)
- EN ISO 5659-2: Smoke generation
- ISO 5658-2: Spread of flame
- ISO 19702: Toxicity
Reaction-to-fire testing laboratoy & equipment
- SBI
- Radiant panel
- Non-combustibility equipment
- Fire behaviour of cables and electronic components
- Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer
- Cone calorimeter
Why choosing Applus+ Laboratories for your reaction to fire testing?
Applus+ Laboratories is one of the leading European reaction-to-fire laboratories in terms of equipment, number of tests carried out and accreditation scope. Our team of experts, versatile facilities and quality processes allow us to provide competitive services.
We offer an online test-viewing service, enabling our clients to monitor the testing and performance of their products from the comfort of their own premises.
With more than 30 years’ experience in the fire sector, we are members of EGOLF and our experts sit on the key technical and policy forums (CEN) that are involved in the development of new standards.
Memberships
We are Europe's leaders in annual volume of fire tests and equipment. We have been working for more than 25 years in the fire industry. We are members of EGOLF and ASFP and our experts are involved in the major technical and regulatory forums (CEN) for developing new standards.
General memberships
Specific memberships
Benefits of reaction-to-fire testing
- Assurance of a product’s fire behaviour
- Access to the European market with a range of accredited tests and classification certificates that are recognised by European administrations
- Reduced testing time required
- The full evaluation of a product in a single centre and through a single point of contact, involving a combination of technologies (fire resistance, acoustics, thermal characterisation, physicochemical characterisation, mechanical resistance…)