Fire safety and fire protection: a must for protecting sensitive buildings.
Fire safety is a priority, and in many sectors, it is even a legal requirement—ranging from industries to public establishments, including hospitals, institutions, and critical infrastructures. A fire can lead to human losses, significant material damage, and costly business interruptions, which is why it is crucial to install certified solutions to slow down the spread of fire and protect the occupants.
Our fire-resistant joinery plays a key role in this protection by allowing spaces to be compartmentalized and ensuring safe evacuation. Compliant with EN 13501-2 and EN 1634-1 standards, these products undergo rigorous fire testing in accredited laboratories to guarantee their effectiveness.
Discover the different standards and classifications of fire resistance, the solutions tailored to each type of project, and the specific requirements for end clients, general contractors, installers, and architects.
The European standards governing fire resistance
1. EN 13501-2 standard: Classification of fire-resistant products
The EN 13501-2 standard is the European reference for classifying construction elements in terms of fire resistance. It applies to doors, windows, glazed partitions, curtains, and other fire-resistant closures, evaluating their ability to contain flames, limit heat propagation, and prevent the spread of toxic smoke.
Based on the standardized tests defined in EN 1634-1, this standard classifies the performance of fire-resistant products according to several specific criteria. It is essential for ensuring that equipment installed in sensitive buildings (industries, hospitals, public establishments, data centers, banks, etc.) meets the compartmentalization and evacuation requirements in the event of a fire.
Evaluation Criteria of the EN 13501-2 Standard
The EN 13501-2 standard is based on three fundamental criteria, tested according to the methodology defined in EN 1634-1:
• E / Flame seal
- Prevents the propagation of flames and hot gases through the construction element.
- Minimum criterion required for a product to be classified as fire-resistant.
• I / Thermal Insulation
- Limits the temperature rise on the non-fire-exposed side.
- Prevents heat transfer that could ignite adjacent materials.
• W / Thermal Radiation
- Measures the heat emitted by the burning element and its impact on nearby flammable materials.
- Protects people and objects near a source of excessive heat.
Fire Resistance Classifications According to EN 13501-2
The performance of fire-resistant doors, partitions, and glazing is indicated by indices combining the letters E, I, and W, followed by the duration in minutes for which the protection is guaranteed (e.g., EI60, EI120).
Details of common classifications:
| Classe | Signification | Protection assurée | Applications typiques |
|---|---|---|---|
|
E30, E60, E120 |
Flame seal only |
Stops the propagation of flames but may allow heat to pass through |
Temporary separation of spaces (e.g., simple partitions) |
|
EW30, EW60 |
Flame seal + limited thermal radiation |
Reduces the heat emitted on the opposite side |
Evacuation corridors, secondary access doors |
|
EI30, EI60, EI90, EI120 |
Flame seal + thermal insulation |
Blocks flames and limits heat transfer |
Fire compartmentalization, secure doors and partitions |
The higher the number, the longer the element delays the spread of fire, ensuring a longer evacuation time and enhanced protection of property and people.
2. EN 1634-1 standard: Framework for fire resistance testing of joinery
This standard determines the ability of fire doors, glazed partitions, and closure elements to withstand flames, heat, and toxic gases for a specified period.
The three evaluation criteria are:
Flame Seal
Flame seal (E) is defined by three measurement criteria:
- A cotton pad is placed very close to the door and should not catch fire.
- A flame cannot continuously form for more than 10 seconds on the protected side of the door.
- No opening larger than Ø 25 mm or crack greater than 150 mm in height and 6 mm in width can form through the door.
Radiation
Radiation (W) is a measurement of the radiation flux on the protected side at 1 meter from the tested element and must not exceed 15 kW/m². This criterion (W) is never declared alone but always in conjunction with the flame seal criterion (E).
For example, the Netherlands requires EW doors, such as EW30, EW60, EW120, within their territory.
Thermal Insulation
Thermal insulation (I) is a criterion that measures the temperature rise on the protected side of the door.
To measure this temperature rise, thermocouples are placed at various standardized points on the door to record temperature increases. A mobile thermocouple is also used to supplement the fixed thermocouples to take measurements at points that might exceed the allowed temperatures.
Difference between EI1 and EI2
The EI classes can be supplemented by the indices EI1 and EI2, which specify the level of thermal insulation (I) requirements.
The following limits apply to both I1 and I2 tests:
- The average of the 5 fixed thermocouples placed in a cross pattern at the center of the door leaf should not exceed a temperature rise of 140°C.
- None of these points can exceed a temperature rise of 180°C.
However, during the fire test (outlined by the EN 1634-1 standard), the thermocouples are placed differently on the doors tested in I1 and I2. Additionally, the temperature rise limits recorded by the thermocouples vary depending on whether the test is conducted in I1 or I2.
Concrete Example: An EI1-60 door will provide better thermal radiation limitation than an EI2-60 door, even though both guarantee 60 minutes of flame seal and thermal insulation.
3. European standards for the panic function
Doors equipped with panic devices must ensure quick evacuation while being fire-resistant and maintaining their fireproof function. The combination of the EN 179, EN 1125, EN 1634-1, and EN 13501-2 standards defines the security, resistance, and compliance requirements to ensure effective protection of people and property while allowing the activation of free exit locks and evacuation through emergency exits in case of an emergency.
- The EN 179 standard specifies the manufacturing, performance, and testing requirements for emergency closures operated by a handle or push plate.
- The EN 1125 standard specifies the same characteristics but applied to mechanical panic closures, such as panic bars.
The combination of these two sets of standards represents a technical challenge:
- A fire door must resist flames but allow quick opening in case of emergency.
- Panic hardware must be designed to function without compromising fire resistance.
A poorly designed system can compromise either fire protection or evacuation, so it is crucial to use compatible and certified hardware.
Download our guides on fire protection standards
DOIC P030 | Fire resistance information
DOIC P030 | Fire resistance information
DOIC P031 | EN 1634-1: Difference between thermal insulation I1 and I2
DOIC P031 | EN 1634-1: Difference between thermal insulation I1 and I2
The challenges of fire protection for your industry sector.
End users: industries, public places, hospitals, institutions.
For managers of sensitive buildings, fire resistance is essential to ensure the safety of occupants and compliance with current regulations.
- Industries and production sites: protection of storage areas and critical equipment against the spread of flames.
- Public establishments (hospitals, schools, shopping centers): securing emergency exits and high-traffic areas.
- Institutions and critical infrastructures (embassies, banks, data centers): protection against criminal fires and improvement of evacuation plans.
General contractors and fire-resistant joinery installers.
Construction companies and specialized installers must ensure the installation of solutions that comply with current standards, respecting technical specifications and the requirements of control offices.
- Reliability and ease of installation: our fire-resistant doors and partitions are designed to integrate easily into construction and renovation projects.
- Compliance with European standards: EN 1634-1 certification for fire resistance and EN 13501-2 for material classification.
- Solutions tailored for large areas and complex configurations: hinged doors, sliding doors, fire-resistant glazed partitions.
Architects and fire safety professionals.
Architects and fire safety design offices must integrate high-performance fire protection solutions without compromising the aesthetics and functionality of the buildings.
- Design and performance: Fire-resistant joinery available in steel, aluminum, and with certified glazing, combining protection and aesthetics.
- Compliance with local and international regulations: adherence to EN 13501-2 and EN 1634-1 standards to ensure effective, laboratory-validated protection.
- Customized solutions for each project: adaptation to new buildings, renovations, and specific requirements of project owners.
