EN 13501-5 Fire Classification of Building Products and Building Elements - Part 5: Classification Using Data from External Fire Exposure on Roofs

A European standard “EN 13501-5 Fire classification of construction products and building elements - Part 5: Classification using data from external fire exposure on roofs” describes fire performance classification procedures for roofs and roof coverings exposed to external fire, based on the four test methods given in the standard “CEN/TS 1187 Test methods for external fire exposure of roofs” and the relevant extended application rules.

For the classification of a roof and roof covering, only those test methods and application rules for which the relevant classification is foreseen need to be applied. Products are considered in relation to their end-use applications. The distinction between steep-sloping roofs and façades may be subject to national regulations in terms of the test and classification standards to be applied. General information on the four test methods defined in the CEN/TS 1187 standard is included in the annex of this standard (Annex A).

For the purposes of this standard, in addition to the terms and definitions given in EN ISO 13943 and CEN/TS 1187, the following definitions apply:

• External fire spread time refers to the time it takes for external fire to spread to the edge of the measurement zone.
• Fire penetration time refers to the time during which fire penetrates, as defined below.
• Fireproof substrate or deck refers to the substrate or deck classified according to the EN 13501-1 standard.
• Combustible substrate or deck means a substrate or deck that does not meet the non-combustible product definition of this standard.
• Flame penetration refers to any flame or glow other than the test flame being visible on the underside of the sample. Any test flame emerging from pre-existing openings in the test sample is ignored.
• Direct application refers to the result of a process in which a test result is considered equally applicable to changes in one or more product characteristics or intended end-use applications.
• Extended application refers to the result of a process that predicts a test result for a change in a product characteristic or intended end-use applications, based on one or more test results to the same test standard.
• Extended application refers to the predicted result for the performance parameter obtained following the extended application field period.
• Extended application result refers to the predicted result for the performance parameter obtained following the extended application field period.
• The extended application report is a document prepared in accordance with the EN 15725 standard, reporting the results of the extended application, including all the details of the process leading to these results.

The external fire performance classification of roofs and roof coverings defined in this standard is based on the test methods included in the CEN/TS 1187 standard. This standard contains four separate test methods corresponding to different fire hazard scenarios. There is no direct relationship between the test methods and therefore no generally acceptable classification hierarchy between them. Products falling within a given class are considered to meet all the requirements of any subclass for the same test method and fire hazard scenario. The classes are given in the table provided in the standard together with their corresponding fire performances.

The four test methods defined in the CEN/TS 1187 standard are those to be used for classification purposes for roofs and roof coverings. The test methods are:

• Test 1: Method with burning brands. This test evaluates the performance of a roof under thermal attack conditions with burning brands. Performance includes fire spread on the external surface of the roof, fire spread within the roof and fire penetration.
• Test 2: Method with burning brands and wind. This test evaluates the performance of a roof covering under thermal attack conditions with burning brands and additional wind. The performance includes the damaged length in both the roof covering and the substrate.
• Test 3: Method with burning brands, wind and additional radiant heat. This test evaluates the performance of a roof under thermal attack conditions with burning brands, additional wind and radiant heat. Performance includes external fire spread and fire penetration.
• Test 4: Two-stage method combining burning brands, wind and additional radiant heat. This test evaluates the performance of a roof under thermal attack conditions with burning brands, wind and radiant heat. Performance includes fire spread to the outside and fire penetration to the inside.

Prior to testing, test samples shall be prepared, conditioned and mounted, if necessary, in accordance with the relevant test method and product standards or other specifications.

The external fire performance of a roof and roof covering includes aspects such as external and internal fire spread, external and internal damage, fire penetration and the formation of flaming droplets or debris. The external fire performance of a roof and roof covering therefore depends not only on the burning behaviour of the exposed surface, the roof covering, but also on the effects of the various components of the roof, such as the nature and thickness of the insulation layers and vapour barriers together with their supporting elements. It may also depend on the connection systems of all components, for example whether they are glued or mechanically fixed.

Therefore, test samples should be representative in all details of practical application regarding:

• Substrate and deck
• Type, number and combination of all layers of roofing materials (including any insulation, vapor barriers, etc.)
• Fixing layers.

To reduce the amount of testing, individual test methods specify standard specimen arrangements that cover a wider range of applications. Such standard specifications relate to the types and positioning of supporting decks and substrates and joints.

Our organization, which has been trying to support businesses from every sector with its testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies carried out in a wide range for years, has a strong staff that closely follows the developments in the world in the field of science and technology and constantly improves itself. In this context, testing services are also provided to businesses in accordance with the standard “EN 13501-5 Fire classification of building products and building elements - Part 5: Classification using data obtained from external fire exposure on roofs”.