Fire Testing of Doors
Approval system for building products
The EU’s Construction Products Regulation 305/2011 resulted in a harmonised European fire classification system. The classification system concerning the fire resistance of building parts is based on test methods and classification standards in accordance with EN standards. The adoption of European standards is product-specific, and the schedule is influenced by, for example, the completion of harmonised European technical specifications and product CE markings.
Read more: Certification and product approval of building products
The European Commission published the harmonised product standard EN 16034:2014 for fire doors in the official journal of the EU and set a CE marking transition period from 1 November 2016 to 1 November 2019.
Lift doors are approved in accordance with the Lifts Directive.
Regulations and classifications for doors
The National Building Code of Finland stipulates that the fire resistance classification of building parts is done in accordance with the classification standard EN 13501-2. The fire classes E 30 – E 120 and EI2 15 – EI2 240 are valid for doors in Finland. Thermal radiation-permeating structures also require a safety distance (W ≤ 10 kW/m2) to flammable equipment or exits. In other countries, classes EI1 15 – EI1 240 and EW 20 – EW 60, when W ≤ 15 kW/m2, may also be acceptable.
We provide testing in accordance with EN 1634-1, including, for example:
- Wood, metal and plastic doors
- Hinged and pivoted doors, horizontally and vertically sliding doors, folding doors, tilting doors, rolling shutter doors
- Openable windows
- Hatches
Lifts doors are tested in accordance with the standard EN 81-58.
The doors can be, for example, profile or solid doors. Testing is conducted in a vertical structure for doors and in a horizontal structure for ceiling hatches.
For testing, doors, windows or hatches are typically installed in a commonly used manner with a 3 m x 3 m hole cut into a stonewall, drywall or other commonly used structure. Even larger test pieces can be tested. Depending on the necessary test arrangements, the tested structure can be approximately 5 m x 5 m.
If a test piece passes the fire resistance test acceptably, the test results may, under certain conditions and restrictions, also be expanded to products with different sizes and accessories, see our services on classifications below.
If necessary, we can help with the planning of the test arrangements related to fire testing and certification to ensure that the results can be used as widely as possible.
Eurofins Expert Services is accredited in accordance with the standard EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (T001).
Read more about our accreditations
Our experts are widely experienced in conducting approval tests in accordance with various methods.
We also conduct fire testing on structures and systems used in ships. The approval of doors used on ships is based on the Marine Equipment Directive and their fire testing is done in accordance with the IMO 2010 FTP Code. Ask our experts for further information about the approval of doors and hatches for marine use.
Read more: Fire safety and statements for structures and systems in ships
Fire safety classifications and statements for doors
Based on the test results, we draft classification reports to determine the classification, and if necessary, as part of the classification, EXAP reports in order to define the wider scope of application for the test results. The classification criteria are based on the standard EN 13501-2.
