28/11/2022
One of the main priorities in architecture is protecting people against fire. Everyone inside a building need to have sufficient time to evacuate, and to a large extent this depends on what materials have been used for the building, and the way they react in the event of a fire.
The European Union has adopted Standard EN 13501-1, which gives a range of classes determining how different construction materials used in architectural solutions react to fire. The classification system offers a unified comparison based on consistent testing methods, and is currently used as a reference in many countries around the world.
Euroclasses provide planners with information on materials and the way they react in the event of a fire, measuring combustibility, smoke production and flaming droplets.
When choosing materials for a new building, taking into account their resistance to fire can prevent disasters such as the fires that occurred at the office tower in Madrid or Grenfell Tower in London.
Here are some of the most fire-resistant materials that can be used in a building:
The standard UNE-EN 13501 includes the classifications of materials according to their fire resistance. Krion® Lux is a material classified as B-s1-d0. Later in this article we will see what this classification means. But first, let's look at how fire resistance is classified according to European standards.
Contribution to fire indicates whether a material helps to maintain a fire.
This measures the density and opacity of smoke produced by the material, indicating its toxicity level. Only 3 ratings are available: s1; s2; s3, ranging from lowest to highest in terms of opacity and safety.
This indicates a material's capacity to produce flaming droplets that contribute to fire spread. This is classified as d0, d1 or d2 depending on the amount of droplets produced, from none upwards.
Now you know the fire resistance classifications, it is interesting to note that when tested against this European standard, Krion® Lux obtained Euroclass B-s1-d0, demonstrating its suitability for installation in any location. But what does this classification tell us?
As we have seen, each of the 3 aspects of Euroclass Reaction to Fire indicates key information on a material's behaviour. For the Krion® Lux mineral compact we can see the following:
Thanks to the EN 13501-1 standard for the fire classification of construction products and building elements, we can be sure our Krion® Lux material is a safe and effective choice.
A material that not only brings design and endless possibilities, but also an extra level of reliability and trust wherever it is installed, creating safer spaces for people.