Fire safety is a fundamental requirement within the EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR), forming a core consideration in the design and specification of modern buildings.
While its primary focus is the protection of life, fire safety also plays a vital role in safeguarding property and material assets. At its heart, effective fire design ensures that occupants can evacuate safely and that emergency services are able to respond quickly and efficiently in the event of a fire.
Fire performance requirements for materials and structural elements are defined by several factors, including a building’s use, size, fire load, and operational characteristics. Across Europe, national building regulations typically reference fire development using standard fire curves to guide these requirements.
Class A1
Represents the highest standard of fire performance. Materials classified as A1 are completely non-combustible and cannot be combined with any additional classification.
Class A2
Also non-combustible, with limited contribution to fire. Additional classifications may apply to indicate smoke production and burning droplets.
Class B–D
These classes indicate increasing levels of combustibility. They are accompanied by additional ratings for:
Class E
Provides a basic level of fire performance and includes the additional classification d2 for burning droplets.
During the early planning stages of a project, designers must determine the required fire classification based on both operational and technical considerations. In many cases, compliance requirements are fixed; however, some projects allow flexibility between different classification levels depending on design choices and intended use.
Cladding
Decking
Important Note
This information is intended as a general guide for architects and builders. Always consult your local planning authority and fire safety officer to ensure full compliance before proceeding with your project.
