In the EU, the fire testing and classification standards for construction products have been harmonised in European Standard EN 13501-1. The European Reaction to Fire classification system (Euro classes) is the EU common standard for assessing the qualities of building materials in the event of a fire. Euro classes arise from classification systems for ‘reaction to fire’ performance of construction products.
| Main Class | Subclass Smoke visibility | Subclass Burning droplets |
| Non-combustible materials: No contribution to fire at any stage of the fire | ||
| A1 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Non-combustible materials: No significant contribution to fire at any stage of the fire | ||
| A2 | s1, s2 or s3 | d0, d1 or d2 |
| Combustible materials: very limited contribution to fire: Very limited heat release and flame spread during the growth stage of a fire | ||
| B | s1, s2 or s3 | d0, d1 or d2 |
| Combustible materials: limited contribution to a fire: Limited heat release and flame spread during the growth stage of a fire. | ||
| C | s1, s2 or s3 | d0, d1 or d2 |
| Combustible materials: medium contribution to a fire: Will resist a small flame attack for longer at the beginning of the fire and will exhibit sufficiently delayed and limited heat release during the growth stage of the fire. | ||
| D | s1, s2 or s3 | d0, d1 or d2 |
| Combustible materials: highly contribution to a fire: Will resist only a small flame attack in the beginning of the fire | ||
| E | Not applicable | d2 |
| Combustible materials: easily flammable: Unacceptable fire behaviour | ||
| F | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Whilst fire testing and classification methods for individual products are harmonised in the EU, building regulations for an overall structure- including fire safety requirements – are the responsibility of each individual EU Member State. Hence, Member States determine their own fire safety level and use a mix of products that – used together – correspond to that level.
Depending on the building type and height, the requirements for the products used will vary. Because of the challenge of evacuation patients, a hospital will often have the strictest requirements. The taller the building, the more complicated it is to escape. High-rise buildings are therefore subject to stricter fire requirements than low-rise buildings or family homes.
As you can see 2 countries in the table below – The Netherlands and Belgium – have no requirements for individual products used in the façade system, they only focus on the performance of the entire system. However, they do not have a fire-safety test for facades based on real-life, large-scale situation.
Two countries – England and Sweden – allow the use of products not fulfilling the product requirement if the entire system passes a national large-scale test. The other countries have strict requirements for the combustibility of the products used in the façade from limited combustibility (B-s3, d0) to Non-combustible (A2-s1, d0) .
Herewith a comparison of requirements for high rise buildings in 11 countries:
| Country | European fire classification |
| The Netherlands | No requirements |
| Belgium | No requirements |
| Germany | A2-s1,d0 |
| France | A2-s3,d0 |
| Denmark | A2-s1,d0 |
| Poland | A2-s3,d0 |
| England, Wales & Northern Ireland | B-s3,d2* |
| Scotland | A2-s1,d0 |
| Spain | B-s3,d0 |
| Italy | B-s3,d0 |
| Sweden | A2-s1,d0** |
* According to Approved Document B Diagram 40. Currently under review
** Or a system tested to SP Fire 105
Source: Fire Safe Europe
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