Fire Resistance Certificate

Fire resistance is a required safety standard for materials and products used in both private and public applications.

What is a Fire Resistance Certificate?

Installations exposed to high temperatures or fire risk must be certified to ensure the product is durable and capable of withstanding prolonged exposure to high heat. Materials and components undergo fire tests to determine their mechanical resistance and structural stability for a defined period during a fire.

Fire resistance classifications are issued by accredited laboratories, which conduct specific testing methods to assess whether building systems—both load-bearing and non-load-bearing, as well as fire zone separators—meet fire safety regulations.

To obtain a fire resistance certificate, manufacturers must submit a certification application. The submitted documentation is reviewed, and the product, process, or service is evaluated for compliance with the relevant standards. Certification is granted following a site assessment and successful laboratory test results.

Fire Classification Explained

Fire classification defines the fire resistance level of building materials and elements. It determines how the product behaves under strictly defined test conditions. There are three main types of fire classification:

• Reaction to fire (Classes: A1, A2, B, C, D, E, F)

• Fire spread performance (NRO, SRO, strongly RO)

• Fire resistance (REI 30, EI 60, R30)

Manufacturers can apply for fire classification through specialized testing institutes.

Reaction to Fire vs. Fire Resistance

Reaction to fire indicates whether a material contributes fuel to a fire before flashover (the rapid spread of flames). According to EN 13501-1, this classification is based on the product's behaviour during different fire development phases. The scale ranges from A1 (non-combustible) to F (highly flammable).

Additional classification indicators include:

• S (Smoke Production): S1 produces very little smoke.

• D (Burning Droplets): D0 is favourable; D2 is least favourable.

Flammable materials are categorised as non-flammable, flame-retardant, or easily flammable.

Fire Spread Rating (NRO)

Fires require three elements: an ignition source, flammable materials, and oxygen. Using combustible materials can cause a fire to spread within seconds. NRO classification defines how easily fire can spread across building elements such as facades or roofing systems.

A key legal document in this area is the Polish Regulation on Technical Requirements for Buildings and Their Location. It defines classifications such as:

• NRO: No fire spread

• SRO: Limited fire spread

• Strongly RO: Significant fire spread

Fire Resistance of Building Elements

Fire resistance indicates whether a material is safe when exposed to fire. It refers to the ability of a structural element (e.g. floor, beam, wall, ventilation duct) to maintain:

• Load-bearing capacity (R): Structural integrity without collapse

• Integrity (E): Fire does not penetrate to the other side

• Thermal insulation (I): Limits heat transfer across the element

Fire resistance is classified as REI, and the most common ratings are 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, and 240 minutes.

European Fire Classification (EN 13501-1)

Fire reaction tests are performed according to EN 13501-1. Before starting construction work, it’s essential to consider the fire classification of materials like floors or ceilings. This classification indicates whether a material contributes to fire growth—how fast it burns, how much energy it emits, and how quickly flames spread. The safest ratings are A1, followed by A2 and B.

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