OVERVIEW
EN 13823:2020 is a further test used to determine the fire safety of construction products and building elements. This “Single Burning Item” test is the foundation of the Euroclass building product classification system which was introduced to harmonise standards across the EU.
A Single Burning Item test (SBI) is a method of testing that is used to determine the reaction to fire behaviour when a building product it is subject to thermal attack by a single heat source. The product being tested is mounted on a trolley and positioned in a frame beneath an exhaust system. As the item is exposed to flame, the exhaust system collects combustion gases for analysis and the amount of smoke produced is measured. The flame propagation and occurrence of burning particles and droplets are also identified in the specimen’s burning behaviour.
Zenova commissioned Warrington Fire to test its Zenova IP thermal insulation paint to the EN 13823:2020 test standard. This test forms part of the testing programme to achieve BS EN 13501-1: 2018 classification.
DESCRIPTION OF TEST
A 12.5mm thick sheet of dry, untreated plasterboard was painted with a 0.5mm coat of Zenova IP insulation paint and was subjected to the SBI test.
TEST RESULTS
The application of Zenova IP thermal insulation paint made the plasterboard fire resistant with a non-measurable, extremely low smoke growth rate. There was no lateral flame spread to the end of the specimen, no falling of flaming droplets, and no flaming of falling particles exceeding 10 seconds. The test concluded that Zenova IP thermal insulation paint tested to the EN 13823:2020 standard can be used in construction, on a variety of substrates, to improve fire safety.