Citation

Bock HM, Klement E. Fire Mater. 1999; 23(5): 201-207.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the harmonization of the European test codes in the context of preventive fire-protection techniques for buildings, the single flame source test is to be adopted as a European test method. This method is used to evaluate the fire behaviour of a building material subjected to an impingement by a small flame, e.g, the flame of a match. The technique is used to provide evidence in the determination of whether a building material may be assigned the Euroclass E. Building materials that do not meet the requirements of this building material class are designated as Euroclass F, The Federal Institute of Material Research and Testing (BAM) has looked into the question of whether the design of the flame stabilizer of the burner and the use of three different fuel gases (propane, butane and methane) affect the assignation of building materials to a Euroclass, particularly the area between Euroclass E and F, The evaluation showed that the minimum thickness timber boards required to meet Euroclass E requirements would be reduced by approximately 10% when butane and an output stabilizer equipped with a punch disc was used. This means that under modified test conditions, certain timber materials previously assigned to Euroclass F would now be designated Euroclass E, Consequently the safety standard regarding fire protection in buildings may be compromised.