Euroclasses - European reaction to fire classifications

In recent years, a new symbolism has been added to our traditional vocabulary of fire behavior classifications, previously expressed in terms of fire stability, flame resistance and fire stop.

It should be remembered that the Construction Products Directive no. 89/106/EEC, which concerns the requirement for safety in the event of fire, provided for a European classification system to be set up and introduced to enable Member States to adopt a common scale for assessing the level of performance of construction elements, in particular their resistance to fire.

As a result, the French classification symbols for reaction to fire characteristics of building materials - M0, M1, M2, M3, M4 - have gradually given way to Euroclasses, which have replaced the national classifications of EU countries. The decree issued by the French Ministry of the Interior on November 21, 2002 laid down the new test methods and classification categories for construction and furnishing products with regard to reaction to fire.

Reaction to fire refers to a material's ability to ignite and thus contribute to the development of a fire. Until now, each country had its own system of classification and testing standards based on this definition.

Reaction to fire measured by conventional tests applies in particular to wall and floor coverings, coatings, paints and varnishes, insulation products, as well as sandwich panels, wood panels, plasterboard and fireproofing products.

Under the new regulations governing construction products, Euroclasses can therefore be used as proof of product conformity with the requirements of French regulations, in the same way as M classifications, thanks to a transposition table which gives the equivalences between Euroclasses and M classifications. Only an approved French laboratory can issue them until the harmonized product standards are published.

These Euroclasses will replace M classifications as and when the harmonized standard for the relevant family of construction products is published. They can then be used for CE marking, and will be recognized in all European countries as soon as they are issued by a notified laboratory.