Fire behaviour

Fire protection requirements are complex and can be found in many areas of everyday life. When it comes to protecting life, health and the preservation of property, fire safety in buildings plays a key role. The concept of fire compartmentation involves restricting the spread of fire within a building by partitioning areas with fire-resistant walls or ceilings. These partitions also help prevent the spread of smoke, ensuring a safe evacuation during emergencies.

Fire behaviour is consequently also a crucial factor for the performance of a suspended ceiling. In Europe, the fire safety of construction products and materials is generally assessed using the EN 13501-1 classification standard, which categorises building products and specifies the tests required to evaluate their ‘reaction to fire’ characteristics. Hunter Douglas ceilings are thus tested and classified according to the EN 13501-1 norm.

Fire classification for ceilings

The suspended ceiling gets a classification for three main aspects. First the ceiling gets a classification on fire behaviour, which can range from A1 (non-combustible) to F (no performance determined). Secondly, the ceiling gets a classification on smoke production, which can range from s1 (low) to s3 (high). At last, the ceiling gets a classification for the production of flaming (burning) droplets and particles, which can range from d0 (no flaming of droplets / particles) to d2 (high amount of flaming of droplets / particles).

For example, the ‘reaction to fire’ classification could be B-s1,d0. A product with this classification is slightly combustible, but with a very limited contribution to fire (B), produces little smoke (s1) and has basically no burning droplets (d0). The HeartFelt® ceiling systems fall into this ‘reaction to fire’ class.

A metal ceiling can for instance be classified as A2-s1,d0. A suspended ceiling system in this class has a very limited combustibility and does not accelerate the spread of fire (A2), produces little smoke (s1) and has no burning droplets (d0).

Check our product selector when searching for products with specific fire class requirements.