FIRE LOADS & TOXIC EMISSIONS

The new Euroclasses for reaction to fire provide 7 levels to enable designers and employers toassess the likelihood of a construction product contributing to flashover and therebypromoting the spread of fire- see Flashover and Product Differentiation.

The Euroclass system also provides information for the tendency of a construction product toparticipate in the growth of fire, release smoke and flaming droplets - see Common construction materials - likely Euroclasses.

However the Euro-classification for reaction to fire does not visibly quantify the fire load inherent in construction products. The Fire Load of a construction product is defined as ' thesum of the calorific energies which could be released by the complete combustion of all the combustible components in a product'. This is important because some products cancontribute a significant part to the total fire load of a building.

The Toxicity of the combustion gases released by construction products in fire is anotherimportant criteria - at present not detailed in the Euroclasses system. As environmentalissues become more pressing in government deliberations, so this aspect of building fires and the effect on local communities is likely to be highlighted.The following information may be helpful to employers and designers. We intend to expand the data when appropriate.

Flashover & Fire Load

Extracted from Fire Prevention 332 May 2000, and from LPC Code Practice for fire protection in
Food & Drink industry

Toxicity of Combustion Gases

In the absence of a recognised UK test, we include the following information as provided 20th
June 2000 by Rockwool Isolation S.A, Paris - tested to NF X 70100 @ 6000C; LNE Dossier No.
9110670.

NB - The release of corrosive gases is also important to insurers' positioning when considering
the potential contamination of sensitive plant, equipment and services.