The common basis: EN 1363-1
All European fire resistance tests share the same furnace conditions:
- Fire curve: T = 345 log₁₀(8t + 1) + 20, the same curve as ISO 834 (about 945 °C at 60 min and 1049 °C at 120 min).
- Furnace pressure: for vertical elements, a neutral pressure plane 500 mm above notional floor level, rising at about 8 Pa per metre above it.
- Criteria: integrity (E) — cotton pad, gap gauges, sustained flaming; insulation (I) — mean temperature rise on the unexposed face no more than 140 K and maximum no more than 180 K; load-bearing capacity (R) — deflection limits for loaded elements.
Element-specific parts
| Part | Element | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EN 1364-1 | Non-loadbearing walls and partitions | Including sandwich panels and modular building walls |
| EN 1364-2 | Ceilings with their own fire resistance | Exposure from below and/or above |
| EN 1365-2 | Loadbearing floors and roofs | Loaded in the horizontal furnace |
Results are classified under EN 13501-2. The same methods are used to show compliance for enclosures of data centre modules and energy storage systems in markets that follow European standards.
Frequently asked questions
What does a classification like EI 60 mean?
Under EN 13501-2, E is integrity, I is insulation and R is load-bearing capacity; the number is the minutes for which the criteria were met. A non-loadbearing partition might be classified EI 60; a loadbearing floor REI 90.
Can you test the hydrocarbon curve?
EN 1363-2 alternative heating curves are within scope, with the radiation and impact procedures excluded. We also test the hydrocarbon curve under GB/T 26784.