12/12/2023

The fire safety of roof coverings and of the supporting deck should be evaluated to ensure that a required minimum standard of life safety will be achieved in the event of a fire.

The performance of roof resistance to external fire exposure is measured in terms of the fire spread within the roof, the production of flaming droplets or debris falling from the underside of the roof or from the exposed surface, fire penetration through the roof construction and the spread of flames across its external surface.

Four methods assess the performance of roofs:

  • test 1 – with burning brands
  • test 2 – with burning brands and wind
  • test 3 – with burning brands, wind and supplementary radiant heat
  • test 4 – with two stages incorporating burning brands, wind and supplementary radiant heat.
Broof T4

In accordance with UK Building Regulations 2010, CEN/TS 1187 Test 4 is to be used for the purposes of approved document B. Test 4 simulates a roof system being exposed to a fire from an adjacent building as well as the impact of burning material falling over the roof using radiant heat and a burning brand generating simulated town gas flame, respectively. Test 4 leads to the classes BROOF(t4), CROOF(t4), DROOF(t4), EROOF(t4), FROOF(t4) in accordance with BS EN 13501-5.

As promised in March 2023, Efectis UK/Ireland, as a UKAS accredited testing facility, is now able to perform CEN/TS 1187 test 4 and accordingly provides the fire performance classification procedures for roofs/roof coverings exposed to external fire according to BS EN 13501-5.

Moreover, Efectis UK/Ireland has the capability to conduct extended application reports in accordance with BS EN 15725 and the extended application standard BS EN 16459.

Efectis UK/Ireland is an approved body, as indicated by the UK government’s official list of conformity assessment bodies (https://www.gov.uk/uk-market-conformity-assessment-bodies/efectis-uk-ireland-ltd). This accreditation allows Efectis issuing the UKCA mark.

If you have any queries, please contact our experts on uk@efectis.com