3/3/2026
Efectis Nederland has expanded its fire resistance testing capabilities and can now perform fire resistance tests on non-loadbearing wall specimens up to 6 metres in height.
The increased capacity follows the design and installation of a custom steel extension frame developed by the laboratory team. By extending the height of the vertical furnace’s fire compartment by two metres, the facility can now accommodate specimens measuring 6 metres in height and 4 metres in width, resulting in a total exposed area of 24 m².
Expanding the exposed area required the installation of additional furnace thermocouples to ensure temperature measurement and control remain fully compliant with EN 1363-1. The upgraded configuration was recently used to complete a 6-metre-tall non-loadbearing wall test in accordance with EN 1364-1 — the first time this height has been achieved at the Dutch laboratory.
Extended Application: What This Means for Lightweight Partitions
When combined with the Extended Application standard EN 15254-3, the increased furnace height opens up significant additional possibilities for lightweight partition systems. In simple terms, this standard allows the results of a fire test to be applied to taller partitions than the one physically tested, provided certain conditions are met. Under the rules of the standard, the height of a lightweight partition can potentially be extended up to a maximum of 12 metres.
To qualify for this extension, a reference test must first be carried out in accordance with EN 1364-1 on a partition at least 3 metres high. During the test, the temperature increase in the steel studs is carefully monitored. The fire resistance classification is limited to the point at which the steel temperature rises by 180°C. This temperature rise is measured using thermocouples positioned on the central studs of the partition at mid-height.
Provided the measured performance, construction details, and manufacturer-declared height limits comply with the requirements of the standard, certification can be extended beyond the tested height — potentially up to 12 metres. The 6-metre test also marked the final resistance-to-fire test of 2025 at the laboratory — bringing the year to a close on a distinctly high note.
Congratulations are extended to Hadley Group on the successful completion of the test and for their collaboration on the project.
Companies seeking further information about our expanded testing capabilities are welcome to contact us.
For more information, please contact: Kimon Maré