This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at El Poliestireno expandido y su clasificación de reacción al fuego con las nuevas euroclases

The EPS and its classification of reaction to fire with the new euro-class

Drafting PU15/06/2004

15 Years of the enactment of the CPD construction products Directive 89/106 CE, but its implementation is still ongoing. Thermal insulation products were one of the first families of construction products for normalized according to the DPC. Initially the task was not clearly defined and has changed even during this period, and continues to change after the publication of the harmonized standards.

The PCD introduces the concept of harmonized standards (or parts of standards) which must meet the producers or products when they put on the market. These parts of the standard detailed in the so-called Annex ZA and deal with the six essential requirements is expected to meet the work of building. This means that construction products must play its part to ensure that the work of building met these six essential requirements are:

Resistance and mechanical stability
Fire safety
Hygiene and the environment
Safety of use
Protection against noise
Energy saving and thermal insulation

SBI test of a sample of internal insulation with EPS and laminated gypsum

To display the products comply with the harmonized standards that emanate from the PCD the CE for various products of construction, including the thermal insulation has been established. One of the requirements that includes the CE marking to the thermal insulation is his classification of reaction to fire according to a new system of euro-class. The new European system of classification to fire has led to the harmonization of testing methods of

fire. The Group of European fire tests will replace a large number of national test methods. The new system will mean many changes to both producers and users of construction products as regards the understanding of the new system and on how construction products are treated and labeled.

The behavior will refer in construction products to its final application. This differs from the existing system, as it is common in national building regulations. These should be changed to regulations based on behavior.

The behavior of a product in reaction to fire is related with the fundamental properties of the material and thermal attack both your final application. The behavior of the product should therefore tested to reflect your final application. A product and a product in its final application of use may therefore have different behavior and classification.

The expanded polystyrene treated with additives ignifugantes and tested as materials get the classification and indicating that the flammability test exceeds.

When using the SBI test which seeks to reproduce on a small scale the behavior of a material as a final use (for example, after a laminated gypsum board) obtains the B classification d0s1. It is a classification that will allow its use in a wide range of applications and constructive solutions.

In this way the marking EC of these products may be a dual classification: the intrinsic material and which is expected in its final application depending on the type of mounting and fixing ensayada.

Information in more detail about the behavior of the EPS fire can be obtained at the following link http://www.anape.es/pdf/co_fuego.pdf

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