The globalisation of fire testing and its impact on polymers and flame retardants

The current status of European harmonisation of fire classifications and testing in building and railways is discussed. In building, the new Euroclasses system will allow construction products to be CE-marked and freely circulated in the EU. The new Single Burning Item fire test will lead to major changes in the classification of products, particularly those based on thermoplastics: in many cases, they will achieve a lower fire safety class than what they met in national classifications. The same is true for products used in railways, because heat release rates of 50 kW/m2 will have to be met. This will induce a shift from thermoplastics and their flame-retarded grades to thermosets and in particular to those with intumescent flame-retardant systems.