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Guidance on the use of proprietary coatings to enhance the fire performance of robust substrates commonly used in construction has been published by the Association for Specialist Fire Protection.
Notwithstanding any continued use of national fire protection classifications such as Class 0 or Class 1, the Construction Products Directive has changed the way in which products are classified and fire tested, says the ASFP. This additional guidance is contained in an updated document, Guidance on the classification for reaction to fire performance of fire retardant coating systems, known as the Orange Book.
The ASFP technical review panel will judge the suitability of every data entry as it is added, except where the product performances are separately certified by third party certification schemes that meet accepted standards of operation, such as recognition by the United Kingdom Accreditation Scheme (UKAS). Each fire retardant system will be allocated a unique reference number for inclusion in the product/system information sheets of this document and can be used by suppliers in their publications.
The publication also provides information on the European classification system EN 13501-1 and the associated fire test methods. Specifiers, regulators, fire authorities, building owners, installers and those responsible for risk assessments will be able to access this information, as well as explanatory notes on relevant aspects of fire performance provided by industry experts.
The Orange Book can be downloaded from the ASFP using the link below.