Navigating Changes in Fire Door Testing Standards: A Closer Look at EN 1634

By Andy Davies, Technical Manager

When it comes to fire testing doorsets in the UK, there are two distinct testing standards, one aligning with British Standards and the other adhering to European Standards – although both are reflected in UK Building Regulations. Despite their similarities in testing protocols, the British Standard (BS 476) is generally considered a more accessible test, though it lacks recognition in some territories.

Recent UK Government initiatives in relation to the fire safety industry revolve around the potential adoption of the European Standard (EN 1634-1/2/3). This shift is particularly evident in Ireland and Wales, where they are contemplating changes to their building standards, with the former proposing a two-year grace period for companies, including fire door manufacturers, to align with this new system. 

These developments raise questions about how companies like Halspan will navigate this seemingly more demanding fire testing method.

Why EN 1634?

While Irish and Welsh governments consider adopting EN 1634, the wider UK sector is debating the relevance of European Standards post-Brexit. Although we are no longer part of the European Union, any international standard can be adopted by the UK if deemed necessary. It is not that the current British Standards (BS 476-20 and BS 476-22) for fire resistance do not meet the requirements of our industry, it is about the classifications which are derived from the tests.

The European system offers more detailed performance classifications for both fire resistance and reaction to fire. This detailed approach is a driving force for governments in the UK and Ireland. Achieving a European classification using British Standard testing data is not possible, prompting the desire for change by Governments. 

When it comes to the fire resistance tests themselves, as far as doorsets are concerned EN 1634-1 is certainly a more difficult test to pass than BS 476-22. The differences in pressure regimes, thermocouples, and the extended application time of the cotton pad, contribute to an increase in stringency for EN 1634-1 testing, depending on the complexity of design and size of the doorset. 

Will the UK adopt the European Standard?

Despite these testing challenges, it seems likely that Ireland and Wales will adopt the European classifications, with England and Scotland possibly following suit. At the time of writing, we await guidance from the UK Government on next steps. 

European classifications have been present in Approved Document B and Technical Guidance Document B for many years. The more recent edition of ADB saw the European classifications placed in front of the longstanding BS classifications. This was a notice of intent and the accompanying release notes reiterated the UK Government’s desire to implement this change in the future.

What standards does Halspan test to?

Halspan, a proactive player in the industry, first carried out testing to EN 1634-1 way back in the year 2000 when the test standard was first released. Although we continue to test to both British and European Standards, since 2014 we have made EN 1634-1 our default test standard for 30- and 60-minute testing. 

This was a bold decision, but we firmly believe in testing our products to the most onerous industry standards available to provide confidence that performance above and beyond the current requirements can be met. This decision has placed us in a strong position and given us what is probably the largest EN test library for timber doorsets in the world today.

We continue to be proactive rather than reactive and are progressing with EN testing for our 90- and 120-minute products, which started back in 2019.

How Halspan is preparing for change

Engaging with third-party certification bodies, Halspan is producing Extended Field of Application reports (EXAPs) to collate our extensive European test evidence. 

The result of these reports should be that before the end of any transitional period for the move to EN classifications, Halspan customers should be able to produce the same doorset designs they can produce today, plus further product enhancements as we continue with our market-leading research and development programmes.

Smoke leakage testing has not been overlooked. Halspan has been testing to European standards for many years, and combined fire and smoke EXAPs will soon be available. With continued work on this front, Halspan products are poised to provide robust certification for fire and smoke for many years to come.

The new reports should be available to Halspan customers during the course of 2024, subject to third-party approval.

As the industry navigates evolving standards, Halspan exemplifies the proactive approach needed to stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of fire door testing. 

If you are looking for peace of mind when it comes to fire safety assets, get in touch with our friendly team today to find out how we can help