Evaluation of fire-resistant foam sealants
The foams in question deviate from the scope of the harmonised standards, so the manufacturer has asked ITeC for guidance on the process of getting a European Technical Approval (ETA). Although EAD 350141-00-1106 defines an assessment protocol that is suitable for this kind of products, the issue of fire resistance needs to be tested in accordance with EN 1366-4:2021, after selecting which environmental use conditions fits better these foams from a list of five options.
Assessment of the durability of a fire protection fabric
A manufacturer of intumescent fabrics wishes to assess their durability according to the criteria set forth in EOTA Technical Report 024. This document establishes five types of application conditions, each with its own testing program. The manufacturer has requested advice from ITeC to identify the appropriate program for the product, select a laboratory, supervise the tests and their results, and draft a technical report.
Assessment of an alternative supplier of one of the components of a CE-marked intumescent coating
The manufacturer of a coating for passive fire protection of steel structures has decided to substitute the provider of the chemical component that is responsible of the intumescence properties of the product. Since the coating is already CE-marked, the company has asked ITeC to assess the alternative component to make sure that the product performance remains the same. If the new supplier is validated, the change will be registered in the Factory Production Control documents related to the CE mark of the coating.
Requirements for ventilation dampers for tunnels
When a tunnel exceeds a given length, it is compulsory to install mechanical ventilation systems that should remain operative in the event of fire in order to remove smoke and hot gases. Regulations are somewhat ambiguous in relation to the type of requirements and specific conditions that may be requested from ventilation systems during a fire, considering that it is not necessary to treat them like fire doors in building compartmentalization. This report aims to identify the criteria to be followed for a harmonised assessment of these products and for their certification.
Characterization of metal deck roof kits
Metal deck roofs combine load-bearing, insulating, waterproofing and fixing elements. The proper performance of the whole kit depends on it having been designed and built according to correct criteria. A manufacturer has asked ITeC to accurately draw up these criteria, quantify the performance of the kits and verify the compliance with regulatory requirements (Spanish Building Code, Fire Safety Code for Industrial Premises)
Effects of collar shape on the performance of penetration sealants
A manufacturer has a range of CE-marked collars for sealing penetrations against fire and has decided to redesign the housing that contains the intumescent material and secures it to the wall or floor slab. The company needs to know if these changes invalidate the tests that originally allowed them to obtain a European Technical Approval (ETA) and a CE mark for their products.
Assessment of hinges for fire doors
Proper compartmentalization is key to fire safety in buildings. However, doors are potential weak points for compartmentalization, and in turn, hinges are potential weak point for fire doors. Specific hinges must be used on this type of doors, for which there are two evaluation protocols: the one defined in EN 1935 and the one in EAD 020001-01-0405. Looking for effective engagement within this highly specialized domain, a hardware manufacturer has requested ITeC's support in the CE marking process for their products.
Long-term durability of an intumescent coating
During the CE marking process for an intumescent coating for passive fire protection, the product underwent accelerated aging tests simulating 10 years of use. However, the manufacturer required a longer-term durability reference and approached ITeC to define a test equivalent to 25 years. ITeC suggested using a method based on the principles of the standard, which yielded results in line with expectations.
Evaluation of the technical suitability of a fire detection system without a harmonized standard
The Spanish Regulations for Fire Protection Installations (RIPCI) of 2017 contemplates several standardized fire detection systems (smoke, heat, carbon monoxide detection) that are the subject of specific harmonized standards that make their CE certification possible. A company is offering a system that is out of the scope of these standards, and has commissioned ITeC to proof that it fulfils the RIPCI Regulations through a technical suitability evaluation.
CE marking of fire protective boards
The mineral boards used for fire compartmentalization and for increasing the fire resistance of load bearing elements remain outside the scope of harmonized standards such as EN 13403, EN 12101 or EN 13381. Therefore, the only alternative for CE marking these products is to obtain a European Technical Assessment (ETA) following EAD 350142-00-1106. A fire protective board manufacturer has asked ITeC for assistance with the overall strategy towards CE marking and with the assessment and verification of constancy of performance.
