EN 13501-5

EN 13501-5, Fire classification of construction products and building elements – Part 5: Classification using data from external fire exposure to roofs tests, is a European Standard published by CEN. It sets out how test results from the four methods in CEN/TS 1187 are turned into a fire classification for a roof or roof covering. The current edition is EN 13501-5:2016, which replaced EN 13501-5:2005+A1:2009. CEN records list the 2016 edition as due for revision.

How classes are written

A classification has two parts: a letter class and the test method it relates to.

• The suffix (t1), (t2), (t3) or (t4) names the CEN/TS 1187 test used. Results from different tests are not interchangeable, because each test uses a different combination of burning brands, wind and radiant heat.
• BROOF is the best class for each test. For the more severe tests (t3 and t4), intermediate classes such as CROOF and DROOF also exist.
• FROOF means no performance was determined or the roof failed.

So a membrane system marked "BROOF(t4)" has met the top class in Test 4, while "BROOF(t1)" refers only to Test 1.

Why there are four tests

The four test methods reflect fire test traditions that existed in different European countries before harmonization. National building regulations still decide which test and class they require. A product sold in several countries may therefore need more than one classification. For example, UK guidance commonly refers to BROOF(t4), while other countries reference t1, t2 or t3.

Deemed-to-satisfy products

Some roof coverings, such as natural slate, clay and concrete tiles and metal sheet, have been listed by European Commission decisions as deemed to satisfy external fire performance requirements without testing, within stated conditions. Other products, including bitumen membranes, single-ply membranes, green roofs and roofs with photovoltaic panels, generally need testing.

Role in CE marking

Under the EU Construction Products Regulation, external fire performance is one of the essential characteristics that can be declared in a product's Declaration of Performance. The EN 13501-5 class is the value that appears there. See CE marking.

Outside Europe

North America uses Class A, B and C ratings from ASTM E108 / UL 790 instead. The two systems are not directly equivalent.