PC sheets have performed well under a new EU standard for fire-performance testing of building and construction products, according to the European Polycarbonate Sheet Extruders industry association (EPSE, Brussels / Belgium; www.epse.org). The Single Burning Item (SBI) EN 13823 Test is the first harmonised standard for fire-performance testing of building and construction products. Based on the results of the test, products are classified according to the European standard EN 13501-1.

“With the SBI Test method PC sheets showed outstanding results and obtained an excellent rating according to the EN 13501-1 classification,” EPSE stated. PC corrugated and solid sheets up to 6mm thick obtained a Class B-s1, d0 – the best classification possible for combustible materials, while PC multi-wall sheets obtained a classification of Class B-s1/s2, d0, depending on their thickness, it said.

The SBI test measures fire growth rate, lateral flame spread, total heat release, smoke growth rate and total smoke production, allowing building regulators and fire engineers to assess the reaction-to-fire characteristics of PC compared with traditional construction materials and plastics such as PMMA.