BS EN 13381-3:2015

This standard BS EN 13381-3:2015 Test methods for determining the contribution to the fire resistance of structural members is classified in these ICS categories:

• 13.220.50 Fire-resistance of building materials and elements
• 91.060.01 Elements of buildings in general
• 91.080.40 Concrete structures

This European Standard specifies a test method for determining the contribution of fire protection systems to the fire resistance of structural concrete members, for instance slabs, floors, roofs and walls and which can include integral beams and columns. The concrete can be lightweight, normal weight or heavyweight concrete and of all strength classes (e.g. 20/25 to 50/60 for normal strength concrete and for high strength concrete 55/67 to 90/105). The member is to contain steel reinforcing bars.

The test method is applicable to all fire protection materials used for the protection of concrete members and includes sprayed materials, reactive coatings, cladding protection systems and multi-layer or composite fire protection materials, with or without a gap between the fire protection material and the concrete member

This European Standard specifies the tests which are to be carried out to determine the ability of the fire protection material to remain coherent and fixed to the concrete and to provide data on the temperature distribution throughout the protected concrete member, when exposed to the standard temperature time curve.

In special circumstances, where specified in national building regulations, there can be a need to subject the protection material to a smouldering curve. The test for this and the special circumstances for its use are detailed in Annex A.

The fire test methodology makes provision for the collection and presentation of data which can be used as direct input to the calculation of fire resistance of concrete members in accordance with the procedures given in EN 1992‑1‑2 .

This European Standard also contains the assessment which prescribes how the analysis of the test data is to be made and gives guidance to the procedures by which interpolation is to be undertaken.

The limits of applicability of the results of the assessment arising from the fire test are defined together with permitted direct application of the results to different concrete structures, densities, strengths, thicknesses and production techniques over the range of thicknesses of the applied fire protection system tested.

The test method, the test results and the assessment method are not applicable to structural hollow concrete members.