The test method used to assess the effectiveness of flame retardant products is BS476, Part 7 1987 and is used to classify a material in terms of "Spread of Flame".
Class 1 is a low surface spread of flame, the highest achievable with the test method and is a performance normally required for walls and ceilings.
In high risk areas such as escape routes Class 0, limited combustibility, is required. To comply materials must have a Class 1 Surface Spread of Flame and a low fire propagation to BS 476 Part 6 1989.
Intumescent coatings are used to prevent the penetration of fire through a structure for a specific period in accordance with BS 476 pARTS 20-23 1987. Such coatings are given classifications with specific periods of time achievements, such as "30 minutes".
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Class 1 flame spread refers to a low level of fire spread and is considered the best rating available for building materials. Materials with a Class 1 flame spread rating have low flame spread and low smoke development when exposed to fire, making them very resistant to ignition and fire spread.
The term "Class 1" refers to a material that exhibits a Flame Spread of 25 or less, and a Smoke Development of 450 or less.
The four classes of surface spread of flame are: Class 0 (non-combustible), Class 1 (limited combustibility), Class 2 (intermediate surface spread), and Class 3 (high surface spread). These classes are used to categorize the surface spread of flame on building materials based on their performance in fire tests.
Glass does not burn or contribute to flame spread, so it typically does not have a flame spread rating.
The flame spread rating of carpet is typically measured on a scale of 0 to 200, with lower numbers indicating a slower rate of flame spread. Carpet with a lower flame spread rating is considered safer in the event of a fire.
Flame spread 10 is a rating associated with the surface burning characteristics of a material. It means that the material has a low flame spread index and is considered to have good fire-resistant properties. Materials with a flame spread 10 rating are slow to ignite and will not contribute significantly to the spread of fire.
Flame Spread 20 is a fire resistance rating given to materials that exhibit moderate flame spread. This means they have a moderate capacity to resist the spread of fire. A lower number indicates better fire resistance, while higher numbers indicate more rapid flame spread.