Fire protection standards in sealing technology: A comprehensive guide for your safety
- Andresen
- May 14
- 5 min read
Seals play a safety-critical role in numerous industries, especially when it comes to fire protection. They help prevent or at least delay the spread of fire and smoke, thus gaining valuable time for evacuation and firefighting. Compliance with specific fire protection standards is therefore essential. This article highlights the most important standards, their areas of application, differences in common sealing materials, and the basic fire processes.
Why fire protection standards are so important in sealing technology
A fire event can have devastating consequences – both for people and property. Seals that comply with the relevant fire protection standards make a crucial contribution to a passive fire protection strategy. They prevent or slow down:
The spread of fire: Sealing joints and openings reduces the oxygen supply to the fire source and inhibits the spread of flames.
The spread of smoke and toxic gases: Smoke is often more dangerous than the fire itself. Fire-resistant seals prevent smoke from spreading to adjacent areas and blocking escape routes.
Heat transfer: Special seals can delay the transfer of heat and thus maintain the integrity of components for longer.
Compliance with fire protection standards is therefore not only a legal requirement in many areas, but above all serves to protect lives and minimize damage.
What fire protection standards exist and for which industries are they important?
The world of fire protection standards is diverse and can vary depending on the region and area of application. Here are some of the most important international and European standards:
European Standards (EN):
EN 13501-1: Fire classification of construction products and building elements: This standard classifies the fire performance of construction products using various test methods. Classification is based on classes (A1, A2, B to F) for reaction to fire and additional criteria for smoke development (s1, s2, s3) and flaming droplets (d0, d1, d2). This standard is relevant for seals used in construction works, such as window and door seals, joint seals, and cable penetrations.
EN 13501-2: Classification of construction products and building elements according to their fire resistance: This standard classifies the fire resistance of building components such as walls, floors, doors, and glazing. Fire resistance is expressed in minutes (e.g., EI 30, EI 90) and indicates how long a building component maintains its function (load-bearing capacity, integrity, thermal insulation) in the event of a fire. It is crucial for seals in these components that they support the fire resistance class of the entire building component.
EN 45545: Railway applications – Fire protection of rolling stock: This standard specifies the fire protection requirements for materials and components in railway vehicles. It divides the requirements into different hazard levels and operational categories. Strict requirements apply to seals in trains and other rail vehicles regarding fire behavior, smoke development, and the toxicity of fire gases.
EN 1634: Fire resistance tests for door and gate systems: This standard describes the test methods for determining the fire resistance of doors and gates. Seals play a crucial role in ensuring fire integrity in the event of a fire.
International standards:
UL 94 (Underwriters Laboratories): Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances: This US standard tests the flammability of plastic materials. It is relevant for seals in electrical devices and systems. The classifications (e.g., V-0, V-2, HB) provide information about the burning behavior after ignition.
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association): This US organization develops a variety of fire protection norms and standards. Depending on the application, different NFPA standards may be relevant.
Industry-specific relevance:
Construction: EN 13501-1 and EN 13501-2 are of central importance for window, door, facade and joint seals as well as for seals in fire doors and gates.
Rail vehicle industry: EN 45545 is the authoritative standard for all sealing materials used in trains and other rail vehicles.
Electrical industry: UL 94 is important for seals in electrical equipment and systems to ensure safety and fire performance.
Automotive industry: Here, car manufacturers have specific requirements that may go beyond general fire protection standards. Internal factory standards or requirements from the FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) are often used.
Industry in general: Depending on the application, different standards may be relevant, for example if seals are used in systems with an increased fire risk.
It is crucial to know the specific requirements of each industry and application in order to select the appropriate seals with the appropriate fire protection properties.
How do the standards differ for silicone, EPDM and TPE?
The choice of sealing material has a significant impact on fire performance and compliance with the relevant standards. Silicone, EPDM, and TPE exhibit different properties:
Silicone: Silicone is characterized by high temperature resistance and is naturally flame-retardant. Many silicone grades achieve good to excellent fire behavior properties according to EN 13501-1 (often B or C with low smoke development). Special fire-protection silicones can also achieve higher classifications. Regarding EN 45545, special silicone compounds can meet the strict requirements for rail vehicles.
EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber): Standard EPDM is generally more flammable than silicone. However, by using flame retardants, EPDM grades can be produced that meet certain fire safety standards, for example, in the construction sector. The achievable classifications depend heavily on the specific compound. For rail vehicle applications, special flame-retardant EPDM grades are available that can meet EN 45545.
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers): TPE is a broad class of materials with very different properties. The fire behavior of TPE varies greatly depending on its chemical composition. Some TPE types are naturally flame-retardant, while others are highly flammable. Flame retardants are often used to meet fire safety standards. The achievable classifications according to EN 13501-1 or UL 94 therefore vary considerably. There are also special TPE compounds for rail vehicle applications that can meet EN 45545.
It's important to note that not only the base material, but also the specific compounding (mixture) and processing have a significant influence on fire behavior. Therefore, it's essential that the seals come from manufacturers with the appropriate expertise and the necessary test certificates.
What firing processes are there?
To fully understand the importance of fire protection standards in sealing technology, it is helpful to know the basic fire processes:
Ignition: A fire occurs when a combustible material (fuel) is heated to its ignition temperature by an ignition source (energy) in the presence of oxygen (oxidizer).
Fire development: After ignition, the fire spreads. The rate of spread depends on various factors, such as the type of fuel, the oxygen supply, the surface area of the material, and the ambient temperature.
Smoke development: The combustion of organic materials produces smoke gases that may contain solid and liquid particles as well as toxic substances. Smoke development is a critical factor for human safety in the event of a fire.
Heat release: During combustion, energy is released in the form of heat. This heat contributes to further heating the fuel and spreading the fire.
Flame spread: Flames spread by convection (heat flow), radiation and direct contact.
Flashover: Under certain conditions, a sudden transition to a full-scale fire can occur, in which all combustible surfaces in the room catch fire simultaneously.
Burnout: After reaching maximum fire intensity, the fire will die down when the fuel or oxygen is exhausted or firefighting has been successful.
Fire protection standards and the corresponding sealing materials aim to influence these processes: to make ignition more difficult, to slow fire development and flame spread, to minimize smoke development and to prevent the passage of fire and smoke through openings.
Conclusion
Fire protection standards are an essential component of safety technology in numerous industries. Selecting the right seals that meet specific requirements is crucial to protecting lives and minimizing property damage. Silicone, EPDM, and TPE offer different fire behavior properties that can be adapted to the respective standards through special compounding and processing. Knowledge of the relevant standards and basic fire processes is essential for users and purchasers of sealing technology.
On our product page, you'll find a wide selection of high-quality seals made from various elastomers. We'd be happy to provide you with personalized advice and find the right solution for your specific fire protection requirements. Contact us for a personal consultation or submit an inquiry directly.
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