BS EN 13823-2020 + A1-2022 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN 13823:2020 + A1:2022 — Reaction to fire tests for building products. Building products excluding floorings exposed to the thermal attack by a single burning item (SBI). This publication is the British adoption (BS) of the European test method (EN 13823) including Amendment A1 (2022); it specifies the small‑scale corner test used to evaluate reaction‑to‑fire performance for essentially flat construction products (excluding floorings and certain regulated products).

Abstract

EN 13823:2020 with Amendment A1:2022 defines the Single Burning Item (SBI) test: a corner‑mounted specimen is exposed to a propane‑fired burner and measured for heat release, smoke production and flame spread over a 20‑minute test period. Calculation procedures, precision information and calibration requirements are given in the normative and informative annexes (Annexes A–D). The results are used as part of the system for reaction‑to‑fire classification of construction products.

General information

• Status: Current / valid as the EN method with national adoption as a BS standard.
• Publication date: EN 13823:2020 (approved 26 May 2020); Amendment A1:2022 (approved summer 2022) — BS adoption published January 25, 2023.
• Publisher: European Committee for Standardization (CEN) — adopted nationally and published by British Standards Institution (BSI) as BS EN 13823:2020+A1:2022.
• ICS / categories: 13.220.50 (Fire‑resistance of building materials and elements); 91.060.01 (Elements of buildings in general); 91.100.01 (Construction materials in general).
• Edition / version: EN 13823:2020 with Amendment A1:2022 — published nationally as BS EN 13823:2020+A1:2022 (BS edition published Jan 2023).
• Number of pages: 104 pages (BS national publication); national copies of the EN text may show minor page‑count differences depending on layout.

Scope

This standard specifies a method of test for determining the reaction to fire performance of construction products (excluding floorings and products listed in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/364) when exposed to thermal attack by a single burning item (SBI). It is intended primarily for essentially flat products; some linear or special product families (pipes, ducts, cables, etc.) may require additional or special rules. Annex A gives calculation procedures; Annex B gives precision information; Annexes C and D cover calibration (Annex C is normative).

Key topics and requirements

• Single Burning Item (SBI) corner test configuration and specimen mounting.
• Measured/derived parameters: heat release (THR, typically THR600s), fire growth rate (FIGRA), smoke production (TSP, SMOGRA), lateral flame spread (LFS) and falling droplets/particles.
• Burner specification and thermal power (propane burner, nominal thermal power ~30.7 ±2.0 kW in the standard SBI configuration).
• Calculation procedures for classification indices (see Annex A) and reporting conventions.
• Precision and repeatability statements (Annex B) and calibration procedures (Annexes C and D, with C normative).
• Application as a harmonized test method feeding into reaction‑to‑fire classification under EN 13501‑1.

Typical use and users

Used by test laboratories, product manufacturers, certification bodies, notified bodies and regulatory authorities for assessing reaction‑to‑fire performance and supporting CE marking/classification under the European reaction‑to‑fire system (EN 13501‑1). Typical product families tested include wall and ceiling linings, claddings, insulation facings, and many other essentially flat construction products (not floorings). Test houses use the SBI to generate data for classification and for compliance demonstrations in product technical files.

Related standards

Commonly used alongside or referenced with: EN 13501‑1 (classification of construction products — reaction to fire), EN ISO 11925‑2 (single‑flame source ignitability test), and national implementations/adoptions of EN 13823 (previous editions: 2010, 2010+A1:2014). Normative and informative annexes in EN 13823 themselves provide calculation, precision and calibration guidance.

Keywords

Single Burning Item, SBI, reaction to fire, EN 13823, THR, FIGRA, SMOGRA, TSP, lateral flame spread, calibration, reaction‑to‑fire classification, EN 13501‑1, BSI, test method.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: A European test method (EN 13823:2020 with Amendment A1:2022) describing the Single Burning Item (SBI) corner test used to evaluate the reaction‑to‑fire behaviour of building products (excluding floorings). It is published nationally as BS EN 13823:2020+A1:2022 in the UK.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers specimen configuration, burner and test‑room setup, measured parameters and calculation procedures for indices used in reaction‑to‑fire assessment (heat release, fire growth rate, smoke production, lateral flame spread and falling droplets), plus precision and calibration requirements in its annexes.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Test laboratories, product manufacturers preparing technical documentation and declarations, certification/notification bodies, and regulators responsible for building product fire performance and compliance.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2020 EN text with Amendment A1:2022 is the current EN version; national adoptions include BS EN 13823:2020+A1:2022 (BS publication Jan 25, 2023). It replaces earlier EN/BS editions (e.g., EN 13823:2010 and EN 13823:2010+A1:2014).

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the family of reaction‑to‑fire test standards used for classification under EN 13501‑1 and is commonly used together with EN ISO 11925‑2 and other reaction‑to‑fire test methods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: SBI, single burning item, reaction to fire, THR, FIGRA, SMOGRA, TSP, lateral flame spread, calibration, EN 13823, EN 13501‑1.