Flame retardant
In fire safety, resistance to fire is codified at national and european level and is highly regulated.
Documentation
Fire safety regulations
Resistance to fire is the representation of a material as fuel for fire (combustibility, flammability), as defined by the French Order of 21 November 2002. There are strict fire regulations for the use of textile fabrics in establishments.
You can consult the details of this regulation on the Securofeu website.
French classification
In France, there is a rating scale with 5 categories that define the fire resistance of materials:
- M0 : non-combustible
- M1 : combustible (non-flammable)
- M2 : combustible (flame retardant)
- M3 : combustible (moderately flammable)
- M4 : combustible (highly flammable)
- NC : not classified
Video comparing an M1 fire-rated curtain to a non-classified curtain
French fire classification
Specifically, the fire reaction rating required for these furnishing materials is the M1 classification. This M1 rating is defined according to French standard NF P 92-507 of Annex 2 of the decree dated November 21, 2002.
Standard NF P 92-503 electric burner test,
Standard NF P 92-504 flame persistence and spread rate measurement test,
Standard NF P 92-505 dripping test
To be valid, the M1 classification can only be issued by a French laboratory approved by the Ministry of the Interior. The list as of today is as follows:
- Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (CSTB)
- Laboratoire National de Métrologie et d’Essais (LNE)
- Laboratoire Central de la Préfecture de Police (LCPP)
- Institut Français du Textile et de l’Habillement (IFTH)
- Institut Technologique FCBA (forêt, cellulose, bois-construction, ameublement)
- Centre de Recherche et d’Études sur les Procédés d’Ignifugation des Matériaux (CREPIM)
- EFECTIS France. Subsequently, the approved French laboratory provides an M1 test report valid for a period of 5 years.
To verify the authenticity of a test report, feel free to consult our page “how to read a test report“:
In France, there is a classification consisting of 5 categories that define the fire reaction of materials:
- M0: non-combustible
- M1: combustible (non-flammable)
- M2: combustible (hardly flammable)
- M3: combustible (moderately flammable)
- M4: combustible (easily flammable)
- NC: non-classified
European classification – EUROCLASSES
The European classification (euroclasses) is defined in European standard EN 13501-1.
There are five categories of requirement: A1, A2, B, C, D, E, F (F being equal to the NC category of the M classification).
This classification also takes into account two other criteria: smoke opacity (quantity and speed) marked “s” for smoke
s1 : low quantity/speed
s2 : average quantity/speed
s3 : high quantity/speedignited
droplets and debris marked “d” for droplets
d0 : no debris
d1 : no debris with a combustion lasting more than 10 seconds
d2 : neither d0 nor d1
| Classifications according to BS EN 13501-1 | French Classification | ||
| A1 | – | – | Incombustible |
| A2 | s1 | d0 | M0 |
| A2 | s1 | d1 | M1 |
| A2 | s2 s3 |
d0 d1 |
|
| B | s1 s2 s3 |
d0 d1 |
|
| C | s1 s2 s3 |
d0 d1 |
M2 |
| D | s1 s2 s3 |
d0 d1 |
M3 |
| M4 (non gouttant) | |||
| All classes other than E-d2 and F | M4 | ||
International fire classification
The most commonly used French standards in the world for indoor furnishing curtain applications
In decreasing order of technical requirement :
Note: A fabric certified FR M1 therefore offers a greater guarantee of passing other FR standards (as these are less demanding).
M1 NFP 92-507 (France)
B1 DIN4102 (Germany)
EN 13773 Class 1 (other European countries)
IMO FTP part 7 (Marine & Finland)
BS 5867 tipo B ou C (United Kingdom)
NFPA 701 (USA)
Other fire safety standards
Imo standard
IMO is the fire reaction standard in the marine sector. It applies to all types of boats and merchant ships.
Bs en 12 952 standard
Fire behaviour of bedding items.
Standard BS EN 12952 parts 1 and 2, requires that the bedding articles concerned pass tests for non-ignition resistance to cigarettes.
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