EN13501

EN 13501 is a European standard for the fire classification of construction products and building elements. It provides a harmonized framework for evaluating and communicating a product’s fire performance, enabling manufacturers to label products consistently and allowing authorities, designers, and builders to compare options across markets.

The EN 13501 family is published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and is widely used across the EU and EEA. The standard supports fire safety planning and CE marking for many building products as a harmonized classification scheme.

The classification system is organized into parts. EN 13501-1 covers classification using data from fire tests to assess reaction to fire—how a product behaves when exposed to flame. Reaction-to-fire classes range from A1 and A2 (very low or no combustibility) through B, C, D, E, and F (not classified). Supplementary indicators provide additional detail, including smoke production (s1, s2, s3) and flaming droplets/particles (d0, d1, d2).

EN 13501-2 addresses classification based on data from fire-resistance tests, indicating a product’s ability to resist fire for a defined period. Ratings commonly use EI or R, often with a time value such as EI 60, to reflect insulation and integrity or overall fire resistance performance.

Other parts of EN 13501 extend classification approaches for specific product types or testing methods. The standard's adoption supports harmonized fire performance labeling, improves market transparency, and contributes to safer building design and regulation across Europe.