Fire separations are used to manage the protection of people and property from the origin of a fire. Examples are boundary walls, floors and fire doors.
Internationally, many of the different test standards are based on the same furnace-based exposure conditions and monitoring equipment. This enables BRANZ to provide testing in accordance with numerous standards to meet the requirements for many international building codes.
Fire resistance ratings
Fire resistance ratings are expressed in a specific format to describe the duration in minutes for:
- Structural stability — load carrying capability
- Integrity — formation of holes and fissures
- Insulation — temperature rise on the unexposed face.
Typical ratings would be presented as -/60/30, 30/30/30, -/120/-.
Test methods
BRANZ is accredited by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) for testing the fire performance of products, materials and systems. See IANZ certificate of accreditation (PDF, 176KB] for the full scope of our accreditations.
The results from these tests can be used to determine Fire Resistance Ratings and Fire Resistance Levels required by the Building Codes of New Zealand and Australia. These ratings and levels are recognised in many other jurisdictions around the world, particularly countries throughout Southeast Asia.
We are IANZ accredited for the following test methods:
- ISO 834-1 Elements of building construction — Part 1: General requirements
- ISO 3008 Door and shutter assemblies
- ISO 3009 Elements of building construction — Glazed elements
- AS 1530 Part 4 Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures — Part 4 Fire resistance tests of elements of construction
- AS 1530* Part 8.1 Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures –Tests on elements of construction for buildings exposed to simulated bushfire attack — Radiant heat and small flaming sources
- AS 1530* Part 8.2 Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures — Tests on elements of construction for buildings exposed to simulated bushfire attack — Large flaming sources
- BS 476 Parts 20-24 Fire tests on building materials and structures
- BS EN 13381-4 Test methods for determining the contribution of the fire resistance of structural members — Part 4: Applied passive protection to steel members
- BS EN 13381-8 Test methods for determining the contribution of the fire resistance of structural members — Part 8: Applied reactive protection to steel members
- ISO 6944:1 Fire containment — Elements of building construction — Part 1 Ventilation ducts
- SS 333 clause 5.3 Fire dampers
- SS 332 Annex E Fire doors
- SS 489 Annex A Fire shutters
- ISO 10294-1 Fire dampers for air distribution systems — Part 1 Test method
- ISO 10294-5 Fire dampers for air distribution systems — Part 5 Intumescent fire dampers
- EN 1363-1 Fire resistance tests — Part 1: General requirements
- EN 1363-2 Fire resistance tests — Part 2: Alternative and additional procedures (Clauses 5, External fire exposure curve, 6 Slow heating curve, 8 Measurement of radiation)
- EN 1364-1 Non-loadbearing elements — Part 1 Walls
- EN 1364-2 Non-loadbearing elements — Part 2 Ceilings
- EN 1365-1 Loadbearing elements — Part 1 Walls
- EN 1365-2 Loadbearing elements — Part 2 Floors and roofs
- EN 1366-3 Service installations — Part 3 Penetration seals
- EN 1366-4 Service installations — Linear joint seals
- EN 1634-1 Door and shutter assemblies, openable windows and elements of building hardware — Part 1: Fire resistance tests for door and shutter assemblies and openable windows
- UL 9 Standard for fire tests of window assemblies
- UL 10B Standard for fire tests of door assemblies
- UL 10C Standard for positive pressure fire tests of door assemblies
- UL 263 Standard for fire tests of building construction and materials
- UL 555 Standard for fire dampers
- UL 1479 Standard for fire tests of through-penetration firestops
- UL 2079 Standard for tests for fire resistance of building joint systems
- NFPA 251 Standard methods of tests of fire resistance of building construction and materials
- NFPA 252 Standard methods of fire tests of door assemblies
- ASTM E119 Standard methods of fire tests of building construction and materials
- ASTM E814 Fire tests of through-penetration fire stops
*Bushfire testing — Fire resistance testing is used to determine compliance for Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Flame Zone (FZ). By default, compliance with BAL FZ provides automatic compliance for the lesser BAL from 12.5 to 40, in accordance with Australian Standard AS 3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas.
Note: Floor and roof testing dimensions are limited to 4 m x 3 m which is a deviation from UL, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and ASTM Standards.
International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Testing
We are a recognised test laboratory in accordance with the IMO for the following test methods:
- International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures (2010 FTP Code) Resolution MSC.307(88) – Annex 1 – Fire Test Procedures – Part 3 – Test for “A”, “B” and “F” Class Divisions.
More information about fire testing
If you would like to discuss fire testing for your product, contact us by:
- email firetesting@branz.co.nz
- phone +64 4 237 1170.