The European Construction Products Directive and Fire Safety Requirements: Latest Status and Future Developments
In the frame of the single European market, the European Construction Products Directive CPD has initiated a harmonized classification system and related fire tests, which are in the course of substituting the existing national building classifications and tests. The harmonized fire safety system in Europe allows obtaining CE marks for construction products valid through the whole EU market, thus simplifying their trans-European trade. However, in some cases the old national tests are still used, as the fire safety levels required in national building regulations cannot be met properly by the new European testing and classification yet. This may lead to a situation where not only the new European testing, but the existing national testing is required in addition.It is essential to know that the EU has no right to change or harmonize the fire safety levels set in national building regulations. These remain the responsibility of the single Member States. Only the European reaction-to-fire classification system (Euroclasses), and the new harmonized fire test methods will be integrated into national building regulations.However, as the example of the introduction of an acidity criterion for cables by the European Commission shows, this voluntary criterion may be introduced by single European Member States into their building regulations and lead to lowering fire safety levels of cables, because using halogen-containing systems including brominated flame retardants may be restricted.At the moment, only Italy intends introducing compulsory acidity criterion requirements solely addressing underground cable applications.In general, however, overall fire safety requirements for construction products will grow in Europe due to more stringent requirements in product standards and promote the use of flame retardants in retarded plastics and foams meeting high fire performance demands. Flame retarded products and flame retardants play a decisive role in ensuring high fire safety levels by preventing and delaying fires, thus helping to save lives and property.
Juergen Troitzsch
Fire and Environment Protection Service, Wiesbaden, Germany
国际会议
北京
英文
314-324
2006-10-30（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）