Fire Testing Explained
Fire testing is divided into two distinctive areas: "Resistance-to-Fire Testing” and “Reaction-to-Fire Testing". Resistance-to-Fire Testing applies to full size construction elements/assemblies and service installation that has the ability to contain a fire or protect an area from fire such as fire-rated doors, walls, partitions, dampers etc.
The idea behind resistance-to-fire testing is to compartmentalize a building and to determine for how long the assembly will hold up the fire on the other side of the actual separation. It had two main criteria for failure, Integrity and Thermal Insulation.
Meanwhile, Reaction-to-Fire Testing applies to any single surface materials and coatings to determine combustibility, contribution to fire, smoke generation and rate at which flames spread. Testing results are classified based on Ratings and Class
