Norgips fire protection partitions will protect your home

Fire resistance is an ability of a partition / building element to meet applicable requirements in conditions simulating a fire situation. During a fire, the most vital element is the possibility of evacuation so the measure of fire resistance is the time from the beginning of the (expressed in minutes), during which the following criteria are still met:

• R - fire load capacity, i.e. a condition in which a described element endures the fire load. The loss of fire load capacity results from a mechanical damage, loss of stability or exceeding of limit values for deformation or displacement. Drywall systems are described by the R parameter only if they constitute fire separation elements.
• R - fire tightness, i.e. a condition in which a described element provides a separation. Fire tightness is degraded when flames, cracks or gaps of width exceeding the limit values appear on non-hearted surfaces, which are permeated by gases or flames or when an element is detached from a structure.
• I - fire rating, i.e. a condition in which an element fulfils an insulating function in order to protect against high temperatures. A fire rating is degraded when excessive temperature appears on the external side of a tested element.

A fire resistance class describes fire resistance required for a given partition / building element.

Fire resistance classes usually combine the ordinary criterion E and I, or R, E and I, e.g. EI 15, EI 30, EI 45, EI 60, EI 90, REI 120, REI 180.

See the “Fire resistance“ definition for a more precise explanation of the E, I and R criteria.

Five fire resistance classes are established for the building, denoted by letters in order from highest to lowest 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E'.

Elements of a building included in a given fire resistance class must meet the conditions defined in the Ordinance of the Minister of Infrastructure of 12 April 2002 on the technical conditions to be met buildings and their locations.

These are documents issued on the basis of tests by authorised research units which define the fire resistance classes(e.g. EI 30, EI 60) for tested building elements, e.g. as regards drywall lining systems - partition walls, curtain walls, suspended ceilings, attic linings and dry screeds. Fire classifications also contain detailed descriptions of solutions, information on materials used, drawings, solution details, joint details, etc.