Preservatives & Fire Retardants | 25
FIRE PROTECTION
Two current developments are set to bring about changes in the timber sector’s approach to fire protection in the months ahead, reports the Wood Protection Association
The timber sector’s approach to fire protection will see some developments soon – a consultation on the requirements of the Construction Products Regulations (CPR), and, at a European level, the revision of EN 16755, key standards governing the retained performance of fire-retardant treated wood products. The WPA and other timber industry trade associations – including the British Woodworking Federation, Confor, Wood Panel Industry Federation, Timber Development UK, Structural Timber Association, and Timber Decking and Cladding Association are currently in consultation with the Office for Product Standards (OPSS) to develop guidance for timber product manufacturers on compliance with the CPR.
The aim is to publish a document that sets out paths to legal compliance with CPR requirements for wood product manufacturers that includes case studies. WPA is represented on the OPSS trade associations consultation group by Mathew Powell whose principal objective is to ensure wood protection technologies are correctly understood and presented on behalf of WPA members.
CPR compliance is mandatory for construction products covered by a harmonised European standard.
This requires declarations of the products performance characteristics and application of a CE or UKCA mark before the products is sold in the UK. Currently, harmonised standards apply to structural timber, wood panelling or cladding, timber trussed rafters, wood-based panels, wooden windows and doors, wood flooring, cross laminated timber, glulam beams, structural LVL, and I-beams but it is anticipated that other applications could be brought within the scope of CPR in future. The WPA’s Matthew Powell and Stephen Cope, representing the TDCA, have met to discuss the Timber Sector CPR Guidance with the OPSS, with case studies being discussed and further case studies being developed, that the reader may identify as being similar to their situations. Recently WPA FR Committee member Alex
Torkington of WJ Group has joined the group as an additional WPA representative. He has unique insight into complying with the CPR through direct contact with the OPSS.
WPA FR Committee member Daði Thorsteinsson
EN 16755 REVISION WPA FR Committee member Daði Thorsteinsson of Koppers Performance Chemicals has reported on the revision of EN 16755. After many long meetings, Mr Thorsteinsson said the Durability of Reaction to Fire standard, (EN 16755), was resubmitted to the TC secretariat on March 25th, ahead of deadline.
The EN 16755 standard is being revised for several reasons. The main reason was to remove all references to Service life to more clearly illustrate that an EN 16755 classification does not document any specific service life. Secondly, the number of fire testing and weathering options have been reduced to one fire test method (EN 13823, SBI) and one artificial weathering method (Method B in the current version of the standard). Natural weathering is still an option, now expressed more clearly in the new Annex C. The Enquiry phase of EN 16755 during April to July 2025 resulted in a Disapproved voting result. Nine countries voted yes and seven voted no, but as some high population countries were amongst those voting no, the weighted result was a clear Disapproved.
The reasons given for the negative votes were mainly related to the discontinued exclusion of wood-based panels (WBP) in the scope of the standard. As a consequence, experts were invited to join the Working Group for the continued handling of enquiry comments during autumn 2025.
While some WBP producers expressly wish to be able to test their products according to EN 16755, others see it as a burden. This fear of EN 16755 being a burden may be exaggerated. In contrast to its predecessor CEN/TS 15912, EN 16755 does not demand any additional testing to qualify for INT 1 (Interior dry) classification – all that is needed is the initial Reaction to Fire classification according to EN 13501-1. So, even if classification according to EN 16755 were to become mandatory at some point, which it is not at present, it would only demand additional testing for producers aiming at INT2 (Interior humid) or EXT (Exterior) classifications. The TC secretariat will take a formal vote ballot soon. Pending the voting result the revised standard may be published in the autumn of 2026.
www.ttjonline.com | Summer 2026 | TTJ
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