Fire Resistance Tests Protective Systems for Building

The Ministerial Decree of February 16, 2007 introduces in Italy the new methods for the qualification of resistance of protective systems to structural elements, be they structures in steel, reinforced concrete, wood or mixed.

Since then CSI has specialized in offering the testing and classification service of these systems, such as intumescent paints, passive protective systems such as refractory or rigid plasters (coated gypsum sheets or similar).

CSI is a Laboratory in Italy authorized by the Ministry of Domestic Affairs according to the Ministerial Decree 16.2.2007 to perform tests and to be able to elaborate performance schedules according to the new methods provided for by the series of European standards EN 13381.

Since 2007, CSI has been the only Italian fire resistance laboratory to perform tests to qualify the fire resistance of protective systems to structural elements.

The UNI EN 13381-8 standard, in its latest version of 2013, is the reference for characterizing reactive systems, such as intumescent paint, applied on steel. Still on a steel support (open and closed profiles), but for non-reactive protective systems (such as mortars based on concrete and hydraulic binders, such as polystyrene), the reference standard is UNI EN 13381-4.

The UNI EN 13381-3 standard, on the other hand, is the univocal reference for qualifying protective systems for structural elements in concrete.

For all these services CSI is an accredited body according to UNI CEI EN ISO / IEC 17025.

In detail, CSI offers the testing and classification service for the following systems:

  • Protective membranes (UNI EN 13381-1);
  • Protective systems, passive and reactive, both structures in reinforced concrete (UNI EN 13381-3);
  • Passive systems to protect structural steel elements (UNI EN 13381-4);
  • Reactive systems (intumescent paints) to protect structural steel elements (UNI EN 13381-8).

To characterize the fire resistance of all these systems, CSI is also an accredited body according to UNI CEI EN ISO / IEC 17025.

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