Fire Resistance Tests Protective Systems for Building

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

Since then, CSI has specialised in offering a testing and classification service for these systems, such as intumescent paints, passive protective systems, including refractory or rigid plasters (coated gypsum plasterboards or similar).

CSI is an Italian Laboratory authorized by the Ministry of Interior 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 EN 13381-8 standard, in its latest version of 2013, is the reference for characterizing reactive systems, such as intumescent paint, applied on steel. Also on steel substrates (open and closed profiles), but for non-reactive protective systems (such as mortars based on cement and hydraulic binders, such as polystyrene), the reference standard is EN 13381-4.

EN 13381-3, 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 CEI EN ISO / IEC 17025.

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

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

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

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