Fire Retardant Plywood

Fire Rated Plywood

Euroclass B & Euroclass C

Decorative or Constructional

Importers and distributors of plywood panels with flame retardant treatment & specifications.

We offer a range of face grades and species to cover most requirements, from decorative, to technical, to structural.

Approved suppliers of London Underground spec plywood - Transport for London Approved Plywood

Decorative FR Plywood

FR Plywood for Construction

Structurally rated FR Birch plywood suitable for the transport industry, construction projects and London Underground approved

High grade birch plywood and pine plywood suitable for decorative use, including wall lining, acoustic panels and shop-fitting

We also offer magnesium oxide panels (MgO board)

A1 fire rated cementitious panels for construction projects

London Underground Approved Plywood

Fire Rated Veneered Plywood

We can offer veneered plywood to Euroclass B in a range of veneers:

Applications

Cutting Service

Cut to size & CNC machined panels

We can cut, router, drill, chamfer and machine panels

For cutting or machining panels from stock, allow 10-14 working days depending on volumes and complexity

Treated panels can be supplied to a London Underground Approved Specification

The products we provide meet all of the required standards (Product Registration Certificate 5305)

Call to discuss any panels for Transport for London and the London Underground

We can help complete the required paperwork and provide the correct certificates

Further Information

Our flame retardant boards are suitable for use in the construction industry. The fire performance required for all materials used in buildings (which includes timber, plywood and wood based panels) is stated in Document B of the UK Building regulations.

Walls and ceilings require class 1 surface spread of flame in accordance with BS476: Part 7 or Euroclass C in accordance with BS EN 13501-1:2002. Higher risk areas such as escape routes and staircases require class 0 surface spread of flame in accordance with BS476: parts 6 & 7 or Euroclass B in accordance with BSEN13501-1: 2002.

Under the Construction Products Directive, there is a desire for European harmonisation of standards for fire retardant treatment of timber. These are known as Euroclass B and Euroclass C. In order to meet Euroclass B or Euroclass C specifications, timber or plywood is tested to EN ISO 11925 (ignitability test) and BS EN 13823: 2002 (SBI or Single Burning Item Test). The SBI test records parameters relating to the rate of fire growth, lateral flame spread and total heat release. 

Euroclass classifications are in accordance with BS EN 13501-1 (Fire classification of construction products and building elements) The thresholds for compliance are higher for Euro class B than for Euro class C. Therefore if products conform to a Euro class B they will also conform to a Euro class C, by definition.

In England and Wales, the fire requirements for buildings are dealt with by approved document part B to the Building regulations – Class 0 and Class 1. Euroclass B transposes to Class 0 and Euroclass C transposes to Class 1.

What is Fire Retardant (FR) Plywood and Timber?
FR plywood and timber is material that has been treated to slow the spread of fire propagation and prevent ignition. The spread of flame is measured against a known standard of EN 13501-1.

Why is FR material specified?
Increases the available time to safely evacuate a burning building
Reduces the rate of fire spread
Reduces smoke
By using FR Plywood or FR Timber you are using material that has passed and been approved to a measured standard as outlined in the Building Regulations.Treated material behaves and reacts to fire in a known and quantifiable way.

Declaration Explained: Euroclass B s1, d0

d stands for droplets - burning droplets or particles spread the fire. d0 is the best rating.

s stands for smoke - smoke is often the cause of fatalities. s1 is the best rating.

Class B or Class 0 ?
Class 1 and Class 0 were British standards BS476-7 which had started to be phased out in 2008 and completed by 2013. The standards were replaced by a harmonised European Standard. Document B refers to this harmonisation.

Document B
Building Regulations and Fire Safety Standard (2010 and 2013 amendments) - Fire Safety: Approved Document B
Volume 1 - Dwelling Houses. Volume 2 - Buildings other than Dwelling Houses.
This is a government document that specifies building regulations concerning fire. Public and private buildings 3m or 4m high.
This document outlines how to build a structure to achieve building “sign-off” from the building inspector. A Fire Officer is also involved.

The Architect and Structural Engineer will refer to Document B: External Link to Document B

Resistance / Reaction to Fire
Resistance is measured in time (e.g. a 30 minute fire door) and usually relates to a composite, an assembled product or a constructed setup.
Reaction usually relates to individual material components, such as timber and plywood, where they are sold with a known and measured reaction to fire.
These are two different tests. Our plywood is certified for both reaction and resistance to fire (K1 and K2 test)

CE Mark (Conformité Européenne)
The CE mark indicates that a product meets the requirements of the applicable EC directives and is consistent with its Declaration of Performance (DoP) as made by the manufacturer.  This must be done before a product is placed on the market.