Smoke resistance tests EN 1634-3

Testing facilities SKG-IKOB

For many it is now quite logical that the complete fire safety concept of a building extends far beyond the fire resistance of the supporting and separating structure. In the event of a fire situation, being able to escape safely is crucial. Smoke is harmful contaminated air and interferes with breathing and visibility during escape in the event of a fire. It used to be assumed that the smoke resistance of a structure could be determined by determining the fire resistance to the flame density (E) criterion of a separating structure. Those days are over and to determine the smoke resistance a separate test in accordance with EN 1634-3 will have to be carried out. SKG-IKOB has this test set-up and since obtaining accreditation the industry knows how to find SKG-IKOB for this purpose and the set-up is "smoking" in abundance.

Laws and regulations 

Until mid-2021, the Building Code assumed the 1.5 x rule for determining smoke resistance. This assumed that the smoke resistance (in minutes) would be 1.5 x the flame density (in minutes). Thus, a partition construction tested to 20 minutes flame tightness has a smoke resistance of 30 minutes. This assumption is not always realistic and in the current version of the Building Works Decree (Bbl) the 1.5 x rule therefore only applies to existing buildings.

In the Bbl a more realistic method for determining the smoke-resistance of construction components has been designated via an adapted NEN 6075. In this method the actual air leakage of a construction component is determined by means of a test, after which a classification for the smoke-resistance can take place on the basis of the leakage quantity.

One difference from the old method is that smoke resistance is not expressed in minutes. In NEN 6075, EN 1634-3 is designated as the test standard, with which the construction component can be classified as Sa (smoke resistant at ambient temperature, also known as cold smoke) or S200 (smoke resistant at elevated temperature, also known as medium heat smoke) after a successful leak-tightness test. In addition, NEN 6075 also describes how structural components for which EN 1634-3 was not originally written can still be tested and assessed. Examples of this are penetrations and seams for which NEN 6075 describes how they are tested and what the maximum air leakage may be.

The test rig is running at full speed: the customer speaks out

Marcel Boom, Technical Development Manager at Kawneer Nederland BV, now has the necessary experience with testing at SKG-IKOB. Marcel can explain the course of a test process like no other.

Marcel Boom explains: "Due to the introduction of European fire and smoke resistance regulations on November 1, 2019, the need for Kawneer to test for both fire and smoke resistance arose.

For smoke resistance, Kawneer's choice fell on SKG-IKOB because of the long-standing relationship and the good support we have always been offered.

Prior to the test(s), a test plan was drawn up together with SKG-IKOB to cover as complete a product range as possible. On this basis, the configurations of the elements to be tested were determined. 

Because the test results are used by our customers as a declaration of performance for the mandatory CE declaration, production control and sampling must take place during the production of the elements.

The test on a double door with top and side light, which took place on March 27 of this year was conducted on the test cabinet of SKG-IKOB in Geldermalsen and passed Sa and S200.

This test, together with the follow-up test(s), will be included in an ExAp report according to EN 15269-20 and in a classification report according to EN 13501-4.

Thanks to good cooperation, we expect to complete this entire project before the end of this year and within budget."