What is BS EN 13381‑10 about?
BS EN 13381‑10 is the 10th part of a series of documents on fire protection. BS EN 13381‑10 specifies a fire test method and an assessment procedure for determining the contribution of fire protection systems to the fire resistance performance of circular and rectangular steel bars used as tension members. BS EN 13381‑10 applies to fire protection materials that have already been tested and assessed by EN 13381-4 or EN 13381-8.
BS EN 13381‑10 does not include steel or any other cold-formed bar used as reinforcement in concrete construction.
For other solid bar geometries such as oval or triangular cross-sections, these are subject to a separate test package by the principles of Clause 5 of BS EN 13381‑10.
Fire protection performance is determined by testing of unloaded tension members, although additional loaded test evidence can be required for certain product types subject to certain conditions specified in BS EN 13381‑10.
The method applies to all fire protection systems used for the protection of solid bar up to a maximum diameter of 130 mm and includes sprayed fire protection, reactive coatings, cladding protection systems and multi-layer or composite fire protection materials. In the case of the rectangular bar, the maximum side length is limited to 130 mm with a maximum aspect ratio of 2:1 against the shorter side length. For dimensions greater than 130 mm it is appropriate to use rectangular or circular hollow sections tested and assessed by EN 13381-4 and EN 13381-8 provided they have been tested in the same orientation.
The evaluation is designed to cover a range of thicknesses of the applied fire protection material, a range of steel bar dimensions, a range of specified temperatures and a range of valid fire protection periods. The test method is applicable to fire protection systems that are intimately in contact with the bar, or which include airspace between the bar and the protection system as given in EN 13381-4. BS EN 13381‑10 also provides the assessment procedure, which prescribes the analysis of the test data and gives guidance on the procedures to undertake interpolation.
BS EN 13381‑10 caters for testing in both vertical and horizontal orientations. Results from horizontally.
Who is BS EN 13381‑10 for?
BS EN 13381‑10 on fire resistance of structural members is relevant to:
- Structural engineers
- Civil engineers
- National Fire Protection Association
Why should you use BS EN 13381‑10?
Fire performance is the ability of a particular structural element (as opposed to any particular building material) to fulfill its designed function for some time in the event of a fire.
BS EN 13381‑10 gives the fire test procedures, carried out to provide data on the thermal characteristics of the fire protection system when exposed to the standard temperature/time curve. As a user of BS EN 13381‑10, you can determine the physical performance, thermal performance of structural members under fire test conditions. BS EN 13381‑10 benefits the manufacturer by providing test methods to check and test the quality of structural material so that they can improve its quality. BS EN 13381‑10 helps the user to improve the fire protection systems such as sprayed fire protection, reactive coatings, cladding protection systems, and multi-layer or composite fire protection materials.
BS EN 13381‑10 assist the user in determining the suitable material, thickness of the bar used in the structural members for fire resistance. Undertaking tests provided by BS EN 13381‑10 can ensure the correct fire protection systems are chosen for your Building. Ultimately, in the event of a fire, you can be assured of the safe evacuation of occupants from the building while buying time for rescue services to arrive. You can also consider BS EN 13381‑10 as part of the maintenance protocols for the safety of existing buildings.
