Currently, two harmonised European standards – EN 13501, which is a classification of materials’ reaction to fire, and EN 1366-1:2104, which describes fire resistance tests for service installations – are among the most important sources of design guidance for fire-resistant ventilation ducts and smoke control.
In addition to these Europe-wide standards, the German MLAR directive also explains the importance of fire safety for ventilation systems, escape routes and suspended ceilings:
Ventilations systems
- Section 5.2.2 refers to ventilation ductwork, which needs to be fire resistant.
- Section 5.2.4 refers to ventilation ductwork above suspended ceilings, which needs to be fixed in such a way that it won't collapse in the event of fire.
Escape routes
- How to keep escape routes free and for how long in the event of a fire.
Suspended ceilings
- For fire-rated suspended ceilings, the required fire resistance must be guaranteed in the event of a fire coming both from above and below the ceiling.
- Special requirements must be observed for modular support systems when they are installed between the structural ceiling and a suspended ceiling.