Reaction to Fire Laboratory
The Reaction to Fire Laboratory (URF) is part of the Building Finishes and Thermal Insulation Unit of LNEC´s Buildings Department.
This Laboratory performs accredited tests and holds certificate No. L0488 from IPAC. URF conducts tests on construction products for which LNEC is notified by the Portuguese Institute for Quality (IPQ) in the scope of the Construction Products Regulations (CPR).
LNEC has been appointed as a Notified Body (NB number 0856 – Testing Laboratory) under CPR.
Additional information can be found in this laboratory's flyer.
Activity areas
URF has a wide experience in its fields of activity and is equipped with the human and technical resources required to perform the relevant tests and to deliver the European reaction to fire performance classification to building products and systems, in particular:
- wall finishes and wall claddings;
- ceiling finishes and suspended ceilings;
- floor coverings;
- thermal insulation products and systems, in particular ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems);
- other construction products.
Testing
URF performs different tests on construction materials, products and systems, in particular the following:
- Ignitability test;
- Non-combustibility test;
- Determination of the heat of combustion;
- Determination of the burning behaviour using a radiant panel (floorings);
- Determination of the burning behaviour under exposure to a single burning item (SBI test).
Other services
Beyond testing activities in support to the technical assessment and approval of construction materials, products and systems, URF provides other services, such as:
- Tests aimed at delivering the European reaction to fire classification;
- Indicative tests to obtain information on the probable European reaction to fire classification of construction products or families of products;
- Tests supporting either the development or the improvement of the reaction to fire performance of construction products;
- Tests subcontracted in the scope of factory production control;
- Research studies aimed at the development of either indirect or simplified test methods for factory production control carried out by manufacturers.
- Support to the construction sector, by performing tests of characterization and roof covering behaviour, expert support to the characterization of coatings for floors and walls.