A1: how does the material contribute to the fire?

The European reaction-to-fire classification under EN 13501-1 ranks a construction product's contribution to fire. A1 is a class for non-combustible products. For mineral protective layers it is an important starting point. However, it states neither a permissible rear-face temperature nor a fire resistance period for the roof.

One example is the glass-fibre-reinforced fire protection board described in ETA-11/0458. Its material classification and the performance of specific constructions appear in different places in the assessment. Each statement has its own field of application. [1]

EI and REI: which function is maintained, and for how long?

E stands for integrity, I for insulation under fire and R for load-bearing capacity. The number gives the classified duration in minutes. Whether all three criteria or only some are relevant depends on the building element and its task. A roof build-up, a suspended ceiling and a cladding on a concrete slab are therefore not interchangeable test specimens.

The fire side also matters. Evidence for a cladding beneath a load-bearing structure is not automatically evidence for a loose-laid protective layer above a PVC membrane. The comparison requires the same protected object and traceable boundary conditions.

BROOF: what happens under external fire exposure?

Roof classification under EN 13501-5 uses, among other things, the results of the test methods in CEN/TS 1187. The suffix t1, t2, t3 or t4 denotes the method. The methods use different exposures and assessment criteria; their numbers do not form a simple ranking. [2]

For a PV roof there is the added factor that modules can change the heat and airflow pattern above the roof membrane. A roof classification and a study of the roof–PV interaction are therefore two pieces of information that build on each other. The BROOF guide explains the differences.

Why installation position changes the statement

Beneath a new roof membrane a mineral board is protected from the weather. On top of the waterproofing the same material family is exposed to water, frost and wind. Beneath a concrete slab it is heated and fixed differently than above soft insulation.

The FRISSBE/ZAG guideline therefore considers the overall system of roof, PV layout and use. A sound selection starts with the actual layer sequence, the expected fire scenario and the protection objective. Only then can material class and construction evidence be assigned. [3]

How to read an offer

A good offer names the specific board, its thickness and mass per unit area. It sorts the documents separately by material, construction and project. Where there are deviations, it shows which technical justification is required. This turns a collection of logos into an understandable decision.

For coordination with the insurer, a one-page comparison helps: required performance, offered build-up, matching evidence and open deviation. Our guide to insurer requirements walks through these steps.

If the requirement is EI 30 or BROOF(t1), an A1 data sheet does not answer it. Request evidence for the relevant element or roof build-up.