The CE marking is a recognizable trademark for many Europeans. What exactly does it mean and why is it important for fire safety and regulations?
What is the CE marking?
The CE marking shows that a product meets the legal requirements of the European Union in the areas of health, safety and environmental protection. If you want to trade construction products within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Turkey, this CE marking is mandatory.
CE marking with Hestus
Hestus does not sell a product but offers a fire retardant treatment. Why is the CE marking still important then? It is true that the CE marking applies to the base material, in this case wood. But by treating the wood, as Hestus does through impregnation with BurnBlock® powder, we make a modification to the product. This must not affect the marking. The treatment must therefore also comply with the legal requirements within the EEA and Turkey.
All wood species that Hestus fire retardant treats with BurnBlock® have been extensively tested by independent test institutes and meet the requirements. What we deliver after treatment is CE-certified wood with B-s1, d0. Also when you combine the fire retardant treatment with a color finish or pre-weathering.
It is good to know that all modifications afterwards again affect the CE. For example, if you apply a different paint, it is considered a new combination and in fact must be tested again.
Fire test through ACVP
Products that are susceptible to flames must pass the so-called ACVP 1/1+ procedure. ACVP stands for Assessment and Verification of Constancy of Performance, and is related to the CE marking.
The assessment is carried out by a notified body (independent test institute). They check whether the tested wood is indeed the same wood that is delivered to the market. Of course, the traded wood must perform just as well as the wood that undergoes the fire test. With its fire retardant treatment Hestus achieves the highest possible results of ACVP 1/1+.
You can find the certificates and tests in our Knowledge Center.
End-use tests
Finally, it is also important that compliance with a fire class also applies to the (façade) configuration. Using only products with fire class B is not sufficient. It is the combination of the materials and the construction that determines the fire class. For this purpose the so-called end-use tests have been introduced. Do you have questions about this? Hestus is here for advice and can provide guidance.
