{"id":25700,"date":"2026-04-03T15:19:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T14:19:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/?p=25700"},"modified":"2026-04-24T15:06:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T14:06:32","slug":"are-concrete-facing-bricks-fire-rated-what-do-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tobermore.co.uk\/professional\/blog\/are-concrete-facing-bricks-fire-rated-what-do-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Are concrete facing bricks fire rated – What do you need to know?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Concrete facing bricks<\/span><\/a>\u00a0are fire rated \u2013 they achieve the highest possible\u00a0Euroclass\u00a0fire resistance classification of A1 when tested\u00a0in accordance with\u00a0<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/span>EN13501-1 \u2018Fire classification of construction products and building elements \u2013 Classification using data from reaction to fire tests\u2019<\/span>\u00b9<\/span>.\u00a0Th<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0A1 rating means that concrete facing bricks are classed \u2018non-combustible\u2019 and do not contribute to the development of a fire.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most<\/span>\u00a0construction materials and products can be tested to gain a\u00a0Euroclass\u00a0reaction to fire classification.\u00a0\u00a0The\u00a0Euroclass\u00a0ratings range from A1 (non-combustible)<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0being the highest, to F (easily flammable)<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0being the lowest rating.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As you can see from the table below, there are various tests that can be used to\u00a0determine\u00a0the reaction to fire of the material being tested. The most stringent and difficult to pass is the\u00a0<\/span>\u200b<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/span>EN ISO 1182 \u2013 \u2018Reaction to fire for building products \u2013\u00a0Non-combustibility\u00a0test\u2019<\/span>\u00b2<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Concrete facing bricks have passed this EN ISO 1182 test. They do not contribute at any stage of a fire, are classed as A1 and therefore do not need to undergo any other tests listed at the top of the table.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Any construction products that achieve\u00a0Euroclass\u00a0ratings of B through to F are classed as combustible. Combustible products<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>may face restrictions on their use under building regulations in England<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>such as\u00a0<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/span>Approved Document B (Fire\u00a0Safety)<\/span>\u00b3<\/span>.\u00a0Non-combustible concrete facing bricks do not face any such restrictions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reaction to fire tests for EN 13501-1 to determine Euroclass classifications<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Lansdowne Heather<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What determines the fire resistance of concrete facing bricks?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The fire resistance of concrete facing bricks is tested when they are part of a system.\u00a0<\/span>C<\/span>oncrete facing bricks are used with mortar to form a concrete facing brick wall<\/span>, then<\/span>\u00a0tested to\u00a0determine\u00a0their fire resistance.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fire resistance measures the ability of the components of a system to resist fire for\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>stated\u00a0time period. Resistance times are quoted for:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018R\u2019 \u2013 loadbearing capacity\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The resistance to collapse applies to loadbearing elements only.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018E\u2019 \u2013 integrity<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The resistance to fire penetration.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019 \u2013 insulation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Resistance to the transfer of heat.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fire resistance information for masonry walls was originally available in standard BS 5628-3. This was withdrawn in March 2010 and replaced by\u00a0<\/span>\u200b<\/span><\/span>Eurocode 6 – Design of masonry structures – Part 1-1: \u2018General rules for reinforced and unreinforced masonry structures<\/span>\u2074<\/span>.\u2019\u2019 This standard includes information for designers on the passive fire resistance of concrete facing bricks used in masonry walls. It includes:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n