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The Italian and European regulatory sources governing passive fire protection.
Methods for classifying fire resistance
The Italian Ministerial Decree of 16 February 2007 (D.M. 16/02/2007) sets out the methods used to determine the fire resistance of construction products and building elements. It defines three approaches:
• Experimental method: laboratory testing to the dedicated EN standards.
• Tabulated method: use of the tables in Annex D for non-load-bearing walls up to 4 metres in height.
• Analytical method: calculation to the Eurocodes (EN 1992-1-2, EN 1993-1-2, etc.).
All Global Building solutions are classified using the experimental method (the most rigorous), with test results certified by leading laboratories such as Istituto Giordano (I.G.) and Efectis.
Italy's performance-based approach to fire safety design
The Italian Ministerial Decree of 3 August 2015 introduced the Italian Fire Prevention Code (Codice di Prevenzione Incendi), moving beyond the traditional prescriptive approach in favour of a performance-based one.
The designer can choose between:
• Fire safety strategies (S): reaction to fire (S.1), fire resistance (S.2), fire compartmentation (S.3), means of escape (S.4), safety management (S.5), fire control (S.6), detection (S.7), smoke control (S.8), firefighting operations (S.9), safety of technical installations (S.10).
• Performance levels: from I (minimum) to IV (maximum), depending on the type of occupancy.
Global Building solutions support strategies S.2 (fire resistance) and S.3 (fire compartmentation) at every performance level.
Drywall partitions over 4 metres in height
The Italian Ministry of the Interior circular of 30 November 2020 changed the rules for drywall partitions taller than 4 metres: since 31 March 2021 it is mandatory to rely on technical files updated in accordance with EXAP standard EN 15254-3:2019.
All Global Building solutions for heights above 4 metres comply with the updated technical files.
The standard tests for fire resistance
EN 1363-1/-2: General and alternative requirements for fire resistance tests.
EN 1364-1: Fire resistance tests for non-load-bearing elements — Walls.
EN 1364-2: Floors and roofs.
EN 1365 series: Tests for load-bearing elements (walls, floors, columns, beams).
EN 1366 series: Tests for service installations (ducts, trunking, penetrations).
EN 13501-1/-2: Fire classification of construction products and building elements.
EN 15254 series: Extended application of test results (EXAP) for the various element types.
Technical support
Every solution in the catalogue states its classification report, test standard and any EXAP. For special cases, our technical department is here to help.