The classification without further testing of building materials, the reaction-to-fire performance of which is well known and stable, and of construction elements, the resistance-to-fire performance of which under certain constructive preconditions can be assumed as ensured, has long been skilled practice in Germany in applying the standard DIN 4102-4. Expenses for fire testing are, thus, limited to the necessary extent.

Such a comprehensive listing is not available yet for European harmonised building products. But, it is also the European Commission's opinion that fire testing should be avoided as much as possible. With the Decision 96/603/EC the European Commission made it possible for the first time already in 1996 to classify the reaction to fire without testing and laid down a list of products which under certain conditions are to be classified in category A1 and A1FL respectively, "No contribution to fire".

For a number of further building products which correspond to European harmonized product standards and which regarding their reaction to fire performance safely fulfil the allocated class, the European Commission decided in the meantime that under certain conditions they can also be classified without further testing. Products, for which a classification on the basis of a Commission Decision as regards fire performance is intended, have to be described with sufficient precision e.g. in the product standard.

Commission Decisions are available for a number of building products (see listing). Manufacturers and users of these products have to pay particular attention to the fact that the facilitations apply only to the particularly described products and not to the entire range of application of the respective product standard. Therefore it should be thoroughly checked, whether the application conditions are really met and whether a classification without further testing is justified.

Further requests for the classification without further testing are dealt with at the European Commission. In principle it is also possible to classify the resistance to fire performance.

Completed CWFT* cases (December 2010):
	2003/43/EG (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Wood based panels and solid wood panels
	2003/593/EG (Text) Commission Decision amending Decision 2003/43/EC establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance of certain construction products High-pressure decorative laminate panels, gypsum plasterboard products, structural timber products
	2005/403/EG (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of external fire performance of roofs and roof coverings for certain construction products as provided for by Council Directive 89/106/EC Plastisol coated steel roof sheets
	2005/610/EG (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Glued laminated timber products acc. to EN 14080 Laminate floor coverings, resilient floor coverings and textile floor coverings
	2006/213/EG (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Wood floorings and solid wood panelling and cladding
	2006/600/EG (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of external fire performance for certain construction products Double skin metal faced sandwich panels for roofs
	2006/673/EG (Text) Commission Decision amending Decision 2003/43/EC establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Gypsum plasterboards
	2007/348/EG (Text) Commission Decision amending Decision 2003/43/EC establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Wood-based panels
	2010/81/EU (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Adhesives for ceramic tiles
	2010/82/EU (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Decorative wallcoverings in roll and panel form
	2010/83/EU (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Air drying jointing compounds
	2010/85/EU (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Cementitious screeds, calcium sulphate screeds and synthetic resin floor screeds
	2010/737/EU (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Steel sheets with polyester coating and with plastisol coating
	2010/738/EU (Text) Commission Decision establishing the classes of reaction-to-fire performance for certain construction products Fibrous gypsum plaster casts
Further relevant EC decisions:
	1996/603/EG (Text) Commission Decision establishing the list of products belonging to Classes A 'No contribution to fire' […] 'Deemed to satisfy' list (consolidated version)
	2000/553/EG (Text) Commission Decision implementing Council Directive 89/106/EEC as regards the External fire performance of roof coverings
The European classification systems:
	2000/147/EG (Text) Commission Decision implementing Council Directive 89/106/EEC as regards the Classification of the reaction to fire performance of construction products (consolidated version)
	2000/367/EG (Text) Commission Decision implementing Council Directive 89/106/EWG as regards the Classification of the resistance to fire performance of construction products, construction works and parts thereof (consolidated version)
	2001/671/EG (Text) Commission Decision implementing Council Directive 89/106/EWG as regards the Classification of the external fire performance of roofs and roof coverings (consolidated version)
Further language versions of the Commission Decisions are available via the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU, http://eur-lex.europa.eu) verfügbar.
* CWFT: "Classification without further testing"