Fire-retardants for timber

Fire-retardants serve to improve the reaction-to-fire performance of solid timber or wood-based materials treated with them. Through treatment with the fire-retardant, the solid timber or wood-based materials can be used in areas in which use of building materials classified as not easily flammable ('schwerentflammbar') is required. The fire-retardant can be applied to the solid timber or wood-based materials in a downstream process through painting, spraying, dipping or vacuum–pressure impregnation.

Regulatory framework

Classification of the reaction-to-fire of construction products is relevant to ensure fulfilment of the regulatory safety levels, cf. Model Building Code (MBO), Sections 3 and 14 in conjunction with Section 26.

DIBt grants national technical approvals (abZ)/general construction technique permits (aBG) for fire-retardants for timber/wood-based materials to improve their reaction-to-fire performance unless the test methods set out for the granting of a national technical test certificate (abP) are applied (cf. MVV TB, Section C 3, no. C 3.4), because there are no Technical Building Rules nor generally recognised technical rules for such products/applications.

European Technical Assessments (ETAs) can also be issued for fire-retardants. For applications comprising fire-retardants, the relevant provisions of the federal states following MVV TB, Section A 2.2, no. A 2.2.1.2 referring to Annex 4, Section 14 apply.

Please refer to the Technical Building Rules, cf. in particular:

  • MVV TB, Part A 2.2, no. A 2.2.1.2 'Regulatory requirements, assignment of classes, use of construction products, application of construction techniques'
  • MVV TB, Section A 2.2, no. A 2.2.1.3 Classified building materials and components, execution rules (referring to DIN 4102-4:2016-05)

EAD 350865-00-1106 Fire retardant products (25 pages ) Version: July 2018; Decision (EU) 2020/1574; EOTA

National verification is carried out based on specifications developed by DIBt after consultation with the competent expert committee 'Fire behaviour of building materials'. Applicants will receive all details in the course of the procedure.

National procedure

To prepare an abZ/aBG for your construction product, we need an application from you. We recommend that you contact us prior to doing so. Feel free to send us your enquiry informally via email to dibt(at)dibt(.)de or to the competent technical contact listed in the top right.

For a first assessment, please send us the following information:

  • Description of the construction product and its intended field of use
    • e.g. material, configuration, number of sizes, variants, dimensions
    • e.g. use in walls, ceilings, interior construction, building services
  • Description of the construction technique and its field of application
    • e.g. design of walls, ceilings, elements, etc., and interaction of components
    • e.g. application in foundation engineering, reinforced concrete construction, building insulation; as load-bearing or non-load-bearing component; under static and quasi-static loading; fire exposure; other environmental exposures
  • Information regarding impact on regulatory concerns
    • in particular structural integrity, fire protection, health and environment protection, sound insulation as well as thermal performance
  • Explanation of need for an abZ/aBG
  • Contact details
    • preferably email address and/or telephone number, as well as name, organisation/company, and postal address

We will then contact you to clarify the next steps.

If you already hold a DIBt approval and/or construction technique permit and wish to apply for an amendment, supplement, or renewal, please use the form provided below.

European Technical Assessment (ETA)

To start the ETA procedure, please submit the form below. We will then check if the prerequisites for issuing an ETA are met, i.e., in particular, if the product is not fully covered by an existing harmonised standard. If the prerequisites are met, we will check whether a European Assessment Document (EAD) covering the requested assessment scope already exists or still needs to be developed. If an EAD needs to be developed or amended, a complete technical file needs to be established before the procedure can begin.