The Validity of Fire Protection Certificates: An Overview
In the world of textiles, especially for fabrics and curtains in our homes and offices, safety plays a pivotal role. Certificates indicating the burning behavior are essential to guarantee that the materials used meet the required fire protection standards.
Myth of the “Expiration Date” of Fire Certificates
Contrary to popular belief, old curtains do not need new fire certificates to ensure their safety. The assumption that certificates “expire” is based on a misunderstanding of the certification processes.
Persistence of Fire Protection Properties
Fire certificates, based on standards like DIN 4102, EN 13501, and EN 13773, confirm that a material possesses certain fire protection properties at the time of its production. These properties remain intact over time as long as the material itself remains unchanged.
Validity Period of Certificates
The so-called “expiration” of a certificate refers only to the period during which the fabric may be produced under this certification. Therefore, it applies to any unit produced between the submission date of the successfully tested sample and the possibly indicated end date. The classification of the curtains thus remains not only after the formal “expiration” of the certificate but also for curtains or fabric sold or manufactured after the apparent expiration of validity. Should a certificate expire in the sense that it loses validity for all curtains used by then, it would have the consequence for all users of fabrics, whose production was discontinued and thus no longer available for testing, that these fabrics would have to be replaced anyway. This is not the case for good reasons!
Practical Consequences for Users
For users, this means that older, certified fabrics can continue to be used safely. The originally received certificates remain valid until the material is altered.
What Does “Alteration” of the Material Mean?
The type of flame protection determines what is considered an “alteration” of the material. For materials that lose their flame protection after contact with water or through washing, the certificate expires accordingly. For wash-permanent, flame-retardant materials that are washed and cared for correctly, the flame retardancy remains even after washing.
New Certificates for Old Materials Are Invalid
The desire for “new certificates” for old materials is based on a fallacy. A certificate issued after the material’s production does not apply to this material.
Certificates Without an Expiration Date
Many certificates according to more modern standards like EN 13773 and EN 13501, therefore, have no designated expiration date. It is up to the manufacturer to have materials re-tested if changes are made to the production process or the ingredients.
Conclusion
The world of fire certificates and “expired” certificates is clear and logically structured. It is a system that considers both safety and practicality and proves that safety in fire protection goes beyond the date on a certificate.