Wall Panels Fire Resistance Standards

1. Comparison of the Three Major International Fire Standards for Wall Panels

2. Fire Rating Analysis of Mainstream Decorative Wall Panel Materials

Bamboo-Wood Fiber Wall Panel

• Typical Fire Rating: GB 8624 Class B1 | EN 13501-1 Class B-s1, d0
• Performance Features: Extruded at high temperatures from bamboo powder, wood powder, PVC resin, and calcium carbonate powder. Containing wood fibers and polymers, it cannot achieve Class A non-combustibility; however, adding effective flame retardants and high proportions of calcium powder enables it to achieve Class B1 flame retardancy, self-extinguishing off the flame with low smoke emission.

PVC UV Marble Sheet

• Typical Fire Rating: GB 8624 Class B1
• Performance Features: The substrate is a composite of high-proportion calcium carbonate powder (stone powder) and PVC resin. Thanks to the high stone powder content, it offers good flame retardancy, resists dry cracking without creating intense open flames, is moisture-proof, and meets fire requirements for most interior wall decorations.

Wood Plastic Composite (WPC)

• Typical Fire Rating: GB 8624 Class B1 to Class B2
• Performance Features: Commonly used for indoor fluted wall panels or outdoor cladding. Indoor WPC panels with flame-retardant additives can reach Class B1; outdoor versions with higher wood powder and resin ratios without special flame-retardant formulation are usually Class B2 (combustible). Flame-retardant formulations must be verified during B2B sourcing.

Carbon Crystal / Bamboo Charcoal Panel

• Typical Fire Rating: GB 8624 Class B1 | EN 13501-1 Class B
• Performance Features: Co-extruded from bamboo charcoal/carbon-fiber modified resin and high-polymer substrates, resulting in extremely high density. When heated, the surface rapidly forms a carbonized protective layer that insulates the inner material from oxygen contact, offering excellent anti-droplet and self-extinguishing properties.

3. Practical Utility and Engineering Value of Fire-Resistant Wall Panels

1. Ensuring Project Completion and Fire Safety Approval
   According to interior decoration fire safety codes (e.g., GB 50222), public venues such as shopping malls, hotels, offices, schools, and hospitals enforce strict fire rating thresholds for wall decorations. Choosing compliant B1 or A-rated wall panels is a prerequisite for passing fire safety inspections.
2. Preventing Flame Spread and Gaining Critical Evacuation Time
   Walls act as primary channels for vertical fire spread. Wall panels with B1 rating or higher will not serve as fuel during ignition. Their self-extinguishing nature prevents early-stage fires from expanding rapidly, buying 15–30 minutes of crucial time for evacuation and rescue operations.
3. Reducing Toxic Smoke and Secondary Droplet Injuries
   Over 80% of fire casualties stem from smoke suffocation. Panels complying with B1/Class B standards strictly limit smoke production (s1 rating) and toxicity, while preventing flaming plastic droplets at high temperatures (d0 rating), greatly reducing secondary ignition and burn risks.
4. Balancing Aesthetic Finish with Cost-Effective Protection
   Compared to cold-touch and high-cost Class A materials like full metal or inorganic plasterboard, Class B1 bamboo-wood fiber, carbon crystal, and UV stone-plastic panels can display rich wood, stone, and fabric textures via hot-stamping/wrapping foils, significantly lowering renovation and construction costs while ensuring fire safety.

We welcome custom orders for various types of wall panels

Q: What conditions must be met to achieve Class A fire rating? What conditions must be met to achieve Class B1 fire rating?

I. Requirements for Class A (Non-combustible) Fire Rating

1. Extremely Low Heat Release and Furnace Temperature Rise (Non-combustibility Test)
   • Continuous exposure in a 750°C test furnace:
     • Average furnace temperature rise ($\Delta T$): Must not exceed 30°C (Class A1) or 50°C (Class A2).
     • Duration of sustained flaming: Must be 0 seconds (Class A1) or no more than 20 secondes (Class A2).
     • Mass loss rate: Must not exceed 50% of the original sample weight.
2. Extremely Low Gross Calorific Value (PCS)
   • The gross calorific value ratio (PCS) of the material upon complete combustion must stay within a minimal threshold (e.g., $PCS \le 2.0 \text{ MJ/kg}$), ensuring the material will not act as supplementary fuel in a fire.
3. No Smoke or Toxic Gas Release
   • Under high-temperature decomposition, smoke light transmittance must remain extremely high, and no toxic gases like carbon monoxide (CO) or hydrogen cyanide (HCN) may be released (must meet the highest t0 smoke toxicity level).
4. No Flaming Droplets or Particles
   • Under high-temperature exposure, the surface must not melt into droplets bearing sparks (d0 level), eliminating secondary fire risks.

Representative Materials: Aluminum alloy sheets, aluminum honeycomb panels, calcium silicate boards, magnesium oxide boards, fiber cement panels, and rock wool.

II. Requirements for Class B1 (Flame-retardant) Fire Rating

1. Self-extinguishing Performance (Flame Spread Suppression)
   • Applying a standard flame source to the surface or edge (e.g., 30-second ignition):
     • Damaged length: Flame spread height and damage length are strictly limited (average damaged length usually well below 150 mm).
     • Self-extinguishing time: After removing the fire source, open flames on the specimen must automatically extinguish within 3–5 seconds, without continuous smoldering.
2. Controlled Heat Release Rate (HRR)
   • In the Single Burning Item (SBI / GB/T 20284) test:
     • Lateral Flame Spread (LFS): Must not reach the edge of the specimen.
     • Total Heat Release (THR): Total heat release within the first 600 seconds must be below specified limits (e.g., $THR_{600s} \le 7.5 \text{ MJ}$).
3. Low Smoke Production (s1 Rating Requirement)
   • Smoke Growth Rate (SMOGRA) et Total Smoke Production (TSP) must remain low. Light transmittance through generated smoke must stay high to ensure visibility during rescue operations.
4. No Flaming Droplets/Particles (d0 Rating Requirement)
   • During burning tests, molten material must not produce flaming droplets lasting more than 10 seconds, preventing them from dripping to the floor and igniting furniture or carpets.
5. Compliant Smoke Toxicity (t0 / t1 Rating Requirement)
   • Biological toxicity tests on gases produced during thermal decomposition must meet safety thresholds (e.g., mice exposed to smoke experience no mortality or injuries).

Representative Materials: Flame-retardant bamboo-wood fiber wall panels, carbon crystal wood veneer panels, PVC UV marble sheets, and flame-retardant treated WPC fluted panels.

Key Difference Summary

• Class A (Non-combustible): Solves the issue of “the material itself not igniting and adding no fuel to the fire,” representing absolute physical safety.
• Class B1 (Flame-retardant): Solves the issue of “resisting easy ignition upon flame contact, self-extinguishing when removed from heat, and suppressing early fire expansion,” buying critical 15–30 minutes for evacuation.

Q: What materials belong to Class A fire-resistant wall panels? What materials belong to Class B1 fire-resistant wall panels?

Class A Fire-Resistant Wall Panel Materials (Non-combustible)

• Metal & Metal Composite Panels
  • Aluminum Honeycomb Panels: Composite boards formed by aluminum alloy skins and an aluminum honeycomb core, featuring high flatness and light weight.
  • Color Steel / Aluminum Composite Panels (with Inorganic Core): Metal facings combined with mineral inorganic cores.
  • Solid Aluminum / Stainless Steel Cladding: Pure metal panels used in commercial lobbies and public facades.
• Inorganic Mineral Wall Panels
  • Calcium Silicate Boards: Composed of siliceous and calcareous materials with fiber reinforcement, offering exceptional moisture resistance.
  • Magnesium Oxide (MgO) Boards: Primarily made of inorganic magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride, delivering high hardness and superior fire resistance.
  • Fiber Cement Panels / GRC Boards: Displaying an industrial fair-faced concrete texture with strong weatherability.
  • Gypsum Board Cladding: Classic inorganic fireproof substrate, commonly used for lightweight partitions and decorative bases.
• Inorganic Sandwich Insulation / Acoustic Composite Panels
  • Rock Wool / Glass Wool Metal Composite Panels: Frequently utilized as fireproof partition walls in industrial plants or public buildings.

Class B1 Fire-Resistant Wall Panel Materials (Flame-retardant)

• Polymer & Inorganic Powder Composite Panels
  • Bamboo-Wood Fiber Wall Panels: Extruded from bamboo powder, wood powder, PVC resin, and high proportions of calcium powder, formulated with effective flame retardants.
  • Carbon Crystal / Bamboo Charcoal Panels: Co-extruded from bamboo charcoal modified resin and polymers with high density, forming an effective surface carbonization barrier.
  • PVC UV Marble Sheets: High stone powder content mixed with resin, offering marble-like aesthetics with flame-retardant performance.
  • SPC Wall Cladding: Made of calcium carbonate and PVC, providing waterproof, moisture-proof, and Class B1 flame-retardant properties.
• WPC & Acoustic Flame-Retardant Panels
  • Flame-Retardant WPC Fluted Panels: Featuring 3D slatted lines, requiring dedicated flame-retardant formulations to reach Class B1.
  • Acoustic Slat Wood Panels: Composed of flame-retardant treated MDF/wooden slats over polyester fiber acoustic felt, commonly used in sound-sensitive spaces.
• Modified Wood & Veneer Panels
  • Flame-Retardant MDF / Plywood Cladding: Medium-density fiberboards or plywood impregnated with flame retardants, wrapped with real wood veneer or films.

Material Selection Guide

Custom Class A B1 wall panels