Woodsafe Research & Development (WRD) has installed Sweden’s most advanced testing equipment to verify the long-term performance of fire-protected wood products. With the capability to conduct both durability testing according to EN 16755 Method B and fire classification via SBI (Single Burning Item), WRD is setting an entirely new standard for what a fire lab for fire-treated wood can deliver in Sweden.
Woodsafe R&D is currently the only company in Sweden capable of performing large-scale aging processes on panels up to 6 meters in length.
“This is a huge leap forward for the entire industry. We can now simulate several years of weather exposure in just a few weeks and immediately evaluate whether the fire protection still meets requirements such as Euroclass B. No other operator in Sweden – and likely not in all of Europe – has this combined capability,” says Dr. Lazaros Tsantaridis, Head of Research at Woodsafe R&D.
The core of this new initiative is a custom-built test rig for EN 16755 Method B – a European standard for testing the long-term durability of fire protection. Samples of fire-treated wood are subjected to cycles of moisture, heat, UV light, and drying that together simulate several years of outdoor exposure. The fire-retardant properties of the material are then analysed.
SBI testing (EN 13823) involves evaluating the fire behaviour of materials in a controlled corner setup. This method forms the basis of the Euroclass system – the fire classification system used throughout Europe. By combining SBI with durability testing under EN 16755, WRD can offer a complete picture of a material’s actual fire protection performance over time.
“For architects, builders, and developers, this means no longer having to guess about long-term performance. We can now provide clear answers on whether a fire-protected wood product stands the test of time – and back it up with data,” says Thomas Bengtsson, CEO of Woodsafe Timber Protection AB.
Woodsafe Research & Development is the research and development company within the Woodsafe Group, focusing on fire protection of wood. At its state-of-the-art laboratory in Västerås, WRD conducts advanced fire tests and material analyses to develop innovative, sustainable wood products with high fire safety.
The new testing facility enables full-scale testing of both durability and fire classification in one single controlled environment. Woodsafe R&D is currently the only company in Sweden capable of performing large-scale aging processes on panels up to 6 meters in length.
Woodsafe Research & Development installs testing equipment for fire-protected wood
Image: Woodsafe Research & Development
