Exel develops a new fire-rated composite material compliant with European building standards
Exel Composites has developed a new non‑halogenated fire-rated composite material that meets key European building standards and has been validated through independent third-party testing in France and the UK. The new material responds to rising demand from European building and infrastructure customers who wish to meet strict fire safety standards.
The material has been tested in accordance with EN 13501‑1, achieving a Euroclass B‑s2, d0 reaction‑to‑fire classification. British and French laboratories carried out independent third-party testing, both are recognized providers of fire testing services for the construction industry. The testing found that the materials made a limited contribution to fire and had low smoke production and no flaming droplets.
The material also meets EN 13706 mechanical performance class E23, providing a recognized level of structural performance for pultruded composite profiles. This dual compliance addresses a long‑standing challenge in construction applications, where fire‑retardant composite materials have often lacked clearly defined mechanical classifications aligned with European standards.
“This development is significant due to the removal of the traditionally used halogens which are heavily regulated because of health and safety issues. The new material formulation has demonstrated Euroclass B fire performance in external laboratories, while still complying with EN 13706 E23 mechanical requirements,” said Neil Dykes, Technical Sales Manager at Exel Composites.
“This gives designers and engineers a clear and reliable basis for specification, alongside CEN/TS 19101:2022, which defines the European design rules for FRP composite structures,” continued Dykes.
The formulation can be applied across different profile designs, starting from a wall thickness of three millimeters upwards, providing design flexibility while remaining aligned with European regulatory requirements. The new material enables composite solutions to be developed for a wide range of building and infrastructure applications, including façade and envelope elements, frames for fire‑rated doors and technical joinery, and modular housing structures.
The non‑halogenated solution supports safer fire performance and is already available accros our production sites in Europe, Asia and North America. By validating both fire behavior and mechanical performance through recognized European standards and independent testing, Exel is helping to reduce barriers to the wider adoption of composites in construction and infrastructure projects across Europe.
To explore fire performance requirements, testing approaches and the role of composites in more detail, read our Fire, smoke and toxicity requirements whitepaper here: https://ideas.exelcomposites.com/fst-requirements-for-composites-whitepaper
