Wholesaler & Building trade
There are no shortcuts to delivering a specialty product like flame retardant wood
As a wholesaler, commercial agent and construction company, you are expected by your client/customer to provide timely products with the appropriate quality and proper documentation according to the legal requirements that are imposed on the product and for the end use of the product.
As a distribution link between the supplier/manufacturer and the downstream user, you must remember that there are no shortcuts to supplying a specialty product such as fire-rated wood. There are many reasons, and the shortcut basically means, as a rule of thumb, that when a prescribed product is replaced, significant properties are lost along the way, for example utility class.
What are fire resistant properties?
There are several hundred different substances that can be used for fire protection of wood, but only a few compounds are suitable for use in an exterior environment. If your customer is going to use fire-protected wood as facade cladding or in a damp environment, you must always ensure that the fire retardant has certified properties according to EN-16755 EXT. If you choose a product that cannot demonstrate approval, your customer will suffer a complaint and it will in turn fall back on you who sells the product.
- 1.Check the declaration of performance to ensure basic product characteristics, but remember that the declaration of performance does not automatically mean compliance with building regulations.
- 2.The combination of performance declaration and type approval certificate gives the most value for money where both the Construction Products Ordinance and the Swedish Housing Agency's building regulations are complied with.
- 3.Individual fire tests and classification reports are not documents that can replace certified properties.
- 4.All documentation must come from a notified body, e.g. RISE where the notified body itself is also checked for correctly issued certificates i.a. Swedac.
- 5.If you change, change the product name or import the product outside the EU, you take over the responsibility for the product's properties and ditto, you must certify the product before it is placed on the market.
How should I think?
I have found another product with the same fire rating at a cheaper price.
I have found another product with the same fire rating at a cheaper price.
What do I need to know? Everything!
A fire rating and cheaper price do not in any way mean that the product is approved for use or suitable for use.
It is your obligation according to PBL and CPR to ensure that equivalent properties on other products are prescribed.
My customer requires a green fire retardant.
My customer requires a green fire retardant.
Unfortunately, Woodsafe fire retardant is not green, it is transparent. However, if you are looking for fire protection from a health and environmental perspective, Woodsafe PRO™ and Woodsafe Exterior WFX™ are approved for use.
Prescribed fire class is B-s1,d0, I have found that on other products than WOODSAFE®.
Prescribed fire class is B-s1,d0, I have found that on other products than WOODSAFE®.
A combination of letters and numbers does not mean that the product is suitable and can automatically replace the prescribed product even if B-s1,d0 is produced. You have to check the underlying substrate, the density and thickness of the product, air gap or no air gap and so on.
We recommend that you consult with an expert consultant, or make it easy for yourself and contact WOODSAFE® for an ALL-IN-ONE concept.
How should I think if a player says that their product is equivalent to WOODSAFE®?
How should I think if a player says that their product is equivalent to WOODSAFE®?
Of course, there may be equivalent products, but never trust words of praise. Always request third-party documentation from bodies such as RISE or its equivalent.
There are plenty of empty promises on the market, just as there are homemade certificates that are completely worthless.
