DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS AND TRADE: Office for Product Safety and Standards- Construction Product Combustibility Testing

Tender description

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is the appointed market surveillance authority, responsible for enforcing the Construction Product Regulations (CPR) within the UK. OPSS will carry out assessments and testing to determine the current levels of compliance in the construction products sector in the UK in line with Construction Product Regulation requirements. Lot 1: Insulation and Cladding This specification covers testing a selection of cladding and insulation materials to verify their fire safety classification and thermal efficiency performance. The fire classifications are as defined by BS EN 13501-1:2018 and BS EN 13501-5:2016 and the thermal efficiency shall be calculated as defined in BS EN 12667:2001. This specification covers products which have intended application for both internal and external construction and covers wall linings, pipe insulation, roofing, and flooring. This will also cover any products which may be used in combination with other products, that could then be defined as a cladding system (though the products will be tested individually). Products that have specific layers, either on their face or sandwiched inside the core of the product, are also included where the layers provide increased resistance to weather. For fire safety, the test methods applied should follow those set out in BS EN 13501-1:2018 and BS EN 13501-5:2016, as applicable to the samples, and should be done following the relevant standards for each test, including any normative reference standards. For thermal efficiency, the test methods applied should follow those set out in BS EN 12667:2001, as applicable to the samples, and should be done following the relevant test standards for either the guarded hot plate or heat flow meter methods, including any normative reference standards. Testing shall take place on an ad-hoc basis as samples become available to OPSS. Lot 2: Electrical Cables This lot covers testing a selection of electrical cables to verify their classification as defined by BS EN 13501-6:2018. This specification covers power, control and communication cables intended for use in construction. The test methods applied should follow those set out in BS EN 13501-6:2018 as applicable to the samples and should be done following the relevant standards for each test, including any normative reference standards. Testing shall take place on an ad-hoc basis as samples become available to OPSS. Lot 3: Plywood and Wood Based Materials This lot covers testing a selection of plywood and wood-based materials for both internal and external use and will also cover products which have had specific treatments to increase their fire resistance properties. Testing will be used to verify the fire safety and mechanical/structural attributes of products. The test methods applied for reaction to fire should follow those set out in BS EN 13501-1:2018 as applicable to the samples and should be done following the relevant standards for each test, including any normative reference standards. The test methods applied for the mechanical/structural attributes are those set out in BS EN 13986:2004+A1:2015, as applicable to the samples and should be done following the relevant standards for each test, including any normative reference standards. Testing shall take place on an ad-hoc basis as samples become available to OPSS. Lot 4: Smoke Control Dampers and Fire Dampers This lot covers testing a selection of smoke control dampers and fire dampers to verify their classification as defined by BS EN 13501-4:2016 and BS EN 13501-3:2005+A1:2009 respectively. This specification covers both single compartment and multi-compartment smoke control dampers and fire dampers. Testing may include verification of all applicable performance characteristics, including Integrity (E), Thermal Insulation (I) and Smoke Leakage (S). The test methods applied, should follow those set out in BS EN 13501-4:2016 and BS EN 13501-3:2005+A1:2009, as applicable to the samples and should be done following the relevant standards for each test, including any normative reference standards. Testing shall take place on an ad-hoc basis as samples become available to OPSS.