Fire technical performance requirements cover the product in its entirety in the current installation condition. This means that performance is not specific to one, two or three sides. The requirement applies to the entire product and all sides, regardless of whether the product is impregnated or flame retardant painted.

This is important to know in connection with procurement because the cost of the product and the performance often plays a decisive part in the choice of product.

By choosing Woodsafe PRO™ or Woodsafe Exterior WFX™, you always have a four-sided flame retardant wood product, unlike fire-painted products which are usually only painted on one side - which in practice means that 50-75% of fire-resistant wood panelling has no fire protection at all.

Let us explain some common shortcomings:

1. The approval does not cover the air gap.
2. The approval does not cover sparse panels.
3. The approval does not cover the mounting condition.
4. The approval does not cover surface treatment
5. The fire protection agent does not have verified approved suitability properties.

The above shortcomings are found in both systems for fire protection, i.e. both for impregnation and fire protection painting. When it comes to fire protection painting, common shortcomings and quality control shortcomings are the following:

1. Training is lacking at the contractor (painting and fire protection are not the same thing)
2. Quality assurance is poorly performed.
3. Fire color is not applied to edges in the correct amount for 3-sided exposure
4. Application of fire protection paint takes place all on the edges in the correct amount for 4-sided exposure
5. Surface treatment i.e. other top color of the fire protection paint is not approved.
6. Application of fire protection paint in exterior application e.g. on wooden facades does not have approved suitability properties according to EN16755 EXT.