Glossary

Authoritative definitions for the fire classification standards, certifications and technical terminology used across our product range.

Certifications

AVCP System 1 (CPR): Highest verification level under the EU Construction Products Regulation. Requires a Notified Body to conduct initial type testing, factory inspection and continuous surveillance. Used for products with reaction-to-fire performance critical to safety.
CE Marking: Mandatory marking confirming that a construction product meets the EU's harmonized requirements (Construction Products Regulation 305/2011). For plywood, CE marking under EN 13986 is required to place the product on the EU market.
EPD Type III: Environmental Product Declaration - third-party verified Life Cycle Assessment data published according to ISO 14025. Required for high-tier credits in BREEAM, LEED, DGNB and HQE green building certifications.
FSC certification: Forest Stewardship Council certification confirming that wood originates from responsibly managed forests. FSC chain-of-custody traces the wood through the supply chain. Increasingly required by green building schemes (BREEAM, LEED).
PEFC certification: Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. International umbrella scheme endorsing national sustainable forestry standards. Often accepted as an alternative to FSC for green building credits.

Fire Classification

B-s1,d0: Highest practical Euroclass for combustible materials. Indicates Class B reaction (very limited fire contribution), s1 smoke production (lowest) and d0 droplets (no burning droplets). Required by most public-building fire codes for surface materials.
Bfl-s1 (floor class): EN 13501-1 classification for floor coverings. The 'fl' suffix denotes 'floor'. Bfl-s1 is the highest practical class for combustible flooring with the lowest smoke production - used for fire-rated stages, raised floors and balconies.
Euroclass: European reaction-to-fire classification system defined by EN 13501-1. Materials are graded from A1 (non-combustible) through F (no performance determined). Class B is the highest practical rating for combustible materials such as plywood.
Flaming droplets (d0, d1, d2): EN 13501-1 sub-classification of flaming droplet release. d0 = no flaming droplets (best), d1 = no flaming droplets persisting longer than 10 s, d2 = no requirement met. Important where ignition of materials below is a hazard.
Hazard Level (HL1, HL2, HL3): EN 45545-2 hazard levels for railway interior materials. HL1 = low risk (conventional vehicles, short tunnels), HL2 = medium (longer tunnels, underground), HL3 = highest (double-deckers, underground rolling stock with complex evacuation).
R-group (Requirement set R1-R10+): EN 45545-2 requirement set defining which test parameters apply to a given component. R1 = interior walls and ceilings, R7 = cables, R10 = floor coverings. Materials are certified for one or several R-groups at a given Hazard Level.
Smoke production class (s1, s2, s3): EN 13501-1 sub-classification of smoke release rate. s1 = very limited smoke (best), s2 = limited smoke, s3 = no requirement met (worst). Critical for evacuation safety in tunnels, schools and hospitals.

Material & Wood

Beech plywood: Plywood manufactured from European beech veneers. Offers exceptional load-bearing capacity, hardness and abrasion resistance. Used in heavy-duty construction, scaffolding planks, vehicle decks and machinery flooring.
Birch plywood: Plywood manufactured exclusively from birch veneers. Known for its very high strength-to-weight ratio, dense face grain and consistent appearance. Common in transport, vehicle floors, furniture and architectural applications.
Fire retardant plywood: Plywood treated with fire retardant chemicals (typically nitrogen and phosphorus salts) that reduce its rate of flame spread, smoke production and heat release. Achieves Euroclass B-s1,d0 or better under EN 13501-1.
Phenolic film (film-faced plywood): Phenol-formaldehyde resin impregnated paper bonded to the plywood surface under heat and pressure. Provides waterproof, abrasion-resistant and UV-resistant finish. Available in smooth, mesh (anti-slip) and printed forms.
Softwood plywood (pine): Plywood manufactured from softwood veneers (typically Scots pine in the Baltic region). Lower density and cost than birch or beech, common in structural sheathing, formwork, packaging and general construction.

Standards & Regulations

EN 13501-1: European standard for the reaction-to-fire classification of construction products and building elements. Defines the testing methodology and the Euroclass system (A1-F + smoke s1-s3 + droplets d0-d2).
EN 13986: Harmonized European standard for wood-based panels (plywood, OSB, particleboard, MDF) used in construction. Specifies CE marking requirements, characteristic values, test methods and AVCP attestation systems.
EN 45545-2: European standard for fire behaviour of materials and components used in railway vehicle interiors. Defines hazard levels HL1, HL2, HL3 and requirement sets R1-R10 for different applications (seats, walls, floors, ceilings).
UN ECE R118: United Nations regulation defining the burning behaviour of materials used in the interior of motor vehicles of category M3 (buses, coaches with capacity over 22 passengers). Specifies horizontal burn rate limits and melting/dripping behaviour.

Process & Technology

Formaldehyde class E1 / E0: Emission classes for formaldehyde from wood-based panels under EN 13986 / EN 717-1. E1 is the EU baseline (less than 0.124 mg/m^3 air); E0/CARB Phase 2 is the strictest, often required for indoor furniture and Japanese F**** ratings.
Gluing class (EN 314): European classification of plywood adhesive bond strength and durability under EN 314-2. Classes are: 1 (dry interior), 2 (humid interior), 3 (exterior - the standard for structural and FR plywood). Class 3 corresponds to BFU 100 (former DIN 68705) and ensures bond integrity under prolonged moisture exposure.
Service class (Eurocode 5): Eurocode 5 (EN 1995-1-1) classification of the moisture environment in which a wood structure operates. Class 1 = warm interior (heated buildings), Class 2 = covered exterior (unheated roofs, lofts), Class 3 = outdoor exposure. Determines the design strength values for plywood.
Surface impregnation: Non-pressure fire retardant treatment in which the chemical is applied to the outer veneer surfaces by roller, spray or shallow dip. Less penetration than vacuum-pressure but preserves the original mechanical properties of the substrate.
Vacuum-pressure impregnation: Industrial fire retardant treatment in which the entire plywood panel is placed in an autoclave, evacuated and then injected with fire retardant solution under positive pressure. Chemicals penetrate every veneer, ensuring full-cross-section protection.