Comparison of national fire safety requirements within COST Action FP1404

COST Action FP1404, fire safe use of bio-based building products, is aiming to improve knowledge on the fire safe use of bio-based building products. The subject includes e.g. wood-based structural panels and beams, and non-structural insulating products. One of the tasks of Working Group 3 of FP1404 is to compare regulatory approaches in different countries. Concerning load-bearing structures, maximum number of storeys where bio-based products (such as wood) can be used according to prescriptive regulations varies from two storeys to ‘no limit defined’ without specific protection needs. In some countries, there are additional requirements based on fire separation, on coverings or on protective layers. When performance-based regulations are applied, there is theoretically no limit for number of storeys. External claddings of D class may be used from maximum two storeys to 30 m in height (or even more) and internal wall and ceiling linings of class D can be used in most countries in buildings with three or more storeys.