This European Standard establishes the general principles for determining the fire resistance of various elements of construction when subjected to standard fire exposure conditions. Alternative and additional procedures to meet special requirements are given in EN 1363‑2.

The principle that has been embodied within all European Standards relating to fire resistance testing is that where aspects and procedures of testing are common to all specific test methods e.g. the temperature/time curve, then they are specified in this test method. Where a general principle is common to many specific test methods but the details vary according to the element being tested (e.g. the measurement of unexposed face temperature), then the principle is given in this document, but the details are given in the specific test method. Where certain aspects of testing are unique to a particular specific test method (e.g. the air leakage test for fire dampers), then no details are included in this document.

The test results obtained might be directly applicable to other similar elements, or variations of the element tested. The extent to which this application is permitted depends upon the field of direct application of the test result. This is restricted by the provision of rules which limit the variation from the tested specimen without further evaluation. The rules for determining the permitted variations are given in each specific test method.

Variations outside those permitted by direct application are covered under extended application of test results. This results from an in-depth review of the design and performance of a particular product in test(s) by a recognised authority. Further consideration on direct and extended application is given in Annex A.

The duration for which the tested element, as modified by its direct or extended field of application, satisfies specific criteria will permit subsequent classification.

All values given in this Standard are nominal unless otherwise specified.