BS EN 1366-3:2021 – Penetration Seals

Once you’ve booked a test, you can expect to receive a Test Date Booking Form – securing the booking date and agreeing the timeline for delivery and installation.

Closer to the time, we’ll ask you to complete a Customer Test Details Form, to confirm the exact details of the test. At this point we’ll also ask you to submit a full technical specification and CAD drawings in .dwg format. We will review the proposed construction to ensure compliance with the test standard.

The wall sample can be built by the test sponsor, or by our in-house build team – mechanically fixed within one of our 3m x 3m furnace restraint frames. During construction a member of our technical team will comprehensively document the materials and methods of construction, consult with the builders to ensure all requirements of the test standard are met, and apply any internal thermocouples as required.

If required, our in-house build team can prepare in advance a supporting construction to reduce the size of the opening to suit your needs.

The test takes place within a test construction, mechanically mounted to a restraint frame and hung on the front of a 3m high x 3m wide or 2.4m high x 1.35m vertical furnace – representing a compartment wall in practice. Alternatively, the test construction can be mounted to a restraint frame and positioned on the top of a 1.4m wide x 1m deep horizontal opening on the furnace.

The test is carried out to the Standard temperature-time heating curve ISO 834, also known as the Cellulosic curve and to the pressure conditions as described in BS EN 1363-1:2020.

Common durations for this test methodology are 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 120 minutes, 180 minutes and 240 minutes – each including a nominal overrun period intended to directly extend a products field of application.

The penetrations seals are evaluated by the times in completed minutes for which the test specimen continues to maintain its separating function during the test without:

• Causing ignition of a cotton pad applied.
• Permitting the penetration of a gap gauge.
• Resulting in sustained flaming.

The criteria are not applied to the uncapped pipe ends. Failure of any cable in a cable group as defined in Table A.1 fails the whole group.

Insulation will be evaluated by the time in completed minutes for which the test specimen continues to maintain its separating function during the test without developing temperatures on its unexposed surface which:

• Increase at any location (including the roving thermocouple) above the initial average temperature by more than 180k.

Failure of any cable in a cable group as defined in Table A.1 fails the whole group.

• Same-day confirmation of test results by email and/or phone.
• On request, a link to the video of the test and any required intermediate reporting of test observations and data.
• A comprehensive Test Report. This is a multi-page document detailing the test results, test data and a breakdown of the assembled components including photos and drawings.
• There is no “Test Certificate” available, this is a misnomer. Testing and Certification are separate processes.
• The Test Report may be used by a third party for product assessment, there is no automatic extension of scope available within this test standard.

• The construction of the test specimen should represent the element in practice.
• For some types of construction, the test standard prescribes what features should be included in the specimen and where they should be located. If you are unsure or would like clarification, please contact our team to discuss.
• Symmetry, and direction of fire exposure. Is the construction symmetrical through its thickness? If not, it may need to be tested from each direction.
• Are there any services to penetrate the system in practice? They may not be able to be added without further testing. See our Penetration Seals page.
• Amendments to Approved Document B (Fire Safety), coming into force in September 2029, will require a system or product to have a performance classification.