Understanding the New EU Regulation on Fire Safety for Wood Products
EU Delegated Regulation 2024/1399 limits fire classification without testing to untreated solid wood panelling and cladding. What it means for treated wood.
On 10 November 2023 the European Commission adopted Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1399 (C(2023)7486). It amends Decision 2006/213/EC, which lets manufacturers declare the reaction-to-fire class of certain solid wood panelling and cladding without testing. The regulation has applied since 20 August 2024. It is based on the Construction Products Regulation (CPR), the harmonized European framework for declaring the fire performance of construction products.
01What changed?
The old table of classes granted without testing did not say that it applies only to untreated wood. The new regulation closes that gap. Classification without testing now applies only to untreated solid wood panelling and cladding. Kiln-dried wood counts as untreated; coated, impregnated or otherwise treated wood does not.
The boards must also meet the conditions in the table: a minimum mean density of 390 kg/m³, a minimum thickness and a defined mounting, for example with or without an air gap behind the boards.
02Which classes does the table give?
Depending on thickness and mounting, untreated panelling and cladding is deemed to reach D-s2,d0 or D-s2,d2. The regulation does not set a minimum class that all wood must reach. The class required for a wall, ceiling or façade is still set by national building rules, depending on the building type, height and use.
03What does D-s2,d0 mean?
D-s2,d0 is a class in the European system EN 13501-1, which describes how a product reacts to fire. D shows the contribution to fire, s2 the level of smoke production and d0 that no flaming droplets or particles occur.
Read more in our article: What B-s1,d0 means for wood: fire class explained.
04What it means for treated and modified wood
Fire-retardant treated, painted, coated or modified wood (for example thermally modified wood) cannot rely on the table. Its class must be determined by testing and classification under EN 13501-1 and declared on that basis.
For a fire-retardant treatment this is normal practice: a higher class, such as B-s1,d0, applies only to the tested system, meaning the wood, thickness, consumption and number of coats. SPFR100 is classified B-s1,d0 under EN 13501-1 (classification ET-0388-24) for timber of at least 18 mm, with 240 g/m² in at least two coats.
05What to check in a project
- Which class do the building rules require for this surface?
- Is the wood untreated and does it meet the table conditions (density, thickness, mounting)? Then the class from the table can be used.
- Is the wood treated, coated or modified? Then ask for the test-based classification and check that your build-up matches the tested one.
Source: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1399, EUR-Lex. Updated 27.10.2026: corrected the description of the regulation's scope.