SIST EN 13238:2026

• Abstract:

  This document establishes the general principles for the conditioning procedures for test specimens tested according to the European standards for reaction to fire.; The rules for the selection of substrates for construction products when carrying out reaction to fire tests are also detailed in this document. In order to use the extension rules set in this document, no modification of the standard substrate is allowed.; This document does not contain requirements for:; — the pre-drying of test specimens for the non-combustibility test according to EN ISO 1182;; — methods of cleaning (e.g. washing) and other methods for the assessment of durability aspects, which are dealt with in the relevant product standards.

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 29-Jun-2025
• ICS: 13.220.50 - Fire-resistance of building materials and elements
• Technical Committee: POZ - Požarna varnost
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 14-Aug-2026
• Due Date: 19-Oct-2026
• Directive: Harmonized Standard305/2011 - Regulation (eu) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 march 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing council directive 89/106/eec
• Mandate: M/088 - CPD: Reaction to fire
• Mandate: M/117 - Horizontal complement to the mandates to CEN/CENELEC concerning the execution of standardization work for the valuation of construction products and elements in respect of their resistance to fire
• Ref Project: EN 13238:2026 - Reaction to fire tests for building products - Conditioning procedures and general rules for selection of substrates

• Replaces: SIST EN 13238:2010 - Reaction to fire tests for building products - Conditioning procedures and general rules for selection of substrates
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN ISO 1182:2020 - Reaction to fire tests for products - Non-combustibility test (ISO 1182:2020)
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 14319-1:2013 - Thermal insulating products for building equipment and industrial installations - In-situ formed dispensed rigid polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate foam (PIR) products - Part 1: Specification for the rigid foam dispensed system before installation
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 13830:2015+A1:2020 - Curtain walling - Product standard
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN ISO 9239-1:2025 - Reaction to fire tests for floorings - Part 1: Determination of the burning behaviour using a radiant heat source (ISO 9239-1:2025)
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 15651-2:2013 - Sealants for non-structural use in joints in buildings and pedestrian walkways - Part 2: Sealants for glazing
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 12004:2007+A1:2012 - Adhesives for tiles - Requirements, evaluation of conformity, classification and designation
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 16351:2021 - Timber structures - Cross laminated timber - Requirements
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 14081-1:2016+A1:2019 - Timber structures - Strength graded structural timber with rectangular cross section - Part 1: General requirements
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 14320-1:2013 - Thermal insulating products for building equipment and industrial installations - In-situ formed sprayed rigid polyurethane (PUR) and polyisocyanurate foam (PIR) products - Part 1: Specification for the rigid foam spray system before installation
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 15651-1:2013 - Sealants for non-structural use in joints in buildings and pedestrian walkways - Part 1: Sealants for facade elements
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 13823:2020+A1:2022 - Reaction to fire tests for building products - Building products excluding floorings exposed to the thermal attack by a single burning item
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 490:2012 - Concrete roofing tiles and fittings for roof covering and wall cladding - Product specifications
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 14351-2:2019 - Windows and doors - Product standard, performance characteristics - Part 2: Internal pedestrian doorsets
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 16623:2015 - Paints and varnishes - Reactive coatings for fire protection of metallic substrates - Definitions, requirements, characteristics and marking
• Effective Date: 05-Aug-2026

Overview

SIST EN 13238:2026 specifies the general principles for conditioning procedures and the selection of substrates for reaction to fire tests of building products. Developed by SIST and aligned with pan-European standardization, this document is crucial for ensuring the consistency and reliability of fire safety testing across construction materials. The standard defines specific protocols for preparing test specimens and choosing appropriate reference substrates to achieve harmonized and repeatable test results according to European fire performance standards.

SIST EN 13238:2026 applies to a wide array of construction products, detailing both how specimens are conditioned before fire reaction testing and how substrates are selected to represent real-world end-use situations. It also clarifies where the standard's scope ends, referencing other standards for durability and non-combustibility pre-drying.

Key Topics

• Conditioning Procedures: Outlines methods for conditioning test specimens to simulate real environmental exposure, including:

  • Conditioning to constant mass under controlled temperature and humidity.
  • Conditioning for fixed periods, depending on product type (e.g., wood, cement-based materials).
  • Minimum conditioning periods for specific materials, ensuring water content and curing align with test requirements.

• Substrate Selection Rules: Defines how to select standard substrates that represent end-use conditions:

  • Floorings and non-flooring construction products have dedicated substrate options.
  • Substrates must meet density, thickness, and material class criteria relevant to the end-use.

• Standard Substrate Types:

  • Fibre cement board
  • Calcium silicate board
  • Rock fibre mineral wool
  • Steel and aluminum sheets
  • Gypsum plasterboard
  • Particleboard and plywood

• Reproduction of End-Use Methods: Emphasizes that sample preparation, including attachment (e.g., adhesives), must mirror actual installation methods to ensure test relevance.

• Limitations: Excludes procedures for pre-drying specimens for non-combustibility tests (EN ISO 1182) and methods addressing durability (e.g., cleaning), directing users to relevant associated standards.

Applications

SIST EN 13238:2026 is essential for:

• Laboratories: Ensures consistent preparation of fire test samples, contributing to valid and comparable results when assessing fire safety performance.
• Manufacturers: Facilitates CE marking and market access by standardizing how products are evaluated for fire performance in line with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR).
• Regulators and Inspectors: Offers a uniform reference for compliance with European fire safety classification systems, supporting regulatory enforcement.
• Product Developers and Architects: Helps anticipate how new or modified construction products will perform during standardized fire tests, encouraging innovation while maintaining safety standards.

As the standard harmonizes practices across Europe, it supports mutual recognition of fire test results, promoting safer buildings and facilitating international trade of construction products tested for fire reaction.

Related Standards

For complete compliance and broader context, refer to the following standards closely linked with SIST EN 13238:2026:

• EN 13501-1 - Fire classification of construction products and building elements
• EN 13823 - Reaction to fire tests for building products (excluding floorings)
• EN 14390 - Large-scale room fire test methods for surface products
• EN 16733 - Determination of a building product’s propensity to smoulder
• EN ISO 1182 - Non-combustibility testing (see standard for pre-drying procedures)
• EN ISO 1716 - Heat of combustion determination
• EN ISO 9239-1 - Burning behaviour of floorings with radiant heat source
• EN ISO 11925-2 - Single-flame source ignitability testing
• EN 520, EN 636, EN 312, EN 12467 – Product specifications for substrates

By following SIST EN 13238:2026 and referencing associated standards, stakeholders can maintain high fire safety levels throughout the built environment.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 13238:2025
01-junij-2025
Preskusi odziva gradbenih proizvodov na ogenj - Postopki kondicioniranja in
splošna pravila za izbiro podlag
Reaction to fire tests for building products - Conditioning procedures and general rules
for selection of substrates
Prüfungen zum Brandverhalten von Bauprodukten - Konditionierungsverfahren und
allgemeine Regeln für die Auswahl von Trägerplatten
Essais de réaction au feu des produits de construction - Modes opératoires de
conditionnement et règles générales de sélection des substrats
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 13238
ICS:
13.220.50 Požarna odpornost Fire-resistance of building
gradbenih materialov in materials and elements
elementov
oSIST prEN 13238:2025 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 13238:2025
oSIST prEN 13238:2025
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 13238
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2025
ICS 13.220.50 Will supersede EN 13238:2010
English Version
Reaction to fire tests for building products - Conditioning
procedures and general rules for selection of substrates
Essais de réaction au feu des produits de construction - Prüfungen zum Brandverhalten von Bauprodukten -
Modes opératoires de conditionnement et règles Konditionierungsverfahren und allgemeine Regeln für
générales de sélection des substrats die Auswahl von Trägerplatten
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 127.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13238:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 13238:2025
prEN 13238:2025(E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Conditioning procedures . 6
4.1 General. 6
4.2 Conditioning to constant mass . 7
4.3 Conditioning for a fixed period . 7
5 General rules for selection of substrates . 7
5.1 General. 7
5.2 Standard substrates for floorings . 7
5.3 Standard substrates for construction products excluding floorings . 8
Bibliography . 12

oSIST prEN 13238:2025
prEN 13238:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 13238:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 127 “Fire safety
in buildings”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This document will supersede EN 13238:2010.
This document has been prepared under a standardization request addressed to CEN by the European
Commission. The Standing Committee of the EFTA States subsequently approves these requests for its
Member States.
oSIST prEN 13238:2025
prEN 13238:2025(E)
Introduction
The Construction Products Regulation (CPR) requires products to be tested in their end use condition
which, for the purpose of substrates, could lead to an economically unrealistic large variety of tests to be
carried out. This large spectrum has been reduced to a practical number of standard substrates that
enables the majority of end use conditions to be represented. Rules for the selection of such substrates
are given in this document.
This document is intended for use in conjunction with European Standards covering the reaction to fire
test methods for the relevant construction products.
oSIST prEN 13238:2025
prEN 13238:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document describes the conditioning procedures for test specimens which will be tested according
to the European standards for reaction to fire.
The rules for the selection of substrates for construction products when carrying out reaction to fire tests
are also detailed in this document.
This document does not contain requirements for
- the pre-drying of test specimens for the non-combustibility test according EN ISO 1182;
- methods of cleaning (e.g. washing) and other methods for the assessment of durability aspects, which
are dealt with in the relevant product standards.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 13501-1, Fire classification of construction products and building elements ― Part 1: Classification using
data from reaction to fire tests
EN 13823, Reaction to fire tests for building products ― Building products excluding floorings exposed to
the thermal attack by a single burning item
EN 14390, Fire test ― Large-scale room reference test for surface products
EN 16733, Reaction to fire tests for building products - Determination of a building products propensity to
smoulder
CEN/TS 1187, Test methods for external fire exposure to roofs
EN ISO 1182, Reaction to fire tests for building products — Non-combustibility test
EN ISO 1716, Reaction to fire tests for building products ― Determination of the heat of combustion
EN ISO 9239-1, Reaction to fire tests for floorings — Part 1: Determination of the burning behaviour using
a radiant heat source
EN ISO 11925-2, Reaction to fire tests ― Ignitability of building products subjected to direct impingement
of flame – Part 2: Single-flame source test
EN ISO 13943, Fire safety — Vocabulary
ISO 1887, Textile glass — Determination of combustible-matter content
oSIST prEN 13238:2025
prEN 13238:2025(E)
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN ISO 13943 and the following
apply.
3.1
material
single basic substance or uniformly dispersed mixture of substances, e.g. metal, stone, timber, concrete,
mineral wool with uniformly dispersed binder or polymers
3.2
product
material, element or component about which information is required
3.3
substrate
product which is used beneath the product about which information is required
Note 1 to entry: For a flooring, it is the floor on which the flooring is mounted or the material which represents this
floor.
3.4
standard substrate
product which is representative of the substrate used in end use applications
3.5
test specimen
piece of the product which is to be tested together with or without any substrate or treatment
Note 1 to entry: The test specimen may include an air gap.
3.6
conditioning
exposure to a controlled atmosphere
4 Conditioning procedures
4.1 General
Test specimens used by the laboratory to conduct tests according to EN ISO 1182, EN ISO 1716,
EN ISO 9239-1, EN ISO 11925-2, EN 13823, EN 14390, EN 16733 and CEN/TS1187 shall be conditioned
at a temperature of (23 ± 2) °C and a relative humidity of (50 ± 5) %.
NOTE 1 This corresponds to the recommended atmosphere and normal tolerances given in ISO 554.
NOTE 2 The tole
...