Fire Safety at Fusion Facades

At Fusion Facades, we prioritise safety in every aspect of our product design and implementation. Through a holistic approach and rigorous testing, our façade solutions meet stringent fire safety standards, helping you create secure, compliant buildings without compromise.

Industry-Leading Fire Ratings and Certifications

Our façade systems adhere to the latest fire rating classifications, ensuring they meet the most demanding requirements for building safety. We test and certify our products for:

EN 13501-1 Classification: Verification of reaction-to-fire performance – including combustibility, flame spread, smoke production, and flaming droplets – to comply with UK and European standards.
Class A1 and A2-s1,d0 Ratings: These top-tier Euroclass ratings confirm our commitment to non-combustibility and minimal smoke emission. They are critical for high-rise and other higher-risk buildings, where regulations in the UK now mandate external wall materials to be of limited combustibility (A2-s1,d0 or better).

By using materials that achieve Class A ratings, Fusion Facades ensures our cladding systems support compliance with current UK building regulations for tall structures. This provides architects and specifiers confidence that our products will not fuel a fire in the event of an emergency.

A2-s1,d0: Euroclass Fire Classification (BS EN 13501-1)

Fusion Facades uses cladding materials that achieve an A2-s1,d0 fire rating under the European standard BS EN 13501-1. In the Euroclass system for reaction to fire, an “A2” classification indicates the product is of limited combustibility. In practical terms, A2-rated materials will not significantly contribute to a fire. The additional markers “s1” and “d0” designate very limited smoke production (s1) and zero flaming droplets (d0) during combustion. Together, A2-s1,d0 is among the highest fire-performance ratings available – essentially regarded as non-combustible under UK standards.

For comparison, Class A1 is the only higher rating, reserved for completely non-combustible materials. Many metal components we use (such as solid aluminium panels or stainless steel) are Class A1, meaning they do not contribute to fire at all. Even when advanced finishes or coatings are applied, our products can still achieve an A2-s1,d0 rating. By specifying A1 and A2-s1,d0 components on our projects, we ensure compliance with safety regulations for high-rise buildings and give clients peace of mind that the façade will not add fuel to a fire.

BS 8414 Full-Scale System Testing and BR 135 Compliance

In addition to selecting A1/A2-rated materials, Fusion Facades rigorously tests its complete façade systems to verify they perform safely in real-world fire scenarios. We have undertaken BS 8414 full-scale fire tests on our rainscreen cladding assemblies – a large-scale method where a two-storey facade rig is exposed to a severe fire source to observe how the entire system reacts. This holistic testing approach evaluates all components together: the cladding panels, insulation (e.g. non-combustible mineral wool), cavity barriers, fixings, and fire breaks are assessed as one integrated system.

Our systems have successfully met the performance criteria outlined in BR 135 during these tests. (BS 8414 is the test procedure, and BR 135 is the associated criteria document that defines pass/fail requirements for external wall systems.) Achieving a BR 135-compliant result means our cladding system resisted flame spread over the surface and through the wall, and limited heat transfer, as required by the standard. This proven performance offers additional reassurance that our façade solutions not only use non-combustible materials, but also collectively behave safely as a complete assembly in a fire.

Note: Recent UK regulations for high-rise residential buildings place primary emphasis on using non-combustible (Class A1 or A2-s1,d0) materials for exterior walls, rather than relying on fire test results alone. Fusion Facades’ approach aligns with this requirement – our materials are rated to the highest classes, and our successful BS 8414 tests serve as an extra layer of confidence in the system’s safety.

Tested and Proven Systems

Every Fusion Facades system is extensively evaluated to provide reliable, proven fire protection. This includes:

Reaction-to-Fire Testing: Assessing materials for ignitability, flame spread, heat release and smoke generation (in accordance with EN 13501-1 classification).
Fire Resistance Testing: Verifying that key façade elements (such as fire barriers and backing structures) maintain structural integrity and insulation performance when exposed to high temperatures, helping contain fire and prevent collapse or breach.

Designed for Peace of Mind

Our fire safety strategy is built into the design from the outset. We work closely with architects, specifiers, and building control authorities to ensure each product and system offers optimal protection while meeting aesthetic and functional goals. By combining non-combustible materials with thorough full-scale testing, we provide critical extra time for safe evacuation if a fire occurs. The result is a facade solution that inspires confidence – our systems are trusted on high-profile projects to deliver both cutting-edge design and uncompromising fire safety.