In Germany, smoke control dampers must comply with requirements for the fire behaviour of their building materials! According to the model administrative regulation for technical building regulations (MVV TB), edition 2019/01 of 15 January 2020, only smoke extraction dampers may be used that are essentially (at least the housing and damper blade) made of non-combustible building materials and fulfil at least class A2-s1, d0 according to DIN EN 13501-1.
Fire performance is not covered by the harmonised product standard DIN EN 12101-8:2011. It cannot therefore be listed as an essential characteristic in the declaration of performance and is not part of the CE marking.
The German Institute for Building Technology (DIBt) may no longer issue or extend additional general building approvals (abZ) for the fire behaviour of smoke control dampers covered by the harmonised product standard DIN EN 12101-8. They may no longer be required as mandatory proof of suitability for national construction projects. This also affects the general building approval Z-56.421 2-1007 for the EK90 smoke control damper.
Instead, the DIBt publishes an ongoing "priority list" of CE-marked construction products for which there are gaps or shortcomings in the harmonised product standards. Smoke control dampers are listed as number 22 on the priority list (as of 25 February 2019) with a note that the verification of fire performance is not covered by the harmonised product standard DIN EN 12101-8:2011. Additional verification is required to ensure structural safety, which can be provided in a number of ways.
In accordance with the priority list, the Braunschweig Material and Testing Institute, with its certificate MPA-BS 6000/ 233/20 dated 25.02.2020, confirms for the EK90 smoke control damper that it consists essentially of non-combustible building materials and meets at least class A2-s1, d0. The previous general building approval Z-56.4212-1007 was used as technical documentation.
This provides all the evidence required to meet the building regulations for the use of the EK90 smoke control damper in Germany.
