Quality Assurance Schemes for flame retardant (FR) treated wood
The WPA operates three interlocking quality schemes to ensure flame retardant treated wood and wood-based materials provide effective fire protection performance as prescribed in European Standards and UK building regulations. They are:
The WPA Approval Scheme for FR formulations
The WPA Benchmark FR Application Process Approval Scheme
The WPA Benchmark FR Materials Approval Scheme
For details of WPA Approved FR Formulations, Treaters and Materials click here
About each scheme
1. The WPA Approval Scheme for Flame Retardant formulations
This quality scheme provides independent verification of the performance criteria claimed for specific flame retardant (FR) formulation. It is a condition of WPA Approval that the application process is factory based and operated under a recognised quality management scheme. submission to WPA of a products fire test data and fire performance classification report(s).
The decision to approve an FR is the responsibility of an independent panel of experts (the Approval Panel) drawn from leading organisations like Exova, BRE and private consultancy.
Approval lasts for five years from the date of issue on the Approval Certificate after which it will lapse unless the ‘Approval Holder’ applies to WPA for a renewal review.
2. WPA Benchmark FR Process Approval Scheme: This quality scheme relates to the factory process used to apply FR formulations. It provides independent third-party verification that a ‘WPA Approved’ FR is being applied correctly to ensure the fire performance specified is achieved.
3. WPA Benchmark FR Materials Approval Scheme: This quality scheme is for suppliers of wood-based materials whose reaction to fire classification has been enhanced by either:
a) application of a ‘WPA Approved’ flame retardant under WPA Benchmark FR certificated factory-controlled conditions or
b) by the incorporation of a ‘WPA Approved’ FR formulation as an integral part of the manufacturing process of the material.
The WPA Benchmark FR Materials Approval Scheme provides independent third-party verification that such suppliers can trace their products back through their supply chain to verifiable fire test certificates and classification reports.
ALWAYS CHECK THAT THE FR MATERIAL
YOU SPECIFY HAS BEEN QUALITY ASSURED
AND APPROVED FIT
FOR PURPOSE BY THE WPA
WPA FR Build
This quality scheme is operated by WPA for the Structural Timber Association (STA). It relates to wood, panel products and engineered wood components defined in STA Product Paper 1 that have been treated with an STA approved FR Build flame retardant to provide protection from fire in the construction phase of a building. The WPA FR Build quality scheme provides third-party certification of the factory process used to apply the STA approved flame retardant.
