GB 8624 vs EN 13501: Wall Panel Fire Ratings by Market
We've had more than one buyer come back after their architect or building inspector rejected a shipment's fire paperwork — not because the panels failed a test, but because they carried the wrong test. A B1 certificate under China's GB 8624 means nothing on a European spec sheet that calls for a Euroclass rating under EN 13501-1, and vice versa. These are two different classification systems built around different test methods, and importers who assume "fire-rated is fire-rated" find that out at the worst possible moment — after the container has already shipped. VIGOU Panels tests to both, so here's the factory-side breakdown of what each standard actually measures.
The Short Answer
GB 8624 and EN 13501-1 are not interchangeable certificates — they use different test rigs, different pass criteria, and a supplier holding one doesn't automatically qualify for the other. If your project is in mainland China or a market that references Chinese building codes, ask for a GB 8624 B1 report. If it's in the EU, UK, or a market that specifies CE-aligned construction products, ask for an EN 13501-1 Euroclass report instead — and confirm which specific class (B, C, or D) your project actually requires, since "fire-rated" alone isn't a specification.
GB 8624: China's Classification System
GB 8624 grades building materials on a scale that runs, from best to worst performance, A (non-combustible) → B1 (flame retardant) → B2 (combustible) → B3 (easily combustible). Our carbon crystal, bamboo-charcoal and SPC wall panels all carry a B1 rating, meaning the material self-extinguishes once the flame source is removed rather than continuing to burn. The underlying test battery measures ignitability, oxygen index and smoke density against thresholds set by the standard — a single pass/fail classification rather than a graded scale of sub-properties.
EN 13501-1: Europe's Euroclass System
EN 13501-1 classifies materials on a seven-step scale — A1, A2, B, C, D, E, F, from non-combustible down to unclassified — and then adds two more layers most buyers don't expect: a smoke production class (s1, s2, s3) and a flaming droplet class (d0, d1, d2). A typical wall lining specification isn't just "Class B" — it's written as "B-s1,d0," meaning Class B fire performance, low smoke production, and no flaming droplets during combustion. Classes A2 through D are tested with the EN 13823 Single Burning Item (SBI) rig, which exposes a full-size corner sample to a burning propane source and measures heat release and smoke over time — a materially different test than GB 8624's methodology, which is why one certificate doesn't translate into the other.
| Standard | Primary Markets | Scale (best → worst) | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB 8624 | China, and markets referencing Chinese building code | A → B1 → B2 → B3 | Ignitability, oxygen index, smoke density |
| EN 13501-1 | EU, UK, CE-aligned markets | A1 → A2 → B → C → D → E → F (plus s/d sub-classes) | EN ISO 1182/1716 (A1/A2), EN 13823 SBI (B–D) |
| ASTM E84 | United States | Class A → B → C (flame spread index) | Steiner tunnel test |
Which Rating Your Project Actually Needs
The market your panels are landing in determines the certificate that matters, not the one that's easiest for a supplier to produce. For a hotel corridor or multi-family interior in the EU, an architect's spec will typically call for Euroclass B-s1,d0 or C-s1,d0 for wall linings — ask your supplier for the SBI test report by class, not just a general "fire-rated" claim. In the US, contractors work off ASTM E84 Class A or B, a completely separate testing tradition from either Chinese or European systems, so a GB 8624 or EN 13501 certificate carries no weight there either. Markets across the Middle East and parts of Southeast Asia are less standardized — some projects accept GB 8624 directly, but foreign-designed or internationally financed projects increasingly specify EN 13501 or NFPA-aligned requirements instead, so it's worth confirming with the project's fire engineer rather than assuming.
Why We Test to Both
Our 7.3 mm anti-impact and 8 mm SPC lines — the grades most often specified for hotel corridors and commercial fit-outs — hold both a GB 8624 B1 certificate and an EN 13501-1 Euroclass report from an accredited lab, because we ship to both types of markets and a single certificate leaves half our buyers unable to close their permitting. Most factories quoting a container only hold the domestic GB 8624 paperwork; a buyer targeting the EU should confirm the EN 13501 report exists and covers the specific product SKU being quoted, not a different panel line entirely.
Honest Limits: What Neither Certificate Gets You
PVC and SPC composite wall panels are organic-polymer-based materials, and no amount of flame-retardant additive gets a product in this category to Euroclass A1 or A2 (non-combustible) or GB 8624's top "A" grade — those classifications are reserved for materials like mineral board, gypsum or metal that don't burn at all. If your project specifically requires A1/A2-rated wall linings — common in enclosed escape stairwells or certain high-rise cores under some European codes — a PVC-based panel isn't the right material regardless of which supplier you ask, and the honest answer is to specify a non-combustible substrate for that specific zone instead.
Shipping to the EU, US or Elsewhere?
Tell us your destination market and we'll send the specific fire test report your project needs — GB 8624 B1, EN 13501 Euroclass, or both — before you commit to a container.
Request a Quote →Frequently Asked Questions
Is B1 fire rating the same as a European fire rating?
No. B1 is a classification under China's GB 8624 standard. Europe uses an entirely different system, EN 13501-1, with its own test methods and class scale (A1 through F plus smoke and droplet sub-classes). A B1 certificate doesn't satisfy an EN 13501 requirement.
What fire rating do I need for a project in the UK or EU?
Most wall lining specifications call for Euroclass B-s1,d0 or C-s1,d0 under EN 13501-1. Confirm the exact class with your architect or fire engineer, since requirements vary by building use and escape route classification.
Can PVC or SPC wall panels get an A1 fire rating?
No. A1 and A2 under EN 13501-1 (and "A" under GB 8624) are reserved for non-combustible materials like mineral board or metal. PVC- and SPC-based composite panels are organic-polymer materials and top out in the B-to-D range depending on formulation.
Does the US use GB 8624 or EN 13501?
Neither. US contractors specify against ASTM E84, tested with a Steiner tunnel rig and rated Class A, B or C by flame spread index — a separate system from both the Chinese and European standards.
How do I know which fire certificate my supplier actually holds?
Ask for the test report by name and standard number, and confirm it covers the exact product SKU you're ordering, not a different panel line from the same factory. A legitimate supplier can produce this within days.