In principle, construction standards are divided into process standards, product standards and inspection standards. Process standards regulate the professional execution of works, while product standards recommend the use of building materials or components such as insulation materials, for example, depending on the requirements expected in the installed state in various areas.Areas of applicationand test standards define the procedures that enable the industry to provide uniform proof of the properties of its products.
But what exactly does this mean for your building project? And which of the many DIN standards are relevant to you and your insulation project? We can tell you!
Standards are drawn up by working committees with representatives from industry, trade, commerce, science, public institutions and testing institutes. They are checked, recognised and published by the German Standards Institute (DIN), based in Berlin. In principle, standards are recommendations for action. However, some DIN standards are mandatory, as they are referred to in many places in official building legislation.
The following standards are of particular interest for thermal insulation:
Thermal insulation includes all building measures designed to reduce energy costs for heating and cooling and to increase the comfort of rooms. Thermal insulation is the result of the interaction between the structure of the walls, ceilings and roof, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and thermal insulation. In principle, a distinction is made between winter thermal protection and summer thermal protection: winter thermal protection prevents heat loss through the building envelope - summer thermal protection prevents heat gain.
Thermal insulation also helps to protect buildings against moisture and the elements: Moisture protection aims to prevent moisture from penetrating building components - weather protection aims to prevent penetration from the outside. Why is this so important? Moisture can not only damage the structure of a building, it can also lead to mould growth and an unpleasant indoor climate.
DIN 4108 Thermal protection and energy saving in buildings describes the requirements for thermal protection, moisture protection and weather protection in buildings. The siteLaw on energy in buildings (LEB)the standard applies to the design and construction of living spaces in buildings, including ancillary spaces, heated to indoor temperatures of > ; 19 °C. It does not apply to the construction of buildings.
It goes without saying that protecting people, animals and property against fire is of paramount importance. Insulation also contributes to this. The legislator regulates fire protection in the building industry through the Länder Building Regulations (LBO), which refer to DIN 4102.
The basis of fire protection in construction is the classification of building materials and building components according to their fire behaviour. Building materials such as concrete, glass, steel or insulating materials are divided into building material classes - building components such as walls, ceilings, roofs, doors, etc. are divided into fire resistance classes. The building material classes indicate how easily a material can catch fire and how intensely it burns. The fire resistance classes indicate the number of minutes a building component can withstand a fire without losing its essential functional properties. The division into classes is carried out at national level in accordance with DIN 4102, harmonised at European level since 2001 in accordance with DIN EN 13501.
...class in accordance with DIN 4102-1 | ...visual requirements | ... EN 13501-1 | ... no smoke | ... no hot drips or spills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | non-flammable | A1 | X | X |
| A2 | non-flammable | A2 - s1, d0 | X | X |
B1*)
| flame-retardant
| B-s1, d0 or C - s1, d0 | X | X |
| A2 - s2, d0 or A2 - s3, d0 |
| X | ||
| B - s2, d0 or B - s3, d0 |
| X | ||
| C - s2, d0 or C - s3, d0 |
| X | ||
| A2 - s1, d1 or A2 - s1, d2 | X | X | ||
| B - s1,d1 or B - s1,d2 | X |
| ||
| C - s1,d1 or C - s1,d2 | X |
| ||
| A2 - s3,d2/ B - s3,d2/ C - s3,d2 |
|
| ||
B2*)
| normally flammable
| D - s1,d0 or d - s2, d2 |
| X |
| D - s3,d0 or E |
| X | ||
| D - s1, d1 or D - s2, d1 |
|
| ||
| D - s3, d1 or D - s1, d2 |
|
| ||
| D - s2, d2 or D - s3, d2 |
|
| ||
| E - d2 |
|
| ||
| B3**) | highly flammable**) | F**) |
|
|
*) Information on high smoke generation and dripping/burning in the declaration of suitability for use and on the labelling
**This does not apply if they are no longer readily flammable in combination with other building materials.
Source: FeuerTrutz, taken from Brandschutz Kompakt 2017/2018, p. 298
Fire behaviour is determined using standardised test methods. These ensure that we, the manufacturers, test our products in a uniform way and thus obtain comparable results. These results are checked on request by the building inspection department and are incorporated into the certificates of suitability for use that must be submitted to you. The building regulations of the Länder (LBO) and the special building regulations in turn define the classes of building materials and fire resistance that may be used in the various constructions of a building.
Fire protection: one subject, many terms
Fire safety regulations govern the behaviour of occupants in the event of a fire. A fire protection plan is an overall plan of the building that shows all the fire protection systems and escape routes that are of importance. A fire protection plan drawn up by specialist fire prevention planners is necessary when exemptions from building law are required, for example when constructing special buildings.
Insulating materials have a considerable influence on the sound insulation of a building. Their capacity to absorb sound depends mainly on their weight by volume as acoustic resistance and their porosity or sound absorption effect. The fixing of the insulation is also decisive, as it favours the transmission of sound as an acoustic bridge.
La norme DIN 4109 "Insonorisation dans le bâtiment" constitue le cadre en vigueur pour l'isolation acoustique dans le bâtiment. Elle réglemente l'insonorisation minimale exigée par les autorités de construction, son annexe 2 les exigences d'une insonorisation accrue. La norme vise à protéger les habitants contre les nuisances sonores inacceptables et les atteintes à la santé. En outre, elle réglemente les différentes méthodes de vérification de l'insonorisation dans la procédure de permis de construire et contient des indications sur les erreurs possibles lors de l'exécution de l'insonorisation. Si la qualité de l'insonorisation fait l'objet d'un débat, elle peut être déterminée lors d'un contrôle de qualité. Celui-ci est également réglementé par la norme DIN 4109. En plus de cette norme, les règles reconnues de la technique entrent en jeu. Elles englobent les exigences auxquelles on peut s'attendre dans le domaine de la construction de logements.
