Function alone is no longer enough. Modern buildings are designed to last for generations. As construction requirements continue to evolve, the focus is shifting beyond fire protection and corrosion protection towards environmental responsibility, chemical safety and sustainability.
As the first manufacturer worldwide, Rudolf Hensel has successfully demonstrated an ETA-assessed intended working life of at least 50 years for a reactive fire protection coating in Use Category Z2 in accordance with EAD 350402-00-1106. This provides reliable, documented values for the entire intended working life of the coating system and supports the optimisation of your project’s Life Cycle Costs (LCC).
Simply safe. Combining full REACH compliance with an SVHC-free formulation, HENSEL NEXT GENERATION offers a future-proof solution for sustainable steel construction and long-term investment security.
Plan with confidence for at least 50 years – without compromise.
SVHC stands for Substances of Very High Concern as defined under the European REACH Regulation (EC) Nr. 1907/2006. These substances include, for example, chemicals that are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction (CMR), persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT), very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB), or endocrine disruptors.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) regularly publishes and updates the REACH Candidate List of SVHCs. Manufacturers and suppliers are required to monitor substances on this list throughout their supply chains and, depending on the product type and concentration, comply with specific information and communication obligations.
Architects, specifiers and contractors are placing increasing emphasis on the chemical composition of construction products. Sustainability certification schemes, ESG requirements and corporate environmental policies are driving demand for products that are free from Substances of Very High Concern.
Rudolf Hensel has taken a forward-looking approach. With the SVHC-free fire protection coatings of the HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family, you are choosing durable coating systems that combine outstanding fire protection performance with a future-proof approach to material specification for sustainable construction projects.
No. The European REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 does not generally require construction products or fire protection coatings to be free from Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs).
Substances included on the REACH Candidate List published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) may continue to be used under certain conditions. However, where an article contains an SVHC at a concentration above 0.1 % weight by weight (w/w), specific information and communication obligations apply throughout the supply chain. In addition, individual substances may subsequently become subject to authorisation or restriction under REACH.
Although an SVHC-free formulation is currently not a legal requirement, it is becoming increasingly important in the construction industry. Public authorities, investors, architects and contractors are increasingly specifying construction products that are free from Substances of Very High Concern in order to reduce regulatory risks and support sustainable construction projects.
The HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family has already taken this step. Our fire protection coating systems are SVHC-free according to the current REACH Candidate List, providing a future-proof solution for sustainable construction projects and long-term investment security.
No. Although the terms REACH-compliant and SVHC-free are often used interchangeably, they describe two different concepts.
REACH compliance means that a manufacturer complies with the requirements of the European REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006. These include, among other things, the registration of chemical substances, compliance with restrictions, and the fulfilment of information and communication obligations throughout the supply chain.
SVHC-free, on the other hand, means that a product contains no Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) listed on the current REACH Candidate List published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
A product can therefore be REACH-compliant while still containing SVHCs, provided that all legal requirements are met and the applicable information and communication obligations are fulfilled. Conversely, an SVHC-free product is, of course, also REACH-compliant, but it goes a significant step further by eliminating substances that are currently included on the REACH Candidate List.
With the HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family, you choose fire protection coating systems that are both REACH-compliant and SVHC-free. This provides building owners, architects, specifiers and contractors with a future-proof material specification that takes evolving regulatory requirements into account while supporting sustainable construction and ESG objectives.
The REACH Candidate List is a list of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). It forms part of the European REACH Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 and is updated regularly as additional substances are identified as SVHCs based on their hazardous properties.
SVHCs include, for example, substances that are classified as:
– Carcinogenic (cancer-causing),
– Mutagenic (causing genetic mutations),
– Toxic to reproduction (reprotoxic),
– Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB), or
– Endocrine disruptors
The inclusion of a substance on the REACH Candidate List does not automatically prohibit its use. However, it represents an important step within the European chemicals legislation and may lead to future authorisation or restriction under REACH. Depending on the product type and concentration, it may also trigger specific information and communication obligations throughout the supply chain.
For this reason, an increasing number of building owners, architects, contractors and investors are specifying construction products that are free from substances listed on the current REACH Candidate List. This supports a future-proof material specification and helps reduce regulatory risks throughout the entire building life cycle.
The fire protection coating systems of the HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family are SVHC-free according to the current REACH Candidate List and combine this forward-looking material strategy with an assessed intended working life of at least 50 years.
The REACH Candidate List is reviewed regularly by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and updated whenever additional Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) are identified. New scientific evidence, regulatory assessments or proposals submitted by EU Member States may result in further substances being added to the list.
For manufacturers, architects, specifiers, building owners and operators, this means that the regulatory requirements for construction products may evolve over time. Substances that are not currently included on the REACH Candidate List may be identified as SVHCs in the future, potentially resulting in additional information and communication obligations throughout the supply chain.
For buildings designed to remain in service for many decades, a future-proof material specification is therefore becoming increasingly important. Construction products that are already free from substances listed on the current REACH Candidate List provide greater long-term confidence and help minimise future regulatory risks.
The fire protection coating systems of the HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family are SVHC-free according to the current REACH Candidate List and have been developed for buildings with a long intended service life. Combined with an assessed intended working life of at least 50 years, they support sustainable, forward-looking building design.
Yes. The fire protection coating systems within the HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family are free from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS are a large group of thousands of synthetic chemicals that have been widely used in industrial and consumer applications for decades. They are characterised by extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making many PFAS highly persistent in both technical applications and the environment. As a result, they can accumulate in soil, surface water, groundwater and, ultimately, the food chain. Because of their exceptional persistence, PFAS are often referred to as „forever chemicals“.
For this reason, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have submitted a proposal under the European REACH Regulation to significantly restrict the manufacture, placing on the market and use of PFAS across a wide range of applications. This proposal is currently being evaluated by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
By choosing PFAS-free fire protection coatings, HENSEL NEXT GENERATION already supports a future-proof material specification that anticipates regulatory developments and contributes to sustainable construction projects.
The intended working life of an intumescent fire protection coating is assessed as part of the European approval process. For steel fire protection coatings, durability is evaluated in accordance with European Assessment Document (EAD) 350402-00-1106, which defines the performance requirements for four different service categories: Z2 – Dry internal conditions, Z1 – Internal conditions with high humidity, Y – Semi-exposed conditions, or X – External conditions.
The EAD defines the test requirements for these categories based on an assumed intended working life of 10 years. However, manufacturers may apply for a longer intended working life by providing sufficient documented evidence to the responsible Technical Assessment Body (TAB) demonstrating that the coating system remains suitable for its intended use under the specified environmental conditions.
Rudolf Hensel has been a pioneer in this field for many years. In 2015, Hensel became the first manufacturer worldwide to obtain an ETA-assessed intended working life of 25 years for an intumescent fire protection coating in Use Category Z2.
Building on this achievement, Hensel has once again set a new benchmark. Selected HENSEL NEXT GENERATION fire protection coating systems, including e.g. HENSOTHERM® 921 KS, have been assessed for an intended working life of at least 50 years in Use Category Z2 in accordance with EAD 350402-00-1106 (see ETA No. 25/0117).
This provides architects, specifiers, building owners and investors with independently assessed performance data that supports long-term investment decisions, Life Cycle Cost (LCC) evaluations and future-proof material specifications.
The stated intended working life is provided for the purpose of product assessment and selection. It is not a manufacturer’s guarantee, but an assessment of the expected durability of the coating system under the specified service conditions.
An ETA-assessed intended working life of at least 50 years is exceptional for intumescent fire protection coatings, because the European assessment procedure defined in EAD 350402-00-1106 is generally based on an assumed intended working life of 10 years. A longer intended working life cannot simply be claimed; it must be demonstrated to the responsible Technical Assessment Body (TAB) through additional, sufficiently documented evidence.
This assessment is particularly demanding (see also the technical article “Durability of Reactive Fire-Retardant Coatings” from March 2021 for details). Only limited validated test and assessment methods are available for demonstrating extended intended working lives. In addition, after all prescribed ageing and durability tests, the fire protection performance of the coating system must still be verified. In accordance with EAD 350402-00-1106, the aged test specimens must achieve at least 85 % of the fire resistance performance of the unaged reference specimen.
Selected fire protection coating systems within the HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family have been assessed for an intended working life of at least 50 years in Use Category Z2. This significantly exceeds the intended working life on which many conventional intumescent fire protection coatings are typically assessed.
For architects, specifiers, building owners and investors, this means that the durability of passive fire protection can be aligned much more closely with the intended service life of modern buildings. It provides a robust basis for Life Cycle Cost (LCC) assessments, long-term maintenance strategies, ESG objectives and sustainable investment decisions.
No routine maintenance of the fire protection coating itself is required. However, the coating system should be inspected regularly to ensure that it remains intact. Any damage to the coating system must be repaired professionally in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Responsibility for inspection and maintenance of the protected structure rests with the building owner or operator.
The fire protection coating systems within the HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family have been assessed for an intended working life of at least 50 years in Use Category Z2 in accordance with EAD 350402-00-1106. Under the specified service conditions, following correct application and subject to regular visual inspections, no planned refurbishment coatings are required during the assessed intended working life.
This provides building owners and operators with several important benefits:
– No planned refurbishment coatings during the assessed intended working life
– Reduced maintenance requirements under normal service conditions
– A robust basis for Life Cycle Cost (LCC) assessments
– Fewer operational interruptions caused by planned refurbishment work
– Greater investment security and long-term planning confidence throughout the building life cycle
The stated intended working life is provided to support product selection and maintenance planning. It does not constitute a manufacturer’s guarantee but represents an assessment of the expected durability of the coating system under the specified service conditions.
Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration in the planning, financing and operation of buildings. As part of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies, investors, developers and building owners are placing greater emphasis on durable, low-emission and future-proof construction products.
The HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family supports these objectives in several ways. Its SVHC-free formulations, in accordance with the current REACH Candidate List, contribute to a responsible approach to material specification. At the same time, an ETA-assessed intended working life of at least 50 years supports a long-term perspective throughout the entire building life cycle.
Long-lasting fire protection coating systems can help reduce the need for refurbishment, replacement and maintenance over the lifetime of a building. This supports Life Cycle Cost (LCC) assessments, helps conserve resources and contributes to the long-term performance of the asset.
Material transparency, durability and indoor environmental quality are becoming increasingly important in DGNB, LEED, BREEAM and other sustainable building certification schemes. The HENSEL NEXT GENERATION product family supports architects, specifiers and building owners in selecting future-ready fire protection coatings that align with modern sustainability objectives.