The world of construction specifications is undergoing a historic shift. In 2026, the new regulations for public buildings (ERP in France) mark the end of the “all-incombustible” era by officially rehabilitating the use of mass timber and bio-based materials in structural design.
While this is excellent news for building decarbonization, it comes with a major technical challenge: a strict mandate for encapsulation and reinforced passive fire protection. The primary objective is to prevent the timber structure from reaching its critical pyrolysis temperature, strictly capped at 250°C.
In this new regulatory landscape, how can you guarantee flawless fire resistance and sealing at critical interfaces?
The Interface Challenge: Timber-to-Timber and Timber-to-Concrete
Unlike traditional concrete, wood is a living material that moves, expands, and undergoes dimensional changes based on humidity and structural loads. In a fire scenario, the junctions between these elements are the most vulnerable zones.
For architects and project managers, treating expansion and construction joints requires absolute vigilance across three key interfaces:
- Timber-to-Timber Junctions: Where both substrates move asynchronously.
- Timber-to-Concrete Junctions: The contact point between rigid concrete (often circulation cores or elevator shafts) and the flexible timber framework.
- Bio-based Structures: Requiring firestopping solutions that preserve the building’s environmental performance while fully blocking toxic gases.
Key 2026 Metric: 250°C. This is the maximum allowable temperature on the protected face of structural timber elements under regulatory thermal exposure.
Passitex Solutions: Passive Fire Protection Tailored to Specific Substrates
To meet the rigorous demands of the 2026 ERP regulations, Passitex has developed and tested specific ranges of firestopping systems. Our solutions do more than just stop flames; they are engineered to accommodate the mechanical dynamics of timber.
- High-Performance Intumescent Strips and Cords Our firestop joint solutions for timber construction activate within the first minutes of temperature rise. By expanding to several times their original volume, they seal the gaps created by wood shrinkage or surface charring, maintaining a strict barrier against gases and flames.
- Fire-Rated Elastomeric Sealants and Foams Perfect for firestop sealing in bio-based materials, these products maintain permanent elasticity to absorb structural movements without cracking, ensuring effective sealing against both cold smoke and hot gases.
Anticipating Fire Sealing Right from the Design Phase
To ensure the success of your timber-structure public building projects, fire safety compliance must not be treated as an afterthought on the job site. It must be integrated directly into the initial drafting and detailing phase.
Choosing Passitex means opting for solutions backed by rigorous test reports, meeting the exact requirements for fire safety sealing in ERP timber structures. Our technical teams are ready to assist you in validating the compliance of your execution details (slab-to-wall interfaces, service penetrations).
Contact our engineering department today to configure your custom firestop systems.