AS/NZS 3837 for PVC Wall Panels: Understanding Australian Fire Ratings

This guide explains the difference, how the Australian classification system works in practice, what documentation your buyer actually needs, and how to check whether a supplier’s fire evidence is worth the paper it is printed on.

1. What Is AS/NZS 3837?

AS/NZS 3837:1998 (R2013) carries the full title “Method of test for heat and smoke release rates for materials and products using an oxygen consumption calorimeter”. It is the Australian and New Zealand version of the cone calorimeter test, closely aligned with ISO 5660-1, which the NCC accepts as an equivalent test method.

The test works on the oxygen consumption principle: for most materials, the heat released during combustion is directly proportional to the amount of oxygen consumed. A small specimen — typically 100 mm × 100 mm, tested in the horizontal orientation — is placed under a cone-shaped radiant heater and exposed to a controlled heat flux (commonly 50 kW/m²), with a spark igniter for piloted ignition.

The measurements recorded include:

• Heat release rate (HRR) — derived from oxygen depletion in the exhaust stream
• Effective heat of combustion — from simultaneous mass loss measurement
• Mass loss rate — how quickly the specimen is consumed
• Smoke release — from the obscuration of light by the combustion products
• Ignitability — the time from initial exposure to sustained flaming

2. The Rating That Matters: AS 5637.1 Group 1–4

Australia classifies wall and ceiling linings into four performance groups under AS 5637.1:2015, “Determination of fire hazard properties — Wall and ceiling linings”. The group number represents how readily a material ignites and releases heat — specifically, how quickly it contributes to flashover, the point at which a room’s fire becomes fully developed (recorded at roughly 1 MW of heat release in the test room).

Group 1 represents the highest level within the Group Number classification and is required in the most demanding lining locations, such as fire-isolated exits. However, many locations permit Group 2 or even Group 3 linings, depending on the building classification, location and sprinkler protection — see Section 4.

3. Two Test Routes to a Group Number

AS 5637.1 provides two methods for determining a group number, and the choice between them matters for PVC products.

Route 1: Full-scale room test to AS ISO 9705

A standard test room (approximately 3.6 m × 2.4 m × 2.4 m) is lined with the product on the walls and ceiling, and a corner fire is started at a 100 kW ignition source, stepped up to 300 kW. Instrumentation records whether and when flashover occurs. This is the definitive, direct measurement — but it is also significantly more expensive because it consumes a large quantity of product and a dedicated test room.

Route 2: Cone calorimeter test to AS/NZS 3837 (or ISO 5660-1) with group prediction

Small-scale heat release data from the cone calorimeter are fed through an empirical model (the Kokkala correlation in AS 5637.1) to predict how the lining would behave in the full-scale room. This route is much cheaper and faster, but it is predictive, and AS 5637.1 deliberately restricts when it may be used.

4. What the NCC Requires for Linings

The National Construction Code (NCC) governs building work in Australia. For wall and ceiling linings in Class 2 to 9 buildings, the relevant requirements sit under the fire safety provisions:

• Performance Requirement CP4 — materials and assemblies in Class 2 to 9 buildings must appropriately resist the spread of fire and limit the generation of smoke, heat and toxic gases to maintain tenable evacuation conditions.
• Deemed-to-Satisfy (DTS) provision C1.10(a)(ii) — wall and ceiling linings must meet the fire hazard properties of Specification C1.10.
• Specification C1.10 — requires a group number determined in accordance with AS 5637.1, the value varying with building classification, location, and sprinkler protection. Clause 4(a) additionally requires, for non-sprinkler protected buildings, either a smoke growth rate index (SMOGRA) of not more than 100 or an average specific extinction area of less than 250 m²/kg.

The group number required for a specific location is set out in the NCC tables (Table S7C4 in NCC 2022). The following examples are simplified only and apply to sprinkler-protected buildings — the exact requirement must be checked against the complete S7C4 table for the applicable NCC edition, building class, location and sprinkler status:

This table is a simplification — the actual values vary by building class and by specific area definitions, and non-sprinklered buildings are subject to stricter requirements. Always verify the requirement against the applicable NCC edition for the project’s jurisdiction. These are DTS provisions; a Performance Solution developed by a fire engineer can also demonstrate compliance.

5. NCC 2025: A Timeliness Note

Regulatory timelines matter in Australia right now, and this is worth confirming at the start of any project. NCC 2025 was released (published) by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) on 1 May 2026. Publication and adoption are separate steps: each state and territory decides when, and whether, the new edition commences in its jurisdiction. As of August 2026 the position is:

Adoption arrangements are evolving and subject to state variations. Always confirm the operative NCC edition with the relevant state or territory authority and your certifier before relying on it for a project.

For an exporter, the practical consequences are:

• Different projects sit under different NCC editions depending on jurisdiction and approval timing. A report prepared to NCC 2022 references is not automatically invalid under NCC 2025 — the ABCB has noted that existing certificates and reports remain valid where the technical requirements are unchanged between editions — but the applicable edition must be confirmed for each project.
• NCC 2025 clarifies how fire hazard properties are determined. The updated provisions (A5G6) set out pathways through an Accredited Testing Laboratory (ATL) — an organisation accredited by NATA, or by a body recognised by NATA through mutual recognition — for both testing of an identical prototype and, for products that differ only by a minor degree from a tested prototype, assessment by the ATL. This formalises the documentation trail buyers should expect from suppliers. NCC 2025 also reorganises the determination of fire hazard properties — group number, average specific extinction area and smoke growth rate index — under A5G6.
• Smoke and group requirements continue to apply as described in Section 4; the core classification framework for linings is retained.

When a buyer or certifier asks for fire evidence, confirm which NCC edition governs the project before matching the documentation. This small step avoids the most common compliance mismatches in the Australian market.

6. Where PVC Wall Panels Sit in the System

PVC is a thermoplastic polymer, but the fire performance of a PVC wall panel depends on the complete product formulation and construction: the specific formulation, stabilisers, fillers, plasticisers, the panel thickness and structure, and the substrate and adhesive used in installation. A group number cannot be assumed from the base resin chemistry alone.

Three points matter most when evaluating a PVC wall panel for Australia:

• Thermoplastic behaviour affects the test route. Because PVC is thermoplastic and may soften, melt or shrink under heat, AS 5637.1’s cone-calorimeter prediction route may not be available for a given PVC panel — this depends on the specific product’s structure and configuration, including any multi-layer construction. Where it is not available, the full-scale AS ISO 9705 room test is required. This is a cost and lead-time consideration, and a reason to ask exactly which test route backs the claimed group number.
• The tested configuration is the rated configuration. If the supplier changes the formulation, thickness, substrate, or the mounting method, the previous test result cannot be assumed to carry over. Check that the report describes the product you are actually buying — including thickness and construction — not a similar panel from the same factory.
• Group 1 is achievable for some products, but only by testing. Some fire-retardant PVC and multi-layer panels reach Group 1 or Group 2 under AS 5637.1; others fall to Group 3 or below. The only reliable way to know is the test report for the exact product.

7. Verification Checklist and Red Flags

When a supplier presents Australian fire documentation, work through this checklist before relying on it:

8. AS/NZS 3837 vs Other Systems

If your buyer is comparing Australian requirements with other markets, keep in mind that the systems are not interchangeable. There is no direct conversion between an Australian group number, a Euroclass rating, or a North American Class A result — each system uses different test methods, exposure conditions and classification rules.

AS/NZS 3837 shares its technical basis with ISO 5660-1, so cone data from either standard is generally comparable for materials where the test route is permitted. Beyond that, treat cross-system comparisons as indicative only, and match the documentation to the market the project is actually in.

Related Guides

• PVC Wall Panel Fire Ratings: ASTM E84 Class A vs GB 8624 B1 vs EN 13501-1 B-s1,d0
• EN 13501-1 B-s1,d0 Explained: EU Fire Rating for PVC Wall Panels
• BS 476 Class 0 PVC Wall Panels: Requirements, Testing and UK Regulations
• ASTM E84 Class A PVC Wall Panels: What North American Buyers Need to Know

9. Frequently Asked Questions

What is AS/NZS 3837?

AS/NZS 3837:1998 (R2013) is the Australian and New Zealand test method for measuring the heat and smoke release rates of materials and products using an oxygen consumption calorimeter, commonly called a cone calorimeter. A small specimen (typically 100 mm × 100 mm) is exposed to a controlled radiant heat flux, and the test measures heat release rate, effective heat of combustion, mass loss rate, smoke release and ignitability. AS/NZS 3837 is a test method, not a classification system, and not a compliance grade in itself.

What fire rating do PVC wall panels need in Australia?

Under the National Construction Code (NCC), wall and ceiling linings in Class 2 to 9 buildings must have a group number determined in accordance with AS 5637.1:2015. Materials are classified into Group 1 (best fire performance) to Group 4 (worst). The specific group number required depends on the building classification, the location of the lining within the building, and whether the building is sprinkler protected. For example, linings in fire-isolated exits are typically required to be Group 1, while less critical areas may accept Group 2 or Group 3. There is no single universal rating for all PVC wall panels.

What is the difference between Group 1 and Group 3 under AS 5637.1?

The group number reflects how readily a lining contributes to flashover in a standard fire exposure. A Group 1 material does not reach flashover when exposed to a 100 kW ignition source for 600 seconds followed by a 300 kW source for 600 seconds. A Group 3 material reaches flashover within 600 seconds of the 100 kW exposure, but not within the first 120 seconds. Group 4 materials reach flashover within 120 seconds. Group 1 represents the highest level within the Group Number classification and is required in the most demanding lining locations.

Does an AS/NZS 3837 test report mean the product complies with Australian requirements?

Not by itself. An AS/NZS 3837 report provides cone calorimeter data such as heat release rate and smoke release, but the NCC requires wall and ceiling linings to have a group number determined in accordance with AS 5637.1:2015. A group number can be obtained either from a full-scale room test to AS ISO 9705 or, for materials where AS 5637.1 permits it, by predicting the group from AS/NZS 3837 (or ISO 5660-1) cone calorimeter results. The report must also be matched against the specific NCC requirements for the building class, location and sprinkler status of the project.

Can PVC wall panels be tested to AS/NZS 3837?

The test method itself can be applied to many products, but AS 5637.1 restricts how cone calorimeter results may be used to predict a group number. Group prediction from an oxygen calorimeter test is generally only suitable for products such as gypsum plasterboard, solid timber, particleboard and plywood, and rigid non-thermoplastic foams. It cannot be used for linings with joints, openings, profiled facings or reflective surfaces, or for linings that contain materials that melt or shrink away from a flame. Because PVC is a thermoplastic polymer that can melt and shrink under heat, many PVC wall panel products require the full-scale room test to AS ISO 9705 to establish their group number.

What documents should an Australian buyer request?

An Australian buyer should request documentation that connects the specific product to a group number under AS 5637.1:2015, not just raw cone calorimeter data. In practice this means: a test or classification report stating the group number; the test route used (AS ISO 9705 full-scale, or AS/NZS 3837 / ISO 5660-1 cone data where AS 5637.1 permits that route for the product type); laboratory accreditation details (NATA, or a body recognised by NATA through mutual recognition); the exact product configuration tested, including thickness and construction; and, where relevant to an unsprinklered building, smoke data such as a smoke growth rate index (SMOGRA) of not more than 100 or an average specific extinction area of less than 250 m²/kg. The documentation should also be matched to the NCC edition applying to the project’s jurisdiction.

About Homax Decor: CENCHER INDUSTRY SHANGHAI CO., LTD. (brand: Homax Decor) is a manufacturer of PVC marble wall panels, WPC wall panels, and SPC flooring. Fire classification claims for a specific Homax Decor product would require the corresponding AS 5637.1 group number and supporting test documentation for that product configuration. Contact us to confirm which documentation applies to your project location and product specification.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal, engineering, or regulatory advice. Building regulations and fire classification requirements in Australia vary by jurisdiction, building class, location and application, and are subject to change. Always confirm the applicable NCC edition and provisions with the relevant state or territory authority, your certifier, or a fire safety consultant for project-specific requirements. Fire classification reports must be verified with the issuing laboratory.