IFAB is a DAkkS-accredited testing laboratory and operates according to the specifications of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018


The accreditation relates to the testing of the effectiveness of water-based firefighting systems through fire tests for rail vehicles, industrial facilities, public places, storage rooms, machinery and plant rooms, tunnel and transport infrastructure facilities as well as high-voltage energy storage systems and to experimental investigations of design fire scenarios through real fire tests.


It applies to the scope specified in the Annex to Accreditation D-PL-19994-01-01


 - Standardised fire tests,

 - Non-standardised test procedures (ad hoc).


Non-standardised test procedures are used, among other things, for the experimental 1:1 investigations of design fires. In-house accredited test procedures have been developed for this purpose:

Document no.
Designation of IFAB's own test procedure
IFAB 7-1-1/1:2023
Method for the determination of temperature curves in the fire environment for the detection of fire control, suppression or extinguishing by means of thermocouples
IFAB 7-1-1/2:2023
Method for determining the charge quantity of the extinguishing agent by pressure measurement
IFAB 7-1-1/3:2023
Method for determining the oxygen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentrations in the fire environment to demonstrate compliance with specific protection targets by means of electrochemical or infrared measurement methods.
IFAB 7-1-1/4:2023
Method for the determination of fire gases by means of FTIR multigas analyser in the fire environment to prove the fulfillment of specific protection targets

IFAB 7-1-1/5:2025

Guideline for the Development and Planning of Fire Tests
Verification of the effectiveness of water-based fire-fighting systems through fire tests in accordance with DIN EN 14972-1:2021-06
Fixed Fire-Fighting Systems – Water Mist Systems – Part 1: Design, Installation, Inspection and Maintenance, Annex A (Guideline for the development of representative fire tests for water mist systems)
Policy no.
Title of the Directive
Appendix A.1
Test method flammable liquids
Appendix A.2
Test method Fire test for cable ducts
Appendix F
Fire test procedure for certain areas of use of the medium fire hazard class OH3
IMO Resolution MSC 265 (84):2008-05
Supplement to the revised guidelines for the approval of sprinkler systems in accordance with those referenced in the SOLAS regulations (Resolution A.800(19)).
FM 5560
Approval standard for water mist system / fire tests
Appendices: A-N
Fire tests

Tunnel systems - guidelines recommended by fire protection experts

Guideline
Title
SOLIT2 Engineering Guidance
Guidance on the holistic assessment of tunnels with fire-fighting systems and their design.
Main document with Annex 7
Fire tests and scenarios for the assessment of fire suppression systems

Rolling Stock - guidelines recommended by fire safety specialists

Guidelines & Standards
Title
ARGE Guidelines BBA - Part 2
Firefighting in railway vehicles: Functional verification of the effectiveness of ARGE Guideline BBA - Part 2 Firefighting systems in spaces accessible to persons, electrical control cabinets and areas of internal combustion engines
UNI 11565
Railway vehicles - Design, installation, validation and maintenance of fire detection and extinguishing systems to be utilized in rail vehicles - General principles
Appendix B
Testing of the fire protection / extinguishing system