Fire-Resistant Noticeboards for Schools & NHS Settings

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Fire Resistant Noticeboards:
BS EN 13501-1 Class B Safety Rated

Fire resistant noticeboards are independently tested to BS EN 13501-1 Class B (equivalent to the former British Standard Class 0), the rating required for display surfaces in school corridors, NHS corridors, stairwells, and fire escape routes under UK building regulations. Both the fire-retardant treated felt or loop nylon fabric surface and the non-combustible substrate core carry the rating. Anodised aluminium frame. Unframed acoustic panel versions available for large notice wall configurations. Certification documentation provided for fire risk assessment records. PO accepted from schools, NHS trusts, and public sector organisations on 30-day credit terms. Standard pinboard function with push pins, drawing pins, and Velcro on loop nylon versions.

The distinction between a standard noticeboard and a fire-rated noticeboard is not visible from appearance alone. Both look identical in normal use. The difference is what happens when exposed to a fire event: standard noticeboard fabrics and substrates ignite and contribute to flame spread along a corridor, accelerating fire progression. Fire-retardant fabric resists ignition and self-extinguishes, and the non-combustible core does not add fuel to the fire. In the confined environment of a corridor or stairwell, this difference in fire behaviour directly affects evacuation time and life safety.

Our fire resistant noticeboard range covers Class B framed boards in standard and large formats, lockable fire-rated versions for positions requiring controlled notice access, and unframed acoustic panels for large-area notice wall installation. For standard classroom noticeboards without fire-rating requirements see our noticeboards collection. For the full institutional range see our education display and storage collection.

Class B Corridor
Compliant

Why Choose Displaysense Fire Resistant Noticeboards

BS EN 13501-1 Class B: What the Rating Means and Why It Applies

BS EN 13501-1 is the European fire classification standard harmonised for UK use. Class B is the second-highest reaction-to-fire rating, indicating the material has very limited contribution to fire spread and very low heat release. This is the minimum rating required for wall-mounted display surfaces in UK building circulation areas including corridors, stairwells, lobbies, and fire escape routes. Class B replaces and is broadly equivalent to the former British Standard Class 0. The rating applies to the complete assembled board: both the fabric surface and the substrate core must be separately tested and rated. A fire-retardant fabric on an uncertified substrate does not constitute a Class B board.

Fire-Retardant Fabric Surface: Treated Felt and Loop Nylon

The surface fabric on our Class B boards is chemically treated during manufacture to resist ignition and self-extinguish rather than sustaining a flame when a fire source is removed. Standard noticeboard felt is not treated; it ignites readily and sustains combustion once alight. Fire-retardant treated felt and loop nylon perform as standard pin surfaces in normal use while meeting the BS EN 13501-1 Class B surface classification. Loop nylon versions additionally accept Velcro hook tape. Felt is available in blue, grey, red, and green for departmental colour coding across a building.

Lockable Fire-Rated Versions for Secure Corridor Display

For corridor and public area positions where notice content must be controlled and protected from tampering, we offer lockable noticeboards with Class B fire-rated fabric interiors. The key-locked polycarbonate-glazed door allows notices to be read without opening the case, and the fire-rated interior surface ensures the board meets the same corridor compliance requirements as an open fire-rated board. See our lockable noticeboards range and confirm the Class B rating on the specific model before purchasing for any corridor or escape route position.

Colour Choice Across Departments Without Compromising Compliance

Fire-rated display boards are available in the same colour range as standard noticeboards: blue, grey, red, and green felt in addition to the standard beige cork appearance. This allows building managers to maintain departmental colour coding across a school, hospital, or office building while ensuring all corridor-position boards meet the required Class B specification. The colour is a property of the fire-retardant treated felt fabric, not a surface coating applied after manufacturing, so the fire-retardant treatment is inherent in the coloured fabric itself.

Anodised Aluminium Frame: Non-Combustible and Safety Cornered

Aluminium is inherently non-combustible with a melting point of approximately 660°C, far above any temperature achievable in a corridor fire event before the structure itself is compromised. The anodised aluminium frame does not contribute to flame spread and is therefore appropriate for use in the same fire-rated assembly as the Class B fabric and substrate. Rounded safety corners on the frame profile reduce the snag and injury risk at child height in school corridor positions. The concealed corner fixing system with clip-on screw covers eliminates exposed fixings for a clean installation.

Unframed Acoustic Panels for Large Notice Wall Configurations

For large display wall requirements in classrooms, staff rooms, and open-plan spaces, our unframed fire-rated acoustic panels can be butted together edge-to-edge to create a continuous display surface of any length without visible frame joints between panels. The acoustic core absorbs sound, reducing reverberation in rooms with hard wall surfaces. Unframed panels are fixed directly to the wall using adhesive or screws through the substrate edge. This is a more cost-effective format than framed boards for very large coverage areas where the aesthetic priority is a seamless display wall rather than individually framed boards.

Which Positions Require Fire-Rated Boards?

Corridor, Classroom or Office?

Fire-rated Class B boards are required for all wall-mounted display surfaces in corridors, stairwells, lobbies, and fire escape routes in schools, NHS buildings, and public buildings. Standard noticeboards without fire rating are acceptable inside individual classrooms, offices, and rooms that are not themselves fire escape routes. When in doubt, specifying fire-rated boards for any position is always the more conservative and safe choice. Contact your building's responsible person or fire risk assessor to confirm the specific requirements for your building.

For Schools and Educational Establishments

All noticeboards in school corridors, stairwells, and escape route positions must be Class B fire-rated. This applies regardless of whether the board is open-face or lockable, framed or unframed. Standard noticeboards are acceptable inside classrooms and staff rooms that are not designated escape routes. Our range includes Class B boards in the full colour range for school departmental coding and in the standard sizes commonly used in corridor positions. PO accepted from state schools, academies, colleges, and universities on 30-day credit terms with certification documentation provided.

For NHS Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

NHS Estates guidance specifies fire-rated display surfaces for all patient-accessible corridors, ward escape routes, and public circulation areas. Our Class B boards meet this requirement and are supplied with the certification documentation required for NHS fire risk assessment records and Premises Assurance Model (PAM) compliance. The lockable fire-rated noticeboard variant is the appropriate specification for patient information boards in ward corridors where managed controlled access to the notice content is also required alongside the Class B fire rating.

For Offices and Commercial Buildings

Commercial office buildings increasingly specify fire-rated materials in open-plan escape route positions and fire exit corridors, both for regulatory compliance and insurance purposes. Many corporate facilities management teams specify Class B boards throughout the building rather than managing a mixed specification of rated and non-rated boards across different positions. If your office building has a fire risk assessment requirement for Class B display surfaces in any position, our boards are supplied with the certification documentation your assessor needs for their records.

Certification Included as Standard:
The Displaysense Advantage

Displaysense is a trusted UK supplier with nearly 50 years of experience supplying fire-rated display equipment to schools, NHS trusts, local authorities, and commercial building managers. We understand that facility managers need verifiable proof of compliance for fire safety inspections, fire risk assessments, and insurance purposes. All our fire-resistant boards carry BS EN 13501-1 Class B certification, and we provide the certification data sheets and documentation upon request for inclusion in your fire risk assessment records.

For standard classroom and office noticeboards not requiring fire rating, see our noticeboards collection and cork noticeboards. For the full institutional display range see our education display and storage collection.

Class B

BS EN 13501-1 Certified

Cert

Documentation Provided

Schools and NHS Welcome

45+

Years in Business

Compliance Guidance

Where exactly are fire-rated noticeboards required in a school?

UK Building Regulations Approved Document B and the associated fire safety guidance for schools requires all wall-mounted display materials in corridors, stairwells, lobbies, and designated fire escape routes to be tested and rated to BS EN 13501-1 Class B as a minimum. This applies to noticeboards, display panels, poster frames, and any other wall-mounted display surface in these positions. Standard noticeboards without Class B rating are acceptable inside individual classrooms, staff rooms, offices, and any room that is not itself a designated fire escape route. The responsible person for fire safety in the building (usually the headteacher or facilities manager) is accountable for ensuring compliance. When in doubt, specifying Class B boards for all corridor and stairwell positions is the correct approach.

What is the difference between Class B and Class 0?

Class 0 is the former British Standard classification under BS 476 Parts 6 and 7. BS EN 13501-1 Class B is the current European classification standard harmonised for UK use, replacing Class 0 as the reference standard in current building regulations. The two ratings are broadly equivalent in their practical fire performance requirements: both indicate materials with very limited flame spread and very low heat release. Products certified to BS EN 13501-1 Class B are acceptable wherever Class 0 was previously required. Products certified only to the old Class 0 standard may still be acceptable in some contexts but BS EN 13501-1 Class B is the current standard that new products should carry. Our boards are certified to BS EN 13501-1 Class B.

Does the fire rating apply to the whole board or just the surface fabric?

The fire rating must apply to both the surface fabric and the substrate core as a complete assembly. A fire-retardant treated fabric on an uncertified substrate does not constitute a Class B board: the substrate must independently not contribute to flame spread and heat release. Our fire-rated noticeboards use a fire-retardant substrate core alongside the Class B surface fabric, and the complete board assembly is what carries the BS EN 13501-1 Class B classification. When purchasing fire-rated noticeboards from any supplier, confirm that the certification covers the complete board assembly, not just the surface material alone.

Can I get certification documentation for a fire safety inspection?

Yes. We provide BS EN 13501-1 Class B certification data sheets and documentation upon request for all our fire-rated noticeboards. This documentation is suitable for inclusion in your fire risk assessment records, building safety files, and as evidence of compliance during fire safety inspections by the Fire and Rescue Service. Request certification documentation at the time of order or contact our team after purchase. Keep a copy of the certification in your fire risk assessment file alongside the location record for each fire-rated board installed in your building.

Ready to Buy

Can I use pins and Velcro on fire-rated noticeboards?

Yes. Fire-rated noticeboards function as standard pinboards for push pins, drawing pins, and thumbtacks. The fire-retardant treatment is applied to the fabric during manufacture and does not affect the physical pin-holding properties of the surface. For Velcro compatibility, specify loop nylon surface boards: the woven loop structure of loop nylon accepts Velcro hook tape that grips the fabric without pins. Standard fire-retardant felt boards accept pins but do not have the loop structure required for reliable Velcro attachment. If your display system uses Velcro hook-and-loop attachment for laminated notices or modular display systems, confirm the fabric type is loop nylon before ordering.

Are custom sizes available for large-scale building fit-outs?

We stock a comprehensive range of standard sizes from compact 600x450mm boards up to 2400x1200mm large-format panels. For building fit-out projects requiring non-standard dimensions, bespoke manufactured sizes are available for large-scale orders such as school corridor refits and NHS ward installations. Contact our sales team with the specific dimensions, colour, surface type, and quantity for a bespoke manufacturing quote. For very large continuous display areas, our unframed fire-rated acoustic panels in standard sizes can be installed edge-to-edge to create any total coverage dimension without bespoke manufacturing.

Do you accept Purchase Orders from schools and NHS trusts?

Yes. We accept official Purchase Orders from state schools, academies, colleges, universities, NHS trusts, local councils, and all public sector organisations on 30-day credit terms. Certification documentation is provided with all Class B fire-rated boards for your compliance records. Volume discounts apply for large-quantity corridor fit-out orders. Contact our team to set up a public sector trade account or to receive a consolidated quote for a complete building fit-out order covering multiple board types, sizes, and quantities in a single purchase.

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Fire Resistant Noticeboards:
BS EN 13501-1 Class B Safety Rated

BS EN 13501-1 Class B: What the Rating Means and Why It Applies

Fire-Retardant Fabric Surface: Treated Felt and Loop Nylon

Lockable Fire-Rated Versions for Secure Corridor Display

Colour Choice Across Departments Without Compromising Compliance

Anodised Aluminium Frame: Non-Combustible and Safety Cornered

Unframed Acoustic Panels for Large Notice Wall Configurations

Corridor, Classroom or Office?

For Schools and Educational Establishments

For NHS Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

For Offices and Commercial Buildings

Certification Included as Standard:
The Displaysense Advantage

Shop Fire Resistant Noticeboards

Free Mainland UK Delivery

UK DESIGNED SINCE 1978

Volume Discounts Available

Public Sector Accounts

8,000+ Verified Reviews

Fire Resistant Boards

Recently Viewed

Fire Resistant Noticeboards:BS EN 13501-1 Class B Safety Rated

BS EN 13501-1 Class B: What the Rating Means and Why It Applies

Fire-Retardant Fabric Surface: Treated Felt and Loop Nylon

Lockable Fire-Rated Versions for Secure Corridor Display

Colour Choice Across Departments Without Compromising Compliance

Anodised Aluminium Frame: Non-Combustible and Safety Cornered

Unframed Acoustic Panels for Large Notice Wall Configurations

Corridor, Classroom or Office?

For Schools and Educational Establishments

For NHS Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

For Offices and Commercial Buildings

Certification Included as Standard:The Displaysense Advantage

Shop Fire Resistant Noticeboards

Fire Resistant Noticeboards:
BS EN 13501-1 Class B Safety Rated

Certification Included as Standard:
The Displaysense Advantage