Wooden acoustic panels are combustible because they are made of timber, but that alone does not make them a hazard. In the UK, how a lining behaves in a fire is graded by the Euroclass reaction-to-fire system (BS EN 13501-1): untreated timber typically sits around Class D, while fire-retardant treatment or specific construction can reach higher classes such as B-s1,d0, evidenced by a test report. Where regulations require a rated lining, for example on an escape route, you specify a fire-rated panel proven against that report rather than an untreated one. Reaction to fire is not the same as fire resistance, and acoustic panels are only about the former.
Are acoustic wood panels a fire risk?
Timber is combustible, so it can ignite and add fuel to a fire, which is a fair thing to check before covering a wall in wood. But in a building, fire risk is managed by classifying how a material behaves, not by banning all timber. Wooden acoustic panels absorb sound to cut echo within a room; they are not soundproofing, and their fire behaviour is judged like any wall or ceiling lining, by its reaction-to-fire class.
The honest answer is that an untreated timber panel and a fire-retardant-treated one behave very differently in a fire, and that difference is documented on a test report rather than assumed. So the real question is not whether wood is a risk, but which class this panel has and whether the room requires one.
How Euroclass grades reaction to fire
Under BS EN 13501-1, linings receive a Euroclass from A1 (best) down to F (worst or untested), plus a smoke sub-class from s1 (least smoke) to s3 and a flaming-droplets sub-class from d0 (none) to d2. So a rating like B-s1,d0 signals a high reaction-to-fire class, the least smoke, and no flaming droplets.
Untreated timber typically achieves around Class D, so its behaviour depends heavily on how it is treated. Reaching a higher class such as B generally requires fire-retardant treatment or specific construction, evidenced by a test report rather than a claim. Our Euroclass reaction-to-fire guide explains each class in full.
Reaction to fire is not fire resistance
This is the distinction that causes most confusion. Reaction to fire measures how a surface contributes to the start and spread of a fire, using the Euroclass system above. Fire resistance measures something different: how long a complete element, such as a wall, floor or door, holds back a fire from passing to the other side, expressed in minutes.
Acoustic panels are a surface lining, so they are graded on reaction to fire, not fire resistance. A panel is not a barrier and should never be relied on to contain or slow a fire spreading between rooms; that job belongs to the construction behind it.
When do you need a fire-rated panel?
In many ordinary rooms the reaction-to-fire class of a wall lining is not tightly restricted. But in certain locations, such as escape routes, protected circulation spaces, and larger or public buildings, Approved Document B sets minimum classes for wall and ceiling linings in England. There, an untreated panel may not be permitted.
For those spaces, specify a fire-rated acoustic panel whose class is proven against a test report, and confirm the requirement for your specific building type. You can browse the fire-rated range as a starting point, then verify the class against the documentation.
Specifying wood panels safely
Choose panels with a documented Euroclass, ask for the test report or Declaration of Performance, and match the class to the room rather than assuming. Fire-retardant treatment, by impregnation or coating, raises the class, but only counts when it is tested and stated on that document.
On a regulated project the design team and, where needed, an acoustician check the linings against the requirement. The acoustic goal and the relevant acoustic comfort standards sit alongside the fire requirement, not instead of it, so a panel satisfies both only when its evidence says so.
Frequently asked questions
Are untreated wooden acoustic panels safe to use at home?
In a typical domestic room the reaction-to-fire class of a wall lining is not usually tightly regulated, so many homeowners use untreated timber slat panels. Untreated timber typically sits around Euroclass D. If your panels are near a heat source or on an escape route, choose a fire-rated panel with a documented class, and follow the manufacturer's guidance.
What Euroclass do wooden acoustic panels achieve?
It depends on the panel. Untreated timber typically achieves around Class D under BS EN 13501-1, while fire-retardant treatment or specific construction can reach higher classes such as B-s1,d0. There is no single answer, so ask for the specific class stated on that product's test report or Declaration of Performance rather than assuming.
Do fire-rated acoustic panels stop a fire spreading between rooms?
No. A Euroclass describes how a surface lining contributes to a fire within a space; it is not fire resistance, which is how long a wall or door holds back fire between rooms. Acoustic panels are a lining, not a barrier, and should never be relied on to contain a fire.
Does fire-retardant treatment last for the life of the panel?
That depends on the treatment and product. Some impregnation treatments are durable for the panel's service life, while surface coatings may need maintenance, especially in humid or high-wear areas. Check the manufacturer's test report and guidance for how the class is maintained over time.