- NCC – the code that references Group Numbers for wall and ceiling linings.
- Group 1 – The highest Standard in material performance
- AS 5637.1 – the standard that sets testing and classification rules.
- ISO 9705 – full-scale room test used to assign Group Numbers.
- Eveneer Raw (ALPIlignum and Natural) with an FR MDF substrate
- Eveneer WoodWall
- Evenex PaperWall
- Eveneer Prefinished (ALPIready) with FR MDF substrate
- Evenex Forte 0.3mm with FR MDF substrate
- Eveneer Prefinished (ALPIkord and Natural)
- Evenex Sincro (with FR MDF)
- Evenex Forte 0.6mm
- Evenex Profiles
- Products pressed onto Group 3 MDF (such as standard veneered boards)
- Eveneer Profiles
Fire ratings, clarified: specifying timber veneers and wallcoverings with confidence
10.12.25
What a Group Number tells you
A Group Number is a concise way of describing how a wall or ceiling lining will behave in a fire and is assigned to an individual material surface.
The scale runs from Group 1 to Group 4:
Group 1: The best/highest performance. These materials resist fire spread the longest, making for the safest environment. Suitable for almost all building applications.
Group 2: Acceptable performance in fire conditions. Suitable for many applications, but not all.
Group 3: Limited performance. Not appropriate for fire-sensitive environments such as corridors, exits, or multi-residential and aged-care facilities.
Group 4: The poorest performance. Prohibited in Class 2-9 buildings.
The Group Number determines where a material can be used under the NCC. This applies across building types or classifications (defined by the NCC Part A6)—from workplaces and schools to healthcare and multi-residential projects. While loose furniture is exempt, all wall linings, ceiling linings, and fixed joinery must carry a compliant Group Number.
In non-sprinklered buildings, there are additional requirements around smoke development rates and extinction area, which influences the suitability of a material for different settings that require a higher Group Rating.
How a fire rating is tested and determined
The Australian Standard AS 5637.1 determines a fire rating by using one of two testing methods.
1. A Cone calorimeter test (AS/NZS 3837)
A laboratory test that measures heat and smoke release rates. The cone calorimeter exposes a small sample—usually 100 × 100 mm—to a controlled radiant heat source, shaped like a cone. The heat flux replicates the thermal conditions of an early stage building fire. During the test, the following key measurements are recorded: time to ignition; heat release rate, which measures how much heat the material gives off as it burns; total heat release and smoke production, smoke is a critical factor in egress safety during actual fire scenarios.
2. A Full-scale room burn test (ISO 9705)
A room-sized test that simulates a real fire event, measuring whether materials reach flashover, this captures its real-world behaviour. Given the scale of this burn test, it is a very expensive, albeit necessary, exercise.
While it is valuable to test and identify the Group Fire rating and performance for the material surface, products like veneer are always pressed onto a substrate, which must also have been tested for its fire performance.
With pressed products, such as traditional veneer, the face is just one part that needs to be considered, as the surface face is pressed to a board substrate. Therefore, the overall Group Number defaults to whichever layer has the lowest rating. In essence, this means a beautiful, high-performance face applied to a lesser substrate will default to the lower rating. Perforating or slotting panels after testing can also alter its performance, and where acoustic treatment is required, the entire/full system should be tested as it will be installed.
Beauty, made compliant
Elton Group’s portfolio of surfaces across the Eveneer and Evenex ranges is curated to give designers aesthetic breadth without compromising compliance. Our role is to make the right outcome easy to achieve with clear documentation and current test data.
Eveneer WoodWall offers a rare achievement in real timber veneer
Eveneer WoodWall breaks any assumptions about fire and timber products, achieving Group 1 classification, an exceptional outcome for a genuine timber veneer wallcovering. In fact, Eveneer WoodWall is the only Group 1 product in its class. As WoodWall is applied directly to a wall without the need for a substrate, it will always retain its Group Rating. For projects where an authentic timber expression must coexist with the highest fire performance, WoodWall provides a direct path to compliance without diminishing materiality.
Prefinished veneer, ready to specify
There are times when a demanding programme and high-quality finish require a surface that arrives press perfect, ready for installation. Eveneer Prefinished (ALPIReady) offers the refinement of real timber veneer in a prefinished format. When paired with the Group 1 Fire-Rated MDF substrate, designers ensure their project is achieving top-rated fire certification.
Eveneer Raw ALPI and Naturals for real timber in the strictest environments
Eveneer Raw (ALPIlignium) and Eveneer Naturals deliver the warmth and authenticity of real timber veneer while supporting the highest fire performance requirements. When pressed onto a Group 1 fire-rated MDF substrate, both collections achieve Group 1 classification, ensuring designers can specify natural timber surfaces without compromising compliance.
With a wide palette of species, grains and tones, the Eveneer Raw range provides complete creative freedom—coupled with the confidence of safety for commercial, public and multi-residential projects.
Timber-look options with Group 1 ratings
Elton Group also provides timber-look wallcoverings that meet the highest classification. Evenex PaperWall achieves Group 1, making it a compelling choice for corridors, lobbies and other high-demand environments that call for a finish with impeccable consistency. For joinery and surfaces in harder-wear settings such as desks, kitchens and doors, Evenex Forte (0.3-millimetre) can also achieve Group 1 when used with a Group 1 FR MDF board uniting durability, uniformity and compliance.
Confident choices with a Group 2 rating
Many commercial interiors are perfectly and elegantly compliant with Group 2 products. Evenex Sincro (0.3/0.6 millimetre), Evenex Forte 0.6 millimetre and Evenex Profiles all achieve a Group 2 rating when matched with either a Group 1 or Group 2 substrate. This breadth allows you to select tone, pattern and texture first, then tailor the palette to the exact performance requirement.
The importance of the right substrate
Substrates matter. One of the most common substrates has traditionally been MDF, but it’s important to note that standard MDF only has a Group 3 rating, so any face pressed onto it will default to Group 3 overall. If your brief calls for Group 1 or Group 2, nominate the substrate accordingly at the outset—typically fire-rated MDF. This small, but important, decision at the documentation stage preserves both compliance and design intent.
Designing for performance, specifying with ease
The most successful specifications are also the clearest. As a designer and specifier, it’s important to confirm the required Group Number for each space. From there, you can select the surface that best serves your concept and aesthetic direction. Don’t forget to pair it with the substrate that preserves your performance target. If the scheme calls for acoustic treatment or decorative profiling, ensure the rating is relevant to the full systems so the installed outcome matches the certified one. At Elton Group, we are committed to supporting designers and specifiers with
accurate fire performance documentation and Group Number certifications, so that every project can achieve the highest standards of safety and quality.
Why fire performance matters
Fire performance is more than a checkbox. It protects access, egress and, ultimately, people. Elton Group’s commitment is to provide products that are best-in-category on both counts: design quality and compliance. That is why we place particular emphasis on the products that achieve Group 1, and why we document the Group 2 pathways designers rely on every day.
Key terms at a glance
Quick product guide: Elton Group and fire performance
At Elton Group, we ensure that our products are tested to the highest standards for both design and safety. Here’s a quick overview of our key products and their corresponding Group Fire Rating: