This part of this European Prestandard specifies a test method for determining the ability of a vertical protective membrane, when used as a fire resistant barrier, to contribute to the fire resistance of loadbearing vertical structural building members fabricated from steel, concrete, steel / concrete composites or timber. The method described is applicable to any type of vertical protective membrane, which can be associated with a separate bracing membrane. The vertical protective membrane can be separate from the structural building member and be self-supporting or can be attached to the structural building member and can form part of any load bearing structure. This test method is applicable to vertical protective membranes where there is a separating gap of at least 5 mm size between the vertical protective membrane and the structural building member, otherwise alternative test methods ENV 13381-3, ENV 13381-4, ENV 13381-6 or ENV 13381-7 should be used as appropriate