ABSTRACT:This paper gives an overview on the new draft of EN1996-1-2 (Eurocode 6 part 1-2) being pre- pared by Project Team SC6.T2 of CEN/TC250. The prescriptive and performance-based approach for the de- sign of masonry panels subjected to fire is described. An improvement to the tabulated data for the determina- tion of the fire rating of non-loadbearing masonry panels is described. The problems associated with the calculation methods in the current version of EN1996-1-2 for the assessment of loadbearing walls are ex- plained. A proposal is made for the improvement of the input parameters for mechanical models based on ex- perimental tests. Finally, the results of an experimental programme carried out on some common masonry materials (units and mortar) are presented.