ASTM E1317 IMO Flame Spread Tester Building Material Flammability Test Apparatus

Scope of application:

1.1 applicable to buildings and transportation tools (such as ships, trains, etc.), the exposed surface using flat single material, the surface properties of composite materials or components, and tubular products by special fixed installation and test;

1.2 descrip and measure the characteristics of the materials, products or groups corresponding to radiant heat when ignition flame exsit in the laboratory.

1.3 apply to the combustion characteristics of building materials, high-speed train materials and ship materials. Record the spread distance of the flame over time, the relationship between the velocity of flame forward and the heat flux, the critical quenching heat flux and the average continuous combustion heat.

1.4 according to ISO 5658-2 and 2010 international fire test program application rules FTP rules (2010) surface of the part 5 flammability test (surface materials and primary deck dressing test) and IMO Res, 653, requirements, at the same time meet the GB/T 28752-2012, the flame spread on the surface of the vertical, horizontal test method. Evaluate the combustion characteristics of the test object mounted vertically. Record Sample per distance of flame and flame spread rate is calculated after time out. Test out the critical heat flux CFE (kW / ㎡).

Meet the standard:

· ISO 5658-2 : Reaction to fire tests –Spread of flame - Part 2 Lateral spread on building products in vertical configuration

· IMO Resolution A. 653(16): Recommendation on fire test procedures for flammability of bulkhead, ceiling and deck finish materials

· ASTM E 1317 : Standard test method for flammability of marine surface finishes

Main features:

1. All control systems are explosion-proof.

2. Air Cylinder type of Pilot Flame Burner allowing the flame impingement test method based on IMO to be automatically performed.

3. Double grid to see spread of flame length as well as enlarged Restrict View Mirror for easy observation.

4. DAQ Program for applying spread of flame length and combustion characteristics to image storage.

5. 19” Analysis Rack for measuring spread rate of flame, critical flux, and heat release rate.

6. IMO Program available of controlling Air Blower to facilitate change in amount of combustion-heat in Radiant Panel Calibration (for measuring heat release rate by each section of radiant panel.

7. Program for blocking gas supply in failure of ignition in radiant panel, in which Flame Relay System detects.

8. Rail for easily measuring heat flux of radiant panel at an interval of 50mm.

9. IMO Program to facilitate all calibrations and tests as well as to printout of results by standards (IMO, ISO).

10. Radiant panel temperature controller: Equipment to prevent flame back toward the back side of Radiant panel, check the internal temperature of radiant panel and automatically block gas sol. v/v in case of flame back-flow.

11. MFC (Mass Flow Controller) to easily measure the heat amount of methane gas in measuring critical heat flux.

12. Explosion-proof options of all control systems for safety in combustion in radiant panel as well as Check-Valve and its Gas shut-off valve (Solenoid Valve) to prevent back-flow in gas line.

13. Camcorder to observe and save test conditions in a program during tests.

Main parameters:

4.1 composition of instruments: control cabinet, test device, computer, heat flow meter calibration device and smoke exhaust system;

4.2 experimental device: consists of radiant panel holder, sample holder, ignition and sample clip. The radiation plate bracket and the sample bracket are connected together.

4.3 radiating board bracket: made up of steel tube frame, radiant panel and gas supply part.

4.4 ignition source: radiant panel and propane torch

4.5 gas supply system: gas supply: the gas and air supply for the test can be completed by adjusting the pressure flow regulator, protective equipment and flow control system. The air and gas are equipped with pressure reducing valve, zero pressure valve, tempering valve, solenoid valve, regulating valve and mixer, etc., and the mixing of air and gas to the radiant panel.

4.6 sample bracket: the sample holder includes guide rail, ignition device, lens and observation grade identification, in which the guide rail is used to support the sample clamping, and the sample holder is placed in a specific position;

4.7 sample clamp: the thickness of (3 + / - 0.2) mm steel, flexible clamp, can put the samples in the right position, v-shaped front edge should be of serrated edges, v-shaped mark 50 mm intervals, so that the flame spread of observation, zero logo vertical edge near the radiant panel corresponds to the sample, the sample clip number four.

4.8 burner:

Ignition structure: double hole ceramic tube with a length of 200mm. The ceramic tube is directly about 6mm, and each hole diameter is 1.5mm. It is composed of connector, ignition bracket, flame controller, pressure control valve, flow meter, needle valve, one-way valve, switch valve, propane gas tank, air conveying pipe, etc.

4.9 linear burner: consisting of a tube with a length of 2m and a 9.1mm inner diameter, a tube cap is enclosed at one end and a hole of 15 intervals 16mm and 3mm in diameter is drilled through the pipe wall.

Test result

Heat for sustained burning (MJ/m2)

- It is gained by multiplying time, which ranges from the initial exposure of test object to arrival of flame-tip in each point, by radiant heat flow penetrated against nonflammable calibration panel in the same point.

• Average heat for sustained burning (MJ/m2)

- It is an average of characteristic values measured in individual positions by continuous sustained heat. The characteristic value is measured in continuous position at an interval of 50 mm from the initial 1500mm to the final position or 400 mm, whichever is lower.

• Heat for ignition (MJ/m2)

- It is gained by multiplying time, which ranges from the initial exposure of test object to arrival of flame-tip in a point of 150 mm, by heat flow of this point. (However, heat flow is gained by pre-calibration of test equipment.)

• Critical flux at extinguishment (kW/m2)

- It means heat flux in the location where flame spreads to the farthest distance from the center line of combusting test object. The heat flow is gained by performing calibration test of tester using calibration panels.

• Total heat release (MJ)

- It means total heat release during test period.

• Peak heat release rate (kW)

- It means peak heat release rate during test period.