Principles of Fire Protection

Engineering

Module 4: Materials Application

PART I
4-1
 Flame Spread

!The velocity of flame spread along the

surface of the material assembly.

" Relative classification from ASTM E-84, “Test

for the Surface Burning Characteristics of
Building Materials.”

" 0 = cement asbestos board, 100 = red oak.

4-2
 Code Classifications

" A or I 0 - 25

" B or II 26 - 75

" C or III 76 - 200 or 225

" D or IV 201 or 226 - 500 or above

4-3
Hospital Room Test 1-27-69
1 min

4-4
2 mins 30 secs

4-5
2 mins 35 secs

4-6
2 mins 40 secs

4-7
2 mins 45 secs

4-8
2 mins 50 secs

4-9
2 mins 55 secs

4-10
3 mins 10 secs

4-11
After Extinguishment
5 mins 20 secs

4-12
Ignition Area After
Extinguishment

4-13
 Flame Spread

!Historical concern:
" (fatalities) 1946:
#June 5, LaSalle Hotel, Chicago = 61
#June 9, Canfield Hotel, Dubuque = 19
#December 7, Winecoff Hotel, Atlanta = 119

4-14
La Salle Hotel,
Chicago, Illinois
June 5th, 1946

4-15
Canfield Hotel
June 9th, 1946

4-16
 The Winecoff Hotel
Atlanta, Georgia
December 7th, 1946

4-17
 Flame Spread

!Development of ASTM E-84:

" A.J. Steiner & S.I. Ingberg, Steiner Tunnel,
ASTM E-84 tentative 1950.

4-18
E-84 Controls

4-19
E-84 Tunnel

4-20
E-84 Ignition Flame

4-21
 Evaluation Procedures

!ASTM E-84 - 1950, UL 273, NFPA 255

" Sample size = 25 ft. (24) x 19.5 in., exposed area

19.5 ft. x 17.5 in.

" Horizontal mounting in top of tunnel.

" Air flow = 240 ± 5 fpm, temperature = 70 F ± 5 F,

RH = 35 - 40%.

4-22
 Evaluation Procedures:
ASTM E 84
!1973 FTC complaint & study, ASTM, UL, SPI of
foam plastic discrepancies.
!Gas burner = 5,000 BTU/min. (88 kW), flame
impingement on 4.5 ft. of sample.
!Smoke = light obscuration in exhaust vent.
!Red oak flame spread = 19.5 ft. in 5.5 min.
±0.25 min., duration of test 10 min.
!Codes = flame spread & smoke developed.
(fuel)

4-23
 ASTM E-84
Tunnel Test Apparatus

4-24
Time-Distance Diagram for
Flame Spread of Red Oak

4-25
Time-Absorption Curve for
Smoke Density of Red Oak

4-26
 Evaluation Procedures:
ASTM E 162

!ASTM E-162 - 1960, radiant panel (NBS)

" Sample size = 6 in. x 18 in.
" Vertical mounting in front of radiant panel,
30 degrees toward panel.
" Convected natural draft.

4-27
 Evaluation Procedures:
ASTM E 162

" Gas fired radiant panel, 12 in. x 18 in. at 1238 F ± 7

F. Ignited at top by pilot flame.

" Smoke = filter paper collection of particles.

" Duration of test 15 min.

" Codes = flame spread (fuel)

4-28
Radiant Panel Test Apparatus

4-29
E-162 Apparatus

4-30
E-162 Apparatus

4-31
 Additional Evaluations

!Nonstandard or obsolete*
" Monsanto tunnel, 2 ft.

" Union Carbide tunnel, 4 ft.

" Ingberg tunnel, 8 ft.

" ASTM E-286, 8 ft. * (1993)

4-32
 Carpet Evaluations

! ASTM E-84, Canadian CSA B54.9, 1972,

ULCS102.2, mounting on floor with inverted
burners.

! ASTM E-648 - 1978, flooring radiant panel

(NBS). 8 in. x 40 in. sample mounted below
panel at 30 degrees.

4-33
The Floor Radiant Panel Test
ASTM E-648

4-34
4-35
4-36
 Carpet Evaluations

!ASTM D-2859, Federal FF-1-70 “pill test” 9 in.

square sample, methenamine tablet. Char
radius < 4 in. for approval, min. of 3 samples.

4-37
 ASTM D-2859
“Pill Test” Apparatus

4-38
 ASTM D-2859
“Pill Test” Apparatus
¼” cement asbestos board
sides and bottom

Pill (to burn slowly when ignited

by a match)

9” x 9” steel flattening frame (to

hold carpet horizontal and flat
during test)

Test specimen (installed under

flattening frame)

4-39
Flammability and Combustibility

!ASTM E-136 - 1958, “Setchkin Furnace”. (NBS)

" Temperature rise, flaming, weight loss.

!ASTM E-906 - 1983, OSU rate-heat-release.

4-40
Flammability and Combustibility

!Fire Tests of Roof Coverings Materials -

ASTM E-108
" Classification of roof coverings - A, B, C

" Samples mounted on slope 1/5 inches.

" Air speed 12 mph, except flying brand 18 mph.

4-41
 Fire Tests of Roof coverings
Materials- ASTM E 108
!Intermittent Flame:
" Sample 3.3 x 4.3 ft. cycles (minutes)
" C=1 on 2 off, 3 cycles
" B=2 on 2 off, 8 cycles
" A = 2 on 2 off, 15 cycles
" Temperature of flame all tests: A & B = 1,400 F.
C = 1,300 F.

4-42
108-Intermittent Flame

4-43
108-Intermittent Flame

4-44
 Fire Tests of Roof coverings
Materials- ASTM E 108 (cont’d)
!Spread of Flame Test:
" Sample 3.3 x 13 ft. Flame exposure continuous,
(minutes).
" C=4
" A & B = 10
" Distance of allowable spread, lateral = 0.
" Vertical, C = 13 ft. (top of deck)
B = 8 ft.
A = 6 ft.

4-45
108 Spread of Flame

4-46
108 Spread of Flame

4-47
 Fire Tests of Roof coverings
Materials- ASTM E 108 (cont’d)
!Burning Brand Test:
" Sample 3.3 x 4.3 ft.
" Number of brands
" A=1
" B = 2 in succession
" C = 25 1-2 minutes apart
" Size of brands (inches)
" C = 1.5 x 0.75
" B = 6 x 6 x 2.38
" A = 12 x 12 x 2.38

4-48
Burning Brand Samples

4-49
Ignition of Brand

4-50
Burning Brand Test

4-51
 Fire Tests of Roof coverings
Materials- ASTM E 108 (cont’d)
!Flying Brand Test:

" (Wood shakes & shingles only) sample 3.3. x 4.3 ft.

" Flame exposure of intermittent flame continuous for

4 minutes after flow of air increased to 18 mph.

4-52
 Fire Tests: Test Criteria

" No sustained flaming on underside of

roof deck.

" Exception: Class C may have sustained

ignition on underside in Burning Brand test from
not more than 5 of 25 (20%) of brands.

4-53
 Fire Tests: Test Criteria

" No portion of roof covering shall be blown or

fall off in the form of glowing or flaming
brands, or glowing particles.

" No portion of the roof deck be exposed by

breaking or cracking of roof covering.

4-54
 “Cone Calorimeter”

!ASTM E-1354 - 1990

(Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter)

" Conical-shaped radiant electric heater

" Horizontal/vertical specimen
" Load cell-specimen mass loss
" Collector hood & exhaust gas system-oxygen
consumption
" Flow measuring & smoke obscuration

4-55
 “Cone Calorimeter”

!ASTM E-1354 - 1990

(Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter) (cont’d)

" Radiant heater-max

" 100 kW/m² on 4x4x2 inch specimen
" Electric ignition of pyrolysis products
" Laser for measuring smoke

4-56
 ASTM E-1354
Cone Calorimeter Test Apparatus

4-57
Intermediate Scale Calorimeter

!ASTM E-1623 -1993 (Oxygen Consumption

Calorimeter)

" Radiant heaters-max.

" 50 kW/m² on 1000x1000x152 mm vertical
specimen.
" Hood & Exhaust gas system-oxygen consumption.

4-58
Intermediate Scale Calorimeter

4-59
 “LIFT” Test

!ASTM E-1321 -1990

(Lateral Ignition and Flame Spread Test)

" Radiant heater-max:30 kW/m² on 6.2x6.2x2 inch

specimen (ignition)
" 6.2x32x2 inch specimen (flame spread)
" Pilot flame/20 min.
" Flame spread for @ 1 inch spread.

4-60
“LIFT” Test Apparatus

4-61
Lift Apparatus for Flame Spread
ISO DP 5658, ASTM E 1321

4-62
 Metal Roof Deck

!Large Scale Tests-Omega Pt. Labs.

!GM Livonia fire 8-13-53.

" “White House Test”
" 100x20x10 ft. tunnel-acceptable or unacceptable.

4-63
White House Test

4-64
4-65
4-66
4-67
Intermediate-Scale Multistory
Test Apparatus
!ISMTA 1997 Omega Pt. & UL.
" Sample = 15 x 17.5 ft. 2 stories

" Window 1st. = 2.5 x 6.5 ft.

" Room & window burners, 1st floor.

4-68
Intermediate-Scale Multistory
Test Apparatus
!30 min. burner 687-904 kW + 10 min.
exposure
!Measure propagation on exterior & interior
wall surface & interior of wall assembly.
!Window burner 5 ft. wide impacts both sides
of wall.
!One room on each floor 10 x 10 x 7 ft.

4-69
Full Scale Corridor Evaluation

!NBS Facility 30 x 8 x 8 ft. corridor.

!FPL-Wausau, WI-1965
" Plaster & wainscoting
" Hardboard
" Red Oak

4-70
NBS 30 Foot Corridor

4-71
4-72
 Heat Transfer Feedback

!Convection, Conduction, Radiation

!Vertical wall first 10 in. convection, > radiation

4-73
4-74
 Heat Transfer Feedback

!Vertical spread -doubling time

" Doubling time = a 1 foot flame at 1 minute will

reach 64 feet in 3 minutes.

4-75
Vertical Spread:
Doubling Time

4-76
Position of Fuel and Vertical
Surfaces: Air Flow

4-77
FM Corner Test

4-78
4-79
 Heat Transfer Feedback

!Combustion stages
" Preburning 0 inches
" Ignition 1-2 inches
" Convection stage 6-10 inches
" Radiation stage > 10 inches
" Ceiling stage 84-96 inches
" Room stage Flashover

4-80
 Furnishing and Furniture
Tests
!NFPA 701 Flame resistant textiles and films
(single and multilayer fabric assemblies)

" Test Method 1

" 5.9” x 15.75” samples - 10 samples
" Gas flame 1” from sample, 45 sec.
" Duration of flaming on sample & drops
" Length of char and weight loss <40%

4-81
NFPA 701 Method 1

4-82
 Furnishing and Furniture
Tests
" Test method 2 (Fabrics > 21 ozs/sq. yd.)
" 5” x 4’ sample - 10 samples (single sheets)
" 24” x 4’ sample - 4 samples (4 fold of 5”)
" 11” Gas flame, 4” below sample, 2 min.
" Duration of flaming on sample & drops
" Length of char
" Vertical spread of burning
" 40.76” above flame tip (single sheets)
" 41.34” above flame tip (folded sheets)

4-83
 Furnishing and Furniture
Tests
!NFPA 705 Recommended Practice for a Field
Flame Test for Textiles and Films

" 4” x 0.5” sample, 12 sec. match exposure.

4-84
 Furnishing and Furniture
Tests
!ASTM E-1352 (NFPA 261) Cigarette Ignition
Resistance of Mock-up Upholstered Furniture
Material Assemblies.

" Mock-up: 2 vertical panels, 1 seat cushion, 1

bolster, 1 deck, 1 armrest top, 1 back top
" 3 cigarettes @ surface
" 3 cigarettes @ crevice

4-85
 Furnishing and Furniture
Tests
" Seat cushion
" 3 cigarettes @ surface

" Criterion: Char length from cigarette location

or ignition.

4-86
 Furnishing and Furniture
Tests
!ASTM E-1353 (NFPA 260) Cigarette Ignition
Resistance of Components of Upholstered
Furniture.

" Tests: Cover fabric, interior fabric, welt cord,

filling/padding, decking & barrier materials.

4-87
 Furnishing and Furniture
Tests
" Class I: no ignition, char length
" Cover fabric = 45 mm
" Interior fabric, welt cord, filling/padding, decking
material = 38 mm
" Barrier material = 51 mm

" Class II: ignition or exceed char length

4-88
 Furnishing and Furniture
Tests
!ASTM E-1537 & E-1590, Full-scale testing of
upholstered Furniture and mattresses.
(calorimeter or room)

" Gas burner, 80 s. furniture, 180 s. mattress.

" Mass loss, total & peak rate of heat loss.

4-89
Test Configuration for Mattress in
Furniture Calorimeter

4-90
Bed Assembly with Suspending
Strain Gage Load Cell

4-91
 Furnishing and Furniture
Tests
!NFPA 101-Rate of heat release limits
(upholstered furniture & Mattresses)
" ASTM E-1537
" ASTM E-1590

4-92
 Rate of Heat Release Limits
(cont’d)

" Peak rate of 250 kW, Exception - sprinkler no

limit

" Total energy release, first 5 minutes <40 MJ

" UL, first 5 minutes <25 MJ
" Boston Fire Dept. IX-11, first 10 minutes <30 MJ
" Peak Rate of 150 kW
" CO 1000 ppm/5 min

4-93
Rate of Heat Release: Mattress

4-94