ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Page Count: 7

Prediction of Heat Release Rates of Surface Materials in Large-Scale Fire Tests Based on Cone Calorimeter Results

Wickström, U
Swedish National Testing Institute, Division of Fire Technology, Borås,

Göransson, U
Swedish National Testing Institute, Division of Fire Technology, Borås,

Abstract

A simple theory is suggested for the important fire engineering problem of predicting large-scale test fires of surface materials based on information obtained from small-scale tests. Ignition time and heat release rate history obtained from cone calorimeter tests are input to a straightforward numerical model that predicts the heat release rate history of a product when tested in the standardized large-scale room/corner test. A constant heat output rate of the ignition source, as suggested by NORDTEST, is, however, necessary; the original ASTM method prescribes varying output rates which makes the type of analysis suggested here impossible.

Predicted and measured large-scale heat release rate histories for nine products were compared. The agreement was considered reasonable.

Keywords:
fire tests, combustible lining materials, rate of heat release, small-scale test, full-scale test, correlation study, mathematical model

Paper ID: JTE11035J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE11035J
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