SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1996
STP16287S

Implementation of Revised Evaluations of Less Flammable Hydraulic Fluids

Source

Factory Mutual Research Corporation (FMRC) has evaluated and certified (“Approved”) less flammable hydraulic fluids since the 1950s. This Approval is widely recognized among users, insurance interests, and regulators. However, the two traditionally used flammability tests (ignition of specifically defined sprays by open flame and a heated steel channel) have been shown to lack consistent repeatability. Consequently, the development of a new test methodology has been undertaken. The new protocol involves separate measurements of ease of ignition and heat release of the same spray discharge. These two measurements are then combined mathematically into a dimensionless “spray flammability parameter” (SFP), which becomes a unitary measure of the flammability hazard of the fluid. The revised methodology has been incorporated in the first significant revision to the Approval Standard for less flammable hydraulic fluids since the 1970s.

Author Information

Brandao, AV
Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Norwood, MA
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Details
Developed by Committee: D02
Pages: 148–156
DOI: 10.1520/STP16287S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5338-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-2041-9