1. Scope

- This proposed test methodology provides a means to measure the response of layered materials, products and assemblies, when exposed to controlled levels of radiant heating, with or without an external ignitor, including their propensity of leading to a pool fire.
- This test method is used to determine the ignitability, heat release rate (including peak heat release rate and total heat released), mass loss rate, effective heat of combustion, visible smoke development, time to release of liquid products (generated by melting and pyrolysis), time to burn-through and time to bottom ignition (i.e., appearance of flaming on the bottom surface of the specimen).
- Ignitability, heat release rate, effective heat of combustion, mass loss rate and smoke development are measured using the test method and procedure in Test Method E1354.
- Propensity of leading to a pool fire is quantified by measuring the time from initial exposure to the time at which liquid products are first observed on the bottom surface of the specimen. The time at which liquid products are first observed on the bottom surface of the specimen is a conservative estimate of the time required to generate a pool fire.
- Propensity of leading to bottom ignition is quantified by measuring the time from initial exposure to the time at which flaming is first observed on the bottom of the specimen.
- The top side of the specimens shall be exposed to an initial test heat flux of 0 to 75 kW/m2. External ignition, if any, shall be by electric spark.
- This draft test method has been developed for use to evaluate the fire test response characteristics of layered assemblies. It is also potentially useful for mathematical modeling, material or product design purposes, and research and development.
- This draft test method focuses on horizontally oriented specimens however, similar principles apply also to vertical assemblies.

Keywords

Oxygen consumption calorimetry; heat release rate; pool fire; ignitability; burn-trough

Rationale

This draft standard yields additional information to cone calorimetry, not provided by E1354, including: (a) appearance of liquid products (generated by either melting or pyrolysis of the specimen) over the bottom surface of the specimen, (b) dripping of liquid products and consequent pool formation underneath the specimen, (c) appearance of flaming over the bottom surface of the specimen or the liquid pool (pool fire), (d) formation of a hole connecting the top to the bottom of the specimen (burn-through). These additional data have been proved to be useful to predict the full-scale performance of multi-layered products containing fire barriers.

The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.