Fire test

A fire test (also fire test ) applies to the evidence of the fire resistance of a component.

Many tests are driven by official laboratories. However, some manufacturers of fire protection products have their own ovens for the purpose of research and development. There are many types of fire tests for systems and their components. For example, there are only intumescent material tests to their function within many systems to prove. Some tests are small and some are very large, with Prüfkörperflächen of 9 m². In some countries, then carried the fire water test. The fire water test does not simulate the fire, but is meant to be a quantum of mechanical stress / reality added to the test. The necessary for North America 30 PSI measured at the nozzle. In Europe extinguishing water tests are not a requirement.

Foreclosure in a F180 concrete ceiling

The following images show a typical fire test a foreclosure in a F180 concrete ceiling.

These fire audit, the Canadian standard ULC - S115 and achieved fire resistance rating between 0 and 180 minutes for various systems that have been assessed as a whole. A fire water test, which in the U.S. is mandatory, for example, was only partially passed. The testing took place at Underwriters ' Laboratories of Canada ( subsidiary of Underwriters Laboratories) in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada and is for Z. as evidence for Technical Approvals in the NAFTA region.

Pipes and cables breakthroughs are hung.

Suspension of the openings is finished.

Fire resistant mortar is pumped into the opening.

Material testing on fire protection mortar.

The pumped- mortar can be smoothed out.

Furnace for use for fire tests. A simple metal box, insulated with ceramic fiber and protected pipes provided by thermocouples. Below we see the perforated gas tubes, so that the fuel enters the combustion chamber.

The specimen is now ready to be applied and flame.

The gas flows and a fire has been lit manually.

The fire test runs. One observes not only the combustion chamber temperature, but also the temperature on the bulkhead and the breakthroughs themselves Man listens on acoustic signals, such as the crackling of hot cable sheathing, which can bring the whole test to failure at Feuerentfachung.

The three-hour exposure to flame is passed. Nowhere was fire or by too much heat. Now, the test specimen can be lifted up and exposed to the fire water test.

Preparation for the fire fighting water test.

30 PSI examination begins.

The fire water testing was largely passed - up to two breakthroughs, which were sealed with mineral wool and silicone rubber. There is too much heat came by fitting metal, leaving here the silicone during the test going on and the extinguishing water could penetrate there. This disqualify the system for use in the USA, but not in Canada.

Fire test according to Canadian standard

Structure of the specimen

Establishment of a panel shall be for a fire test in accordance with ULC S -115, the Canadian standard for fire resistance of bulkheads. The specimen consists of a concrete floor 5 ' x 9' x 4 ' (1.5 mx 2.3 mx 10 cm) with a large hole and many mechanical and electrical breakdowns. The image is being introduced to seal the hole with the test material, a fire protection mortar.

Mounting of the test specimen

The finished specimen is transported by crane to the oven and set there on a ceramic fiber gasket. Here you can see the bottom. The Canadian Test Standard ULC S -115 requires that the openings 12 " (30 cm) must reach into the oven to heat there take that burden from the inside during passing the bulkhead. Germany in DIN 4102 dictates a length of 1 m, which is more realistic. North American wall ovens are not deep enough to.

Flame

The final specimen was placed on the open furnace. A seal made ​​of ceramic fibers is between the specimen and the edge of the oven. Below run perforated gas pipes. Thermocouples in the furnace itself measure the temperature in the combustion chamber. By controlling the gas supply to reach compliance with the time / temperature curves within the allowable tolerance. This can be controlled manually while, but nowadays the gas control is largely electronically. Thermocouples are attached on the fire side facing away since the time period in which you have either reached an average temperature increase of 140 ° C or a single increase of 180 ° C above the initial temperature is decisive for the quantification of fire resistance. At the beginning of turning on the gas valves, and in this case, the plugging is done manually.

Evaluation

After successful completion of the flame to the specimen is removed from the oven. Audit reports keep all observations determined, from both sides of the specimen, as well as all temperatures, on the specimen and in the oven. For flammable breakthroughs such as cables, it is not uncommon to see even after two hours of flaming still remaining fires. Only may the fire is not through foreclosure or the breakthrough. Also, the temperature increase on the side facing away from fire must remain so low that you do not run the risk of causing a new fire on the cold side. In Canada, it is therefore provision, the temperature on the foreclosure, 25 mm from the breakthrough, and away on the break, 25 mm from the foreclosure to measure.

Extinguishing water test

After the flame is the fire water test. The duration and pressure depend on the flame application, and the Prüfkörperfläche.

Certificate

The test is passed if too much heat came over the intended flame impingement neither fire through the specimen. The time periods are quantified per breakthrough and set to fire resistance class. The resulting from the certificate bauamtliche approval is considered public domain or public knowledge.

Touch up

Observations from both sides of the test specimen to follow, even if the test piece has reached a normal room temperature. It is also customary to destroy the specimen in order to learn from the inside. Applicable to research and development work of the manufacturer, but also for the laboratory to ensure that cheating has not during the construction of the test body.

Conditions of the test method

Usually one uses internationally almost identical curves, which are based on measurements for building of burning wood failure. According to DIN 4102 standard temperature -time curve is defined. For exterior applications in refineries and chemical plants, use is made of the hydrocarbon curve. Also in the tunnel area one uses, especially since the " Eureka " project of various hydrocarbon curves. The fire in the tunnel, especially in an oil or fuel fire, difficult countermeasures in particular the fact that the heat can not escape quickly. Outdoors, such as the refinery, they go away upward. However, the tunnel forms a kind of microclimate, whereupon the particularly hot curves are due.

In the conventional construction application, however, there are internationally only minor differences between the curves.

One big difference between North America and other industrialized countries is that the thermocouples are hidden inside the furnace tubes in which slows the measurement and thus the North American test makes slightly more conservative than ISO. However, the ISO curve is largely a little hotter. Use is also made available in North America of the extinguishing water test, which is outside NAFTA is otherwise uncommon. Only the U.S. Navy requires a 90 PSI test for components on their ships. Germany requires a crash test in fire walls, but which is carried out by the fire- side remote.

If you want to distribute fire protection products internationally, must partially finance a variety of tests and perform because many countries do not recognize the testing of foreign countries. Although the tests is very similar to that legislation in different countries is different. Accreditation of institutions between different countries are not tangible in legal disputes.

Time / temperature curves ( ZTK ) for the course of fire tests for components:

European ZTK. Compared are the European hydrocarbon curves and the wood-based curve.

Dutch hydrocarbon ZTK, for tunnel area

European hydrocarbon ZTK

French hydrocarbon ZTK, for tunnel area

German ZTK, for tunnel area

Oven temperature tolerance for the course of fire tests, according to ISO834. *