Fire Resistance Testing
Fire resistance testing methods:
There are several different methods of fire resistance testing, each of which is designed to evaluate different aspects of a material or product’s fire resistance properties. These methods include:
The ASTM E119 test: This is one of the most widely used fire resistance tests and is designed to evaluate a material or product’s ability to maintain its structural integrity under fire conditions.
The UL 1709 test: This test evaluates a material or product’s ability to resist thermal radiation and heat transfer.
The ISO 834 test: This test evaluates a material or product’s ability to maintain its insulation properties and prevent the spread of fire.
The BS 476 test: This test evaluates a material or product’s ability to resist fire penetration and spread.
The IS 16945 test: Fire resistance test for glass walls
The EN1363-1: This test evaluates a building material and product’s ability to resist the fire.
Classification criteria
Once a material or product has been subjected to fire resistance testing, it is classified based on its performance. The classification criteria vary depending on the test method used, but generally include ratings for:
Fire resistance duration: This refers to the amount of time a material or product can withstand fire without losing its structural integrity.
Insulation: This refers to a material or product’s ability to maintain its insulation properties and prevent the spread of fire.
Integrity: This refers to a material or product’s ability to prevent the spread of flames and smoke.
Radiation: This refers to a material or product’s ability to resist thermal radiation and heat transfer.
Fire resistance products:
There are a wide variety of fire resistance products available for use in construction, including:
Fire-resistant coatings: These are applied to surfaces to improve their fire resistance properties.
Fire-resistant boards: These are used as wall and ceiling panels, and can help to prevent the spread of fire.
Fire-resistant sealants: These are used to fill gaps and joints in walls, floors, and ceilings, and can help to prevent the spread of fire.
Fire-resistant doors and windows: These are designed to resist fire and prevent its spread.
Fire-resistant insulation:This is used to maintain the insulation properties of a building’s walls, floors, and ceilings in the event of a fire.
Overall, fire resistance testing and the use of fire resistance products are essential components of building safety. By ensuring that materials and products can withstand the effects of fire, we can help to protect people and property from the devastating effects of fire.
Product and Test Methods
| Sr. No. | Fire Resistance Test Method | Products Tested |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASTM E119 | Structural elements, doors, windows, shutters, electrical cables, insulation, fire protection products, building cladding and facade systems |
| 2 | UL 1709 | Structural elements, insulation, fire protection products, building cladding and facade systems |
| 3 | ISO 834 | Structural elements, doors, windows, shutters, insulation, fire protection products |
| 4 | BS 476 | Structural elements, doors, windows, shutters, insulation, fire protection products |
| 5 | EN 1363-1 | Structural elements, doors, windows, shutters, insulation, fire protection products, building cladding and facade systems |
| 6 | NFPA 251 | Structural elements, doors, windows, shutters, insulation, fire protection products |
| 7 | DIN 4102 | Structural elements, insulation, fire protection products, building cladding and facade systems |
| 8 | AS 1530.4 | Structural elements, doors, windows, shutters, insulation, fire protection products, building cladding and facade systems |
| 9 | GB/T 9978 | Structural elements, doors, windows, shutters, insulation, fire protection products |
| 10 | IS 3614 | Structural elements, doors, windows, shutters, insulation, fire protection products |
| 11 | ISO 3008 | Electrical cables |
| 12 | ISO 3009 | Electrical cables |
| 13 | EN 45545-3 | Railway vehicles |
| 14 | EN 81 | Lifts |
| 15 | IS 16945 | Building materials |
| 16 | IS 16947 | Building materials |
| 17 | EN 1634-1 | Doors and windows |
| 18 | IMO FTP Code 2010 | Doors, Lining material, bulkhead deckhead |
Methods and Performance Criteria
| Test Method | Performance Criteria | Procedure to Check Performance Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM E119 | Integrity | Check for cracks or openings in the product that could allow flames or hot gases to pass through. Use gap gauges to measure any openings that are present. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the product. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| Radiation | Measure the heat flux on the unexposed side of the product. The heat flux must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| UL 1709 | Integrity | Check for cracks or openings in the product that could allow flames or hot gases to pass through. Use gap gauges to measure any openings that are present. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the product. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| Radiation | Measure the heat flux on the unexposed side of the product. The heat flux must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| ISO 834 | Integrity | Check for cracks or openings in the product that could allow flames or hot gases to pass through. Use gap gauges to measure any openings that are present. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the product. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| EN 1363-1 | Integrity | Check for cracks or openings in the product that could allow flames or hot gases to pass through. Use gap gauges to measure any openings that are present. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the product. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| BS 476 | Integrity | Check for cracks or openings in the product that could allow flames or hot gases to pass through. Use gap gauges to measure any openings that are present. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the product. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| Flame Spread | Measure the distance that flames spread across the surface of the product. Calculate the flame spread index based on this measurement. | |
| EN 13501-2 | Integrity | Check for cracks or openings in the product that could allow flames or hot gases to pass through. Use gap gauges to measure any openings that are present. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the product. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| Flame Spread | Measure the distance that flames spread across the surface of the product. Calculate the flame spread index based on this measurement. | |
| Smoke Production | Measure the amount of smoke produced during the test. Calculate the smoke production index based on this measurement. | |
| NFPA 251 | Integrity | Check for cracks or openings in the product that could allow flames or hot gases to pass through. Use gap gauges to measure any openings that are present. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the product. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| Flame Spread | Measure the distance that flames spread across the surface of the product. Calculate the flame spread index based on this measurement. | |
| IS 3614 | Integrity | Check for any openings or cracks in the test specimen. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the test specimen. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| Load Bearing Capacity | Determine the load that the test specimen can support without collapsing. | |
| IS 16945 | Integrity | Check for any openings or cracks in the test specimen. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the test specimen. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. | |
| IS 16947 | Integrity | Check for any openings or cracks in the test specimen. |
| Insulation | Measure the temperature rise on the unexposed side of the test specimen. The temperature rise must not exceed certain limits defined by the testing standard. |
| FTP Code Part 3 | A-0 to A-60 Classifications | The test specimen is subjected to a direct flame and the following criteria must be met: |
|---|---|---|
| Insulation: Average temperature rise on the non-fire side cannot exceed 140°C, and no single point temperature rise can exceed 180°C. | Temperature measurements are taken on the non-fire side of the test specimen using thermocouples or other temperature measuring devices. | |
| Integrity: The test specimen cannot develop cracks or openings that would allow the passage of flames or hot gases from one side of the specimen to the other. | Visual inspection is conducted after the test to check for any cracks or openings in the test specimen. | |
| B Classifications | The test specimen is subjected to a direct flame and the following criteria must be met: | |
| Insulation: Average temperature rise on the non-fire side cannot exceed 140°C, and no single point temperature rise can exceed 225°C. | Temperature measurements are taken on the non-fire side of the test specimen using thermocouples or other temperature measuring devices. | |
| Integrity: The test specimen cannot develop cracks or openings that would allow the passage of flames or hot gases from one side of the specimen to the other. | Visual inspection is conducted after the test to check for any cracks or openings in the test specimen |