A Procedure for Measuring Flame Spread Properties of Materials by Cone Calorimeter

Abstract

A procedure for measuring flame spread properties using cone calorimeter (CCM) is discussed. As determined by ISO 5660-1, CCM is normally used to measure heat release rate and ignition time of surface lining materials, but not used to measure flame spread properties. In this study, ignition time and heat release rate were measured in horizontal and vertical orientations. By changing the heating intensity, time to ignition was measured. Using the results, critical heat flux for ignition and thermal inertia were determined by the methods of ISO 5658-3 and ASTM E 1321 lateral ignition and flame transport (LIFT). To measure the flame spread properties, reduced-size LIFT tests were carried out. Small samples, 250 × 155 × 50 mm, were heated at a certain distance from the cone heater in vertical orientation. The heating intensity was set at less than the critical heat flux for ignition in order to allow the surface temperature to rise to steady-state value. After sufficient heating, the sample was ignited at the lower left corner by a pilot flame. The flame spread velocity toward lateral direction was measured by visual and infrared camera. By summarizing the measured data, the flame spread parameter was calculated. To verify the method, the same sample was tested by full-size LIFT apparatus. The flame spread parameters measured by reduced and full-size LIFT tests agreed well. As demonstrated, it is possible to determine the flame spread properties by using cone calorimeter. © Springer 2015. Selection and peer review under responsibility of the Asia-Oceania Association for Fire Science and Technology.