Adaptation of Cone Calorimeter (ASTM E1354) Data for Use in Performance-Based Fire Protection Analysis

Abstract

Performance-based fire codes and standards are being developed to augment or replace existing prescriptive fire codes and standards. In performance-based analysis, designers often use computerized fire models to evaluate proposed systems, but input data for these models is difficult to find in the literature. Bench scale test methods are a cost effective, time efficient way for developing such data; however, output data from standard test methods are not always adequate or in a form usable for analysis. This paper focuses on determining the necessary input data for fire growth and room fire models used in predicting fire development inside a building. ASTM E1354 Cone Calorimeter is one of the more common test methods used for determining material fire properties, and was used here to develop most of the input data. Recommendations are provided for additional calculations and test procedures that make standard output data from ASTM E1354 more usable in performance-based analysis.