Small-scale Fire Tests Research Articles

Severe laboratory fire test for fire fighting foams

A small-scale laboratory fire test has been developed to replace costly and air-polluting large-scale field fire tests that are used to evaluate reliability of fire fighting foam formulations.

Smoke measurements in large-and small-scale fire testing — Part II

Smoke measurements in large-and small-scale fire testing — Part II

Smoke measurements in large- and small-scale fire testing — Part I

A new extinction photometer design has been developed that will provide the stability and accuracy necessary for taking smoke measurements in fire testing.

Effect of thermal insulation and heat sink on the structural fire endurance of steel roof assemblies

Designing for energy conservation in buildings calls for considerably better insulated roof structures than have been used and fire tested in the past. This requires that information be developed on the effect of such increased insulation on the temperature of structural steel and steel roof decks during a fire exposure.Fourteen small-scale fire tests are summarized that show that for combustible and noncombustible insulating materials a critical thickness exists beyond which additional insulation does not increase the temperatures developed on structural steel.

Thermoplastic pool compartment fires

A numerical investigation is described wherein expected gas temperatures in compartment fires where the fuel consists of a pool of thermoplastic material are determined. Natural ventilation from a single rectangular window is assumed and only steady-state, well-stirred, flashed-over fire is considered. The fuel is assumed to pyrolyze radiatively only. The dominant variable is shown to be the ratio of ventilation parameter to fuel area. A stable higher and an unstable lower solution are obtained for gas temperature. The stable solution corresponds to fuel-rich burning; the unstable solution would indicate fuel-lean burning. For ventilation parameter/fuel area ratio in excess of that at stoichiometry, no real solution is obtained, indicating that a well-stired fire does not occur under this condition. The dependence of gas temperature on the ratio of ventilation parameter to fuel area and window height is developed. Predicted results are compared to experimental data from small-scale fire tests where polyethylene and polymethylmethacrylate were used as fuel and show agreement. The finding that a flashed-over fire does not occur for fuel-lean conditions is verified by this comparison.

Small-scale fire tests of walls penetrated by telephone cables

Four small-scale fire-resistance tests have been carried out on walls penetrated by telephone cables. The failure criteria were that temperature should not exceed 1000° F at the unexposed surfaces of the cable, sleeve or wall, nor should openings greater than 0.1 square inch develop.

Comparison of Some Small-Scale Fire Tests with the ASTM E-84 Tunnel Test

Comparison of Some Small-Scale Fire Tests with the ASTM E-84 Tunnel Test

A Simplified Method for Determining Flame Spread

The author discusses a small-scale fire test, which he proposes be used to determine flame-spread ratings for plastics during the development stages. Data on certain cellulosic materials indicate good correlation with the 25-ft tunnel test.

A simplified method for determining flame spread

The author discusses a small-scale fire test, which he proposes be used to determine flame-spread ratings for plastics during the development stages. Data on certain cellulosic materials indicate good correlation with the 25-ft tunnel test.

Experimental study on moisture and fire endurance

The author describes the test procedure for, and the results of, many small-scale fire tests conducted during a recently reported study that was made to provide information for numerically evaluating the effect of moisture on fire endurance. He concludes with an equation for calculating the fire endurance of a building element at a given moisture content when its fire endurance at some other moisture content is known.

Factors influencing the use of high-temperature sprinklers

High-temperature sprinklers—when and where to use them—are a subject of interest to fire protection engineers. In a series of small-scale and large-scale fire tests, Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., evaluated conditions under which high-temperature sprinklers should and should not be used. The value of increasing water supply pressure to sprinklers of ordinary rating was also investigated.