Lateral Spread Of Flame Test Apparatus

What is the Lateral Spread Of Flame Test Apparatus?

The Lateral Spread of Flame Test Apparatus is a device used to evaluate how flames spread across the surface of materials in a horizontal direction. This test simulates real fire conditions by applying a controlled flame to a sample placed in a defined testing area, allowing for the observation and measurement of flame spread characteristics.

Compliance：ISO 5658-2:2006 "Reaction to fire tests -- Spread of flame -- Part 2: Lateral spread on building and transport products in vertical configuration"； IMO FTP Code Resolution A.653(16): "Recommendation on improved fire test procedures for surface flammability of bulkhead, ceiling and deck finish materials".

Main performance parameters:

1. Instrument composition: It consists of a control cabinet, a test device, a computer, a heat flow meter calibration device, and a smoke exhaust system.

2. Experimental device: It consists of radiant plate support, sample support, igniter and sample holder. Wherein the radiation plate support and the sample support are connected together.

3. Radiant panel support: It is composed of steel pipe frame, radiant panel and air supply part.

3.1 Steel pipe frame: The steel pipe frame supports the radiant panel together with the corresponding gas supply pipeline system, safety device and flow meter. The steel pipe frame is composed of a square stainless steel pipe with a cross-section of 40mm×40mm, which is used to support the radiant panel. The central height of the radiant panel is (1200±100)mm, and the radiation is placed vertically. The angle between the surface and the front surface of the steel pipe frame is (15± 3).

4 Ignition source: radiant panel and propane blowtorch:

4.1 Radiant panel: It is composed of porous refractory tiles, which are evenly installed on the radiant surface, with a size of 450mm×300mm. The plenum is located at the rear of the radiant surface and consists of baffles and gas distribution pipes to smoothly transport the gas/air mixture and control the radiant flux required for the test by adjusting the amount of combustion. A wire mesh screen is provided in front of the irradiated surface to increase the irradiance, the radiant intensity can reach about 62kW/m2, and the surface temperature can reach about 750°C. The heat flow measurement of the radiant plate is convenient, and the track spacing is 50mm.

4.2 The heat flux applied to the specimen by the radiant plate descends in a gradient along the long side of the specimen, with a starting point of 50KW/m² and an end point of 1.5kW/m². Heat flux values comply with the table below.

4.3 Radiant panel temperature control: Control the radiant panel temperature, that is, the radiant heat flux, by adjusting the airflow velocity of gas and air mixture. Solenoid valve that prevents the flame from diverting to the back of the radiator, checks the temperature inside the radiator, and automatically shuts off the gas in case of flame backflow.

4.4 Blowtorch: The propane blowtorch flame is 80mm long, and it is applied to the sample at a distance of 20mm from the edge of the sample closest to the radiant plate.

5 Gas supply system:

5.1 Gas supply: The gas and air supplied for the test can be accomplished by adjusting the pressure flow regulator, protective equipment and flow control system. The air circuit is equipped with pressure reducing valve, zero pressure valve, tempering valve, solenoid valve, regulating valve and mixer, etc., to deliver the mixed air and gas to the radiant plate.

5.2 Combustion flow: 10L/min~100L/min. Error<1%.<>

5.3 Gas: more than 95% propane.

5..4 Air flow: 100L/min~1000L/min. Error<1%.<>

5.5 Air supply: provide air for the high-pressure air compressor, and have specific flow control valves, air filters and air dryers.

5.6 The air and gas supply valves are independently controlled.

5.7 To prevent backflow of gas, check valves and pressure regulators are installed on gas pipelines.

5.8 In case of abnormal conditions, such as power outage, pressure outage and reduction of combustion surface temperature, the solenoid valve of the gas pipeline can be automatically closed.

4.6 Sample holder:

6.1 The sample support includes guide rails, igniters, mirrors and observation grade marks, where the guide rails are used to support the sample holder and place the sample holder in a specific position.

6.2 Steel pipe frame: composed of square steel pipes with a section of 40mm×40mm. It is connected to the bracket frame of the radiation plate through nuts and positioning pieces, and it can adjust the angle between the surface of the radiation plate and the surface of the sample in the range of 120~180.

6.3 Sample installation navigation: The sample installation guide rail determines the installation position of the top and bottom edges of the sample holder. The guide rail is made of stainless steel, which can resist heat and corrosion. The lower rail is 700mm long and has a groove on the surface, and the top of the edge of the sample holder should be fixed by one or more plugs. The guide rail is installed from one end of the frame, fixed by steel stud material and nuts, and its corresponding position with the bracket is adjustable.

6.4 Observation mirror: length 750mm, width 120mm, the rotation axis is located at the bottom of the bracket opposite the sample fixture, and the observation mirror is located under the radiation plate. Its position and angle should enable the observer to observe the sample and the observation grade mark on the surface of the sample from the observation mirror.

6.5 Observation level mark: used to improve the observation accuracy of the flame front. Observation level marking is made of heat-resistant steel material, 700mm long. Nail 100mm long nails on it at intervals of 50mm, and the observation level marks are set from the bottom of the sample fixture guide rail to ensure that the nails are kept level with the front end of the sample line.

7. Sample clamp: It is made of steel with a thickness of (3±0.2) mm. The clamp is flexible and can place the sample in an appropriate position. The front edge should have a zigzag edge with a V-shaped mark. The interval between the V-shaped marks is 50mm to facilitate the observation of flame spread. The zero mark corresponds to the vertical edge of the sample near the radiant plate. The number of sample holders is four.

8. Pilot burner:

8.1 Igniter structure: a double-hole ceramic tube with a length of about 200mm, the diameter of the ceramic tube is about 6mm, and the diameter of each hole is 1.5mm. It is composed of connector, pilot burner bracket, flame controller, pressure reducing regulating valve, flow meter, needle valve, one-way valve, on-off valve, propane gas tank, air delivery pipe, etc.

8.2 Pilot burner installation: It is located on the sample holder, and its position corresponds to the surface of the sample to be tested. The mixed gas of propane/air is supplied to the pilot burner through the control valve and flow meter.

8.3 Pilot burner gas: propane with a purity of more than 95%.

8.4 Flame height: (230±20) mm.

9. Linear burner: It consists of a pipe with a length of 2m and an inner diameter of 9.1mm, one end is closed with a pipe cap, and a row of 15 holes with an interval of 16mm and a diameter of 3mm is drilled through the pipe wall.