Robert G. Bill

Laboratory tests for flammability using enhanced oxygen

A comparison has been made between laboratory test results from the ASTM E-2058 Fire Propagation Apparatus and the observed propagation behavior in an intermediate-scale fire test. The intermediate-scale fire test consists of two 2.4 m high parallel panels with a 60 kW fire source at the base. The intermediate-scale test determines whether a material could sustain upward fire spread under conditions associated with clean room hazards. Tests have been conducted with materials that, when used in the intermediate-scale test, provide examples of both propagating and non-propagating behavior. Eight polymeric materials are studied here four of which propagate and four of which do not propagate in the test. Ignition times have been measured at imposed radiant fluxes of 50 and 60 kW/m2 in laboratory tests with horizontal samples. Heat release rates have also been measured from horizontal samples at an imposed radiant flux of 50 kW/m2. In addition, the tests have been performed with vertical samples (measuring the propensity for propagation) with the bottom third of the sample exposed to a radiant flux of 50 kW/m2. Both the horizontal and vertical sample tests have been conducted in normal air and in air containing 40% oxygen. Of all the small-scale test series, the propagation tests with a vertically oriented sample in air containing 40% oxygen give the best correlation with the propagating behavior observed in the intermediate-scale parallel panel test series.

Flammability evaluation of clean room polymeric materials for the semiconductor industry

A new methodology, identified as the 4910 Test Protocol, has been developed to evaluate the fire propagation and smoke development behaviour of polymeric materials for use in clean rooms for the semiconductor industry. This paper reviews the scientific basis of the concepts and criteria contained in the 4910 Test Protocol. For the acceptance of polymeric materials, two criteria are used: (a) Fire Propagation Index (FPI) less than or equal to 6 (m s(-1/2))/(kWm(-1))(2/3) and (b) Smoke Development Index (SDI) less than or equal to 0.4 (gg(-1)) (ms(-1/2))/(kWm(-1))(2/3). Materials are tested in the ASTM E 2058 Fire Propagation Apparatus (previously identified as the Factory Mutual Research Flammability Apparatus). The Fire Propagation Index (FPI) is formulated from: (a) the Thermal Response Parameter (TRP), which relates the time-to-ignition to the net heat flux to the sample surface, and (b) the chemical heat release rate measured during the upward fire propagation in air having a 40% oxygen concentration to simulate flame heat transfer at large scale. The SDI is related to the smoke release rate and is obtained by multiplying the FPI value by the smoke yield. The smoke yield is defined as the ratio of the total mass of smoke released per unit mass of the vapours of the polymeric material burned. Small and large-scale fire test data have been included in the paper in support of the 4910 Test Protocol criteria. Highly halogenated and high temperature specialty polymeric materials and highly modified ordinary thermoplastics are found to satisfy the criteria.

Predicting the Suppression Capability of Quick Response Sprinklers in a Light Hazard Scenario PART 1: Fire Growth and Required Delivered Density (RDD) Measurements

Fire growth and Required Delivered Density measurements were obtained for a vinyl-cov ered reclining chair as part of a program to evaluate the Actual Delivered Density (ADD)/Required Delivered Density (RDD) approach to suppression prediction for quick response sprinklers in a light hazard scenario. In two tests, chemical and convective heat release rates of the burning chair were obtained from a fire products collector, while the radiative heat release rate was measured using a heat flux gauge.The average maximum chemical heat release rate was 1.5 MW (85,000 Btu/min) with the convective fraction being 56%. The average growth time of the fire, assuming a second power growth curve (t2), was 100 s. The RDD of the chair was determined by measuring the effect of water application on the convective heat release rate of the chair. Nominal application densities of 2.4, 3.7, 6.1 and 8.6 mm/min (0.06, 0.09, 0.15, and 0.21 gpm/ft2) were applied over a convective heat release rate range of 100 to 450 kW (5700 to 25,...

Thermal sensitivity limits of residential sprinklers

Abstract The effect of thermal sensitivity parameters on room tenability and heat release rate at first sprinkler actuation was investigated for sprinklers installed at a 3·66 m spacing in a living-room fire scenario. The thermal response was modeled using the response time index (RTI), the conduction factor (C) and the sprinkler actuation temperature. Actuation times of a bulb and a solder type of residential sprinkler were obtained in a living-room fire test in which there was no water discharge from the sprinklers. The bulb and solder models were installed at three different locations within the enclosure to verify the predictive capabilities of the response model. The living-room scenario was the same as that used to develop approval criteria for residential sprinklers in the USA. Gas velocities and temperatures in the vicinity of the sprinklers were obtained during the fire test. The sprinkler actuation times were predicted from the experimentally obtained ceiling flows. The predictions were in excellent agreement with the observed actuation times. Measurements of the gas temperature at the 1·5 m level in the room center and mass loss of a burning chair, the primary combustible in the living-room fire scenario, were also obtained as a function of time. These measurements, in conjunction with predicted actuation times for varying values of RTI and C, allowed the effect of RTI and C on room tenability and heat release rate at the time of sprinkler actuation to be predicted for a sprinkler installed at a 3·66 m spacing. The results indicate that sprinklers of the ‘fast response’ type will actuate in the living-room scenario while gas temperatures at the 1·5 m level are near ambient and before the convective heat release rate of the burning chair in the living-room fire exceeds 130 kW.

Predicting the Suppression Capability of Quick Response Sprinklers in a Light Hazard Scenario: PART 2: Actual Delivered Density (ADD) Measurements and Full-Scale Fire Tests

An apparatus to determine the Actual Delivered Density (ADD) of quick response and resi dential sprinklers under light hazard conditions was constructed and calibrated. The plume of a burning chair at different stages of fire development was simulated by the apparatus using five convective heat release rates: 110, 160, 250, 300 and 390 kW (6300, 9100, 14,200, 17,100, and 22,200 Btu/min). The ADD as a function of the convective heat release rate was determined for a residential sprinkler at ceiling heights ranging from 2.4 m to 4.6 m (8 ft to 15 ft). ADDs were obtained for single and multiple sprinklers installed using a 3.6 m x 3.6 m (12 ft x 12 ft ) spacing. The ADD of a 12.7 mm (1/2 in.) orifice, quick response sprinkler was determined for a single sprinkler directly over the ADD appa ratus at a ceiling height of 3 m (10 ft). Previously reported Required Delivered Density (RDD) measurements for the reclining chair allowed suppression predictions to be made. Seven full-scale fire tests were conducted to ...

From Bench-scale Test Data To Predictors Of Full-scale Fire Test Results

There is a strong desire in the fire safety community for methods that use bench-scale test data to predict the final outcome of full-scale fire tests. The current project has the objective of meeting this goal through modeling an intermediate-scale test called the parallel panel test and comparing the results of the test with FM Approvals 25 ft Corner Test (ANSI FM 4880). The Corner Test has been used to evaluate the fire hazard of insulated wall and plastic interior/exterior building panels. As the first step of the project, a model predicting the total heat release rates from the burning parallel panel tests using the data obtained by the bench-scale tests was developed. The heat release rates of the sand burner at the bottom of the parallel panels were varied during the tests for each different panel material. The results of the comparison were very favorable. However, comparisons with the 25 ft Corner Tests indicate that an improved correlation with the parallel panel configuration could be obtained by a modification of the space and the burner size.

Evaluation of an Extended Coverage Sidewall Sprinkler and Smoke Detectors in a Hotel Occupancy

Twelve fire tests were conducted in a simulated hotel guest room and corridor to evaluate the performance of one model of an extended coverage horizontal sidewall sprinkler equipped with a fast-response link and the performance of smoke detectors. Eight of the tests were flaming-started fire tests using either a chair or a bed as the fire source. In four tests, smoldering combustion was initiated in a bed. Five different ventilation condi tions were investigated. In all of the flaming-started tests, the fire was suppressed by the sidewall sprinkler. In the four smoldering-started tests, smoldering was sustained for at least five hours. A tenability criterion based upon the time integrated concentration of carbon monoxide was exceeded in all four smoldering tests. In only one of these tests did the smoldering phase progress to flaming combustion. In that test the fire was extin guished by the sidewall sprinkler. In all twelve tests, guest room smoke detectors responded sufficiently early to increase the es...

A New Test to Evaluate the Fire Performance of Residential Sprinklers

AbstractFire tests were conducted using the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) UL 1626 Fire Test for residential sprinklers. The results indicated that sprinkler performance in UL 1626 could not be reproduced due to differences in material flammability properties. This conclusion was reached in a cooperative effort with UL. Factory Mutual Researchs Approval fire test that had been redesigned based on UL 1626 was thus subject to the same variability. A new fire test was developed using fuel with controlled material flammability parameters based upon the use of the ASTM E2058 Fire Propagation Apparatus. The new fuel package consists of a wood crib (one half the height of the one which was used in UL 1626) supported over a pan with heptane, two polyether foam cushions (about 60% greater in density than the foam previously used in UL 1626) measuring 34 in by 30 in by 3 in (864 mm by 762 mm by 76 mm) and

Sprinkler protection of manufactured homes with sloped ceilings using prototype limited water supply sprinklers

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