ASTM E84 Steiner Tunnel

Industrial fire testing in action

Description

The Steiner Tunnel (ASTM E84) is used to assess the surface burning characteristic of building materials. The purpose of the test is to determine the comparative burning characteristics of the material under test by evaluating the spread of flame over its surface and the density of the smoke developed when exposed to a test fire, and thus to establish a basis on which surface burning characteristics of different materials are compared, without specific regard to all the end-use parameters that affect the surface burning characteristics. A 24’ wide x 24” long sample is placed into a test chamber (Steiner Tunnel) and covered under a removable lid, and the sample is exposed to an 89kW output open flame. During the test, a forced airflow is provided from the upstream of the Steiner Tunnel in order for the material to burn. The distance of spread of flame is monitored through the glass windows on the side of the Steiner Tunnel, also the optical density of the light measuring system at the end of the exhaust duct is recorded by the computing system. The Spread Flame Index (FSI) and Smoke Developed Index (SDI) are calculated to assess the surface burning characteristic of the sample. FSI is used to measure the speed of flame progress across the interior surface of the material, and SDI is used to measure the amount of smoke generated from burning material. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code requires that “Interior wall or ceiling finish that is required elsewhere in this Code to be Class A, Class B, to Class C shall be classified based on the test results from ASTM E84, NFPA 255, or UL 723.” NFPA 255 & UL 723 are the equivalent test standard of ASTM E84. The performance requirements as below table.

Compliance

ASTM E84 Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials UL 723 Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials NFPA 255 Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

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Features :

  • Stainless steel SUS304 made Steiner Tunnel Furnace with firebrick interior for resistance to flame impact and good thermal insulation. The inside dimensions are 7.62m long by 451mm width by 305mm depth.
  • The insulating firebrick is in size 9in. by 4.5in. by 2.5in., and has a thermal conductivity of 0.37 W/(m*°C) at 2000°F.
  • Double layer high-temperature-resistance glass observation window for observing and recording the flame spread distance.
  • Indicator for each glass windows for flame spread distance recording.
  • Cooling water circulation support bracket to support burning coverings.
  • Equipped with a 2mm thick 304 stainless steel water sealing tank to ensure no leakage of smoke during the test.
  • Stainless steel insulation body top cover, filled with high-temperature-resistant insulation firebrick inside.
  • Independent multi-functional exhaust pressure detection device, real-time monitoring of exhaust pressure changes during the test. Measurement range of 0 to 250Pa, accuracy of ±0.5Pa, system schematic pressure test accuracy of ±2Pa.
  • Equips with a frequency converter to change the air velocity, with a flow rate capacity not less than 8000m3/h, to be able to discharge the smoke generated by the combustion of the sample in time to ensure the safety of the test.
  • U-Shaped gas burner, able to output a standard 5.3MJ/min flame source, and can be controlled
    by a flowmeter according to different standards, with a measuring range of 0 to 160L/min.
  • Equips with ignition system to ensure the safety performance of the test, high voltage igniter, 44KV, 50mA, minimum high voltage of 1.8kVp for the ignition electrode.
  • Smoke measurement system, provides a separate signal processing system to ensure that the sensor is linear.
  • Neutral density filters for photometer system calibration, with an accuracy of ±3%.
  • Two type K 18AWG thermocouples are embedded below the furnace flooring for measuring furnace temperature.
  • A type K 18AWG thermocouple is mounted 9.5mm upon the furnace flooring for measuring furnace temperature.
  • Automatic recording of temperature and smoke sensing signals, with a sample collection frequency of 1Hz.
  • Standard test software for automatic recording of system air velocity, temperature, smoke density, and other test data.

Combustion System :

  • The10kV spark igniter is equipped with a safety cease-fire device. The igniter is automatically positioned through the lever connected to the closing mechanism.
  • The combustion heat of the burner is automatically controlled by the gas flow system. The reading accuracy is 1%.
  • The heat output of the burner can be automatically controlled by computer. Equipped with Japanese mass flow controller.
  • Gas flow valve control system to avoid leakage caused by electromagnetic valve failure, resulting in explosion risk.
  • Frequency fan automatically controls wind speed inside the flue, fan power 3KW, voltage 380V.
  • Frequency fan automatically controls wind speed inside the flue, fan power 3KW, voltage 380V.
  • Imported gas flow control valve to control gas flow accurately.

Test system :

  • Smoke Density Test ： smoke density is measured by incandescent light system. Color temperature 2900±100K;The current fluctuation range is + 0.5%;Linear output of smoke density value; With time compensation function.
  • The lens converts light into 20mm parallel beams; d/f < 0.04.
  • Detector: The spectral distribution corresponds to CIE; The accuracy of the chromatic standard function is + 5%;The linearity of output is less than 3% of transmittance or 1% of absolute transmittance.; The response time of system 90% is no more than 3S.
  • The thermocouple is K type armored thermocouple, 0.5mm diameter; the temperature accuracy is 0.5 degrees.
  • Pressure sensor range 0~100pa; accuracy is + 2pad;The response time of pressure sensor 90% is 1s.
  • Environmental pressure accuracy of + 200Pa
  • System record time is at least 3S
  • System time recording accuracy 0.1s
  • Computer real-time display of smoke density generation curve

Wind speed test of combustion chamber :

  • Set the speed of the combustion chamber in the computer system, and monitor the wind speed in real time, then output the wind speed curve.
  • The speed range of the combustion chamber is 0~8m/s, and the wind speed measurement resolution is 0.001m/s
  • The detection range is 0 ~ 250Pa, the accuracy is ± 0.5Pa, and the system indication pressure test accuracy is ± 2Pa.

Temperature control collection :

  • Equipped with 3 K-Type armored thermocouples to monitor the temperature change of the exhaust pipe, the accuracy is 0.1 C.
  • The parameters of the thermocouple: Less than 0.25mm wire diameter; temperature accuracy 0.1 degrees.
  • The temperature test range is 0 C ~1300 C.

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