T18B: Early Fire Hazard

AWTA TEST CODE

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T18B

OTHER NAMES

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Early Fire Hazard EFH,

SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF IGNITABILITY, FLAME PROPAGATION, HEAT RELEASE AND SMOKE RELEASE

TEST METHODS

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AS/NZS 1530.3

IMAGE

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AS1530.0 Test Rig: - Burning Specimen - Radiant Panel -omputer Showing Heat and Smoke Output

APPLICATION

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This test is applicable to all materials used as internal lining materials in buildings. It can include such products as wall, floor and ceiling linings, ductwork for air handling systems, insulation materials and many more.

The test has been used in many instances where it is not entirely suitable, eg. for thermoplastic materials that are used on vertical surfaces. These products can melt and flow during the test resulting in less product being available to be exposed to the maximum radiant energy and to burn if ignition occurs.

PRINCIPLE

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A vertically mounted specimen is subjected to an increasingly intense radiant heat source over a 20 minute period. Any volitile gasses emitted by the specimen are tested with a small flame to try and ignite them. The time to ignition (if it occurs), the rate of increase of heat, the total amount of heat produced and the highest amount of smoke produced in any minute of the test are recorded and four indices are calculated.

The four indices are the Ignitability Index, the Spread of Flame Index, the Heat Evolved Index and the Smoke Developed Index.

SAMPLES REQUIRED FOR TESTING

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Enough product to produce ten specimens each 600mm x 450mm.

INTERPRETATION

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The Indices obtained should be compared to the requirements given in the Building Code of Australia to determine into which classes of buildings the product may be placed.

SERVICE TARGET

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9 working days

COST

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See current Fees List.