ASTM E603-98a
(Guide)Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments
Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments
SCOPE
1.1 This guide addresses means of conducting full-scale fire experiments that evaluate the fire-test-response characteristics of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.2 It is intended as a guide for the design of the experiment and for the use and interpretation of its results. The guide is also useful for establishing laboratory conditions that simulate a given set of fire conditions to the greatest extent possible.
1.3 This guide allows users to obtain fire-test-response characteristics of materials, products, or assemblies, which are useful data for describing or appraising their fire performance under actual fire conditions.
1.3.1 The results of experiments conducted in accordance with this guide are also useful elements for making regulatory decisions regarding fire safety requirements. The use for regulatory purposes of data obtained from experiments conducted using this guide requires that certain conditions and criteria be specified by the regulating authority.
1.4 The rationale for conducting room fire experiments according to this guide is shown in 1.5-1.8
1.5 Room fire experiments are a means of generating input data for computer fire models and for providing output data with which to compare modeling results.
1.6 One of the major reasons for conducting room fire experiments is as an experimental means of assessing the potential fire hazard associated with the use of a material or product in a particular application. This should be borne in mind when designing nonstandard experiments.
1.7 A rationale for conducting room fire experiments is the case when smaller-scale fire tests inadequately represent end-use applications.
1.8 A further rationale for conducting room fire experiments is to verify the results obtained with smaller scale tests, to understand the scaling parameters for such tests.
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: E 603 – 98a An American National Standard
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Guide for
Room Fire Experiments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 603; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This guide has been written to assist those planning to conduct full-scale compartment fire
experiments. There are many issues that should be resolved before such an experimental program is
initiated, and this guide is written with the objective of identifying some of these issues and presenting
considerations that will affect each choice of procedure.
This guide deals with any or all stages of fire growth in a compartment. Whether it is a single- or
multi-room experiment, observations can be made from ignition to flashover or beyond full-room
involvement.
One major reason for conducting research on room fires is to learn about the room fire buildup
process so the results of standard fire test methods can be related to performance in full-scale room
fires, allowing the further refinement of these test methods or development of new ones.
Another reason concerns computer fire modeling. Full-scale tests can generate data needed for
modeling. Comparisons of modeling with full-scale test results can serve to validate the model.
The various results among room fire tests reflect different experimental conditions. The intent of this
guide is to identify these conditions and discuss their effects so meaningful comparisons can be made
among the room fire experiments conducted by various organizations.
1. Scope data for computer fire models and for providing output data
with which to compare modeling results.
1.1 This guide addresses means of conducting full-scale fire
1.6 One of the major reasons for conducting room fire
experiments that evaluate the fire-test-response characteristics
experiments is as an experimental means of assessing the
of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire condi-
potential fire hazard associated with the use of a material or
tions.
product in a particular application. This should be borne in
1.2 It is intended as a guide for the design of the experiment
mind when designing nonstandard experiments.
and for the use and interpretation of its results. The guide is
1.7 A rationale for conducting room fire experiments is the
also useful for establishing laboratory conditions that simulate
case when smaller-scale fire tests inadequately represent end-
a given set of fire conditions to the greatest extent possible.
use applications.
1.3 This guide allows users to obtain fire-test-response
1.8 A further rationale for conducting room fire experiments
characteristics of materials, products, or assemblies, which are
is to verify the results obtained with smaller scale tests, to
useful data for describing or appraising their fire performance
understand the scaling parameters for such tests.
under actual fire conditions.
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the
1.3.1 The results of experiments conducted in accordance
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
with this guide are also useful elements for making regulatory
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
decisions regarding fire safety requirements. The use for
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
regulatory purposes of data obtained from experiments con-
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
ducted using this guide requires that certain conditions and
actual fire conditions
criteria be specified by the regulating authority.
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.4 The rationale for conducting room fire experiments
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
according to this guide is shown in 1.5-1.8
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
1.5 Room fire experiments are a means of generating input
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-5 on Fire Standards
2. Referenced Documents
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.13 on Large Scale Fire Tests.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1998. Published April 1999. Originally
2.1 ASTM Standards:
published as E 603 – 77. Last previous edition E 603 – 98.
E 603
D 4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure- Growth Contribution of Textile Wall Coverings
ment of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
3. Terminology
D 4444 Test Methods for Use and Calibration of Hand-Held
Moisture Meters 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this guide
D 5424 Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating
and associated with fire issues, refer to the terminology
Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables contained in Terminology E 176, ISO/IEC Guide 52, and ISO
When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
3261. In case of conflict, the terminology in Terminology
D 5537 Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread and E 176 shall prevail.
Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Materials Contained in
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a 3.2.1 full-scale test, n—a test in which the product(s) to be
Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
tested is utilized in the same size as in its end use.
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards 3.2.1.1 Discussion—In practical applications, this term is
E 800 Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Gener-
usually applied to tests where the item to be tested is larger
ated During Fires than would fit in a bench-scale test.
E 906 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
3.2.2 heat release rate, n—the calorific energy released per
Rates for Materials and Products unit time by the combustion of a material under specified test
E 1321 Test Method for Determining Material Ignition and
conditions.
Flame Spread Properties 3.2.3 oxygen consumption principle, n—the expression of
E 1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
the relationship between the mass of oxygen consumed during
Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Con-
combustion and the heat released.
sumption Calorimeter 3.2.4 smoke obscuration, n—the reduction in visibility due
E 1355 Guide for Evaluating the Predictive Capability of
to the smoke.
Fire Models 3.2.5 total heat released, n—integrated value of the rate of
E 1537 Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furni-
heat release, for a specified time period.
ture Items
4. Summary of Guide
E 1590 Test Method for Fire Testing of Mattresses
Proposed ASTM Room Fire Test for Interior Finish Mate-
4.1 This guide does not define a standard room fire test. It
rials
does, however, set down many of the considerations for such a
2.2 UL Standards:
test, for example, room size and shape, ventilation, specimen
UL 1715 Room Corner Test description, ignition source, instrumentation, and safety con-
UL Subject 1040 Large Scale Open Corner Test
siderations that must be decided on in the design of a room fire
2.3 ICBO Standards: experiment. It discusses performance criteria for the particular
Uniform Building Code Standard UBC 8-2 Standard Test array of finishing and furnishing products that comprise the
Method for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of room. The behavior of any particular product in the room
Textile Wallcoverings depends on the other products and materials present and how
Uniform Building Code Standard UBC 26-3 Room Fire Test they are arranged in relation to one another.
Standard for Interior of Foam Plastic Systems 4.2 Whether a particular arrangement simulates the evalua-
2.4 FM Standard: tion desired depends on the size and location of the ignition
FM 4880 Large Scale Open Building Corner Test source. It is therefore important that the ignition source
2.5 ISO Standards: simulate, insofar as possible, an initiating fire for the desired
scenario.
ISO/IEC Guide 52 Glossary of Fire Terms and Definitions
4.3 The main criterion suggested in this guide for evaluating
ISO 3261 Fire Tests—Vocabulary
fire performance is based on the time to flashover as indicated
ISO 9705 Fire Tests—Full Scale Room Fire Tests for
by the time at which the radiation flux at the center of the floor
Surface Products
exceeds 20 kW/m . Other suggested indicators of flashover
2.6 NFPA Standard:
include an average upper air temperature in excess of 600°C
NFPA 265 Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Room Fire
and the ignition of a cotton indicator. Other possible perfor-
mance criteria include the total amount or rate of smoke and
heat production, extent of the flame spread for a low-energy
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.10.
ignition source, and size of the primary ignition source
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.02.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
required to produce flashover.
Discontinued—See 1982 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Part 18, pp.
4.3.1 Where multi-room experiments are being conducted,
1618 – 1638.
6 flashover may not be an appropriate performance criteria. In
Available from Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 333 Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook,
IL 60062. fact, the experiments may have to be conducted beyond
Available from International Conference of Building Officials, 5360 Workman
flashover. Post-flashover is usually required in the test room in
Mill Rd. Whittier, CA 90601.
Available from Factory Mutual Research Corporation, 1151 Boston-Providence
Turnpike, P.O. Box 9102, Norwood, MA 02662.
9 10
Available from International Organization for Standardization, P.O. Box 56, Available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park,
CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland. Quincy, MA 02269.
E 603
order to observe high levels of toxic gases and smoke in remote model rooms (1), where the fire has become large or reaches
rooms or flame spread in adjoining surface areas. Other the point of flashover, show that the compartment geometry
performance criteria could be the levels of combustion prod- and dimension influence the burning rate. An important rela-
ucts that impair visibility and cause incapacitation or lethality tionship is the following:
in remote rooms.
m˙ 5 kA H (1)
=
4.4 Primary ignition sources include gas burners, wood
cribs, waste containers, and pools of liquid fuel. Waste con-
where:
m˙ 5 mass loss rate (kg/s),
tainers and wood cribs have the advantage of presenting a solid
A 5 area of the ventilation opening (m ),
fuel fire with some feedback effects and a luminous flame that
H 5 height of the ventilation opening (m), and
appears to simulate the burning of furniture. However, the gas
k 5 a proportionality constant, the value of which is
burner is the best choice for most fire experiments because of
5/2
approximately 0.09 kg/m s.
its reproducibility. The placement of the ignition source de-
This equation is an empirical relationship resulting from the
pends on the desired effect on the target material.
classic ventilation-controlled wood crib fires that Kawagoe (2)
4.5 The instrumentation for measuring burning rate, heat
studied. Other experiments by Hagglund (3) reveal that flash-
release rate, heat flux, temperature, upper layer depth, air
5/2
over was not observed for A=H below 0.8 m . Hagglund
velocity, flame spread, smoke, and gas concentration is dis-
conducted experiments on wood cribs in a compartment
cussed, along with suggested locations. A minimum level of
measuring 2.9 by 3.75 by 3.7-m high. These studies suggest
instrumentation is also suggested.
that a limiting burning rate that depends on the ventilation must
4.6 A typical compartment size is 2.4 by 3.7 m (8 by 12 ft),
be exceeded before flashover occurs. The correlation is useful
with a 2.4-m (8-ft) high ceiling. A standard-size doorway (0.80
as a guideline for the occurrence of flashover.
by 2.0-m high) should be located in one wall, probably in one
6.2.1.2 However, later studies show that the rate of burning
of the shorter ones. The top of the doorway should be at least
becomes independent of ventilation at flashover. Also, a single
0.4 m (16 in.) down from the ceiling to partially contain smoke
item with a large enough burning rate can induce flashover.
and hot gases.
Among other parameters, ventilation plays an important role in
4.7 Insofar as possible, the construction details of the wall
fire severity. Drysdale (4) explores many of these parameters in
and ceiling, as well as any enclosed insulation, should dupli-
detail.
cate the room being simulated. Boundary surfaces that do not
6.2.1.3 Ventilation should be continuous in a multi-room
form the specimen should also be constructed of materials
test facility. The doors may be either open or partially closed.
consistent with the room being simulated (see 6.2.3).
One can install a typical heating ventilation and air condition-
4.8 The safety of observers and the crew extinguishing the
ing (HVAC) duct system if the compartments are closed.
fire is emphasized strongly in this guide.
6.2.2 Size and Shape of Compartment:
4.9 The analysis of data should include a comparison of the
6.2.2.1 The geometry of the compartment in conjunction
critical times, heat fluxes, temperatures, heat release rate, and
with the thermal properties of the wall and ceiling materials has
smoke generation in the room with ignition, flame spread, and
substantial influence on the behavior of a confined fire,
smoke properties of the specimen materials. This would aid in
particularly by affecting flow patterns, and hence the mixing
the development or modification of small-scale tests and would
and combustion characteristics of the fire. Thus, the compart-
provide useful information for assisting in the development of
ment size, shape, and openings should be chosen to simulate
analytical room fire models.
the nature or type of compartment or facility in which the
5. Significance and Use
subject material, product, or system is expected to be used in
actual service. If there is a range of sizes, account should be
5.1 This guide provides assistance for planning room fire
taken of the fact that for a given ignition exposure, the smaller
tests. The object of each experiment is to evaluate the role of
compartment sizes will usually provide the most severe fire
a material, product, or system in the fire growth within o
...
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