ASTM E603-23
(Guide)Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments
Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This guide provides assistance for planning room fire tests. The object of each experiment is to evaluate the role of a material, product, or system in the fire growth within one or more compartments.
5.2 The relationship between laboratory fire test methods and actual room fires can be investigated by the use of full-scale and reduced-scale experiments. This guide is aimed at establishing a basis for conducting full-scale experiments for the study of room fire growth.
5.3 Room fire tests can be placed into four main categories: reconstruction, simulation, research and standardization.
5.3.1 Reconstruction room fire tests are full scale replicates of a fire scene with the geometry, materials, contents, and ignition source intended to duplicate a particular scenario. The usual purpose of such a test is to evaluate what happened or what might happen in such a scenario.
5.3.2 Simulation room fire tests are comparable to reconstruction fire tests, except that not all of the parameters are duplicated. A simulated fire test is one in which one or more components of a fire scenario are altered, usually in order to facilitate conducting the test. The compartment design must carefully address geometry and materials of construction to ensure that they do not significantly alter the fire response. Reconstruction and simulation fire tests often have a distinctive objective, such as time to flashover, that is related to the nature of the original fire scene.
5.3.3 Research room fire tests are conducted in order to elucidate the effects of one or more of the following: geometry, materials, placement of items, ventilation, or other parameters. The measured effects (such as room temperature, heat flux, heat release rate, time to flashover, post flashover conditions) are chosen to provide the most useful information.
5.3.4 Standardization room fire tests include scenarios that have been adopted by a standardization body. In this case, the compartment, ignition...
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 in accordance with 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 Room fire tests can be placed into four main cate...
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E603 − 23 An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
1
Room Fire Experiments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E603; 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 (´) 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 1.4 The rationale for conducting room fire experiments in
accordance with this guide is shown in 1.5 – 1.8.
1.1 This guide addresses means of conducting full-scale fire
experiments that evaluate the fire-test-response characteristics
1.5 Room fire experiments are a means of generating input
of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire condi-
data for computer fire models and for providing output data
tions.
with which to compare modeling results.
1.2 It is intended as a guide for the design of the experiment
1.6 One of the major reasons for conducting room fire
and for the use and interpretation of its results. The guide is
experiments is as an experimental means of assessing the
also useful for establishing laboratory conditions that simulate
potential fire hazard associated with the use of a material or
a given set of fire conditions to the greatest extent possible.
product in a particular application. This should be borne in
mind when designing nonstandard experiments.
1.3 This guide allows users to obtain fire-test-response
characteristics of materials, products, or assemblies, which are
1.7 A rationale for conducting room fire experiments is the
useful data for describing or appraising their fire performance
case when smaller-scale fire tests inadequately represent end-
under actual fire conditions.
use applications.
1.3.1 The results of experiments conducted in accordance
1.8 A further rationale for conducting room fire experiments
with this guide are also useful elements for making regulatory
is to verify the results obtained with smaller scale tests, to
decisions regarding fire safety requirements. The use for
understand the scaling parameters for such tests.
regulatory purposes of data obtained from experiments con-
ducted using this guide requires that certain conditions and
1.9 Room fire tests can be placed into four main categories:
criteria be specified by the regulating authority.
reconstruction, simulation, research, and standardization.
1.10 This standard is used to measure and describe the
1
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.21 on Smoke and Combustion
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
Products.
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
Current edition approved March 1, 2023. Published March 2023. Originally
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as E603 – 17. DOI:
10.1520/E0603-23. actual fire conditions
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E603 − 23
4
1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the 2.3 ICBO Standards:
safety
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E603 − 17 E603 − 23 An American National Standard
Standard Guide for
1
Room Fire Experiments
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E603; 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 (´) 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
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 in accordance with this guide is shown in 1.5 – 1.8.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.21 on Smoke and Combustion
Products.
Current edition approved July 1, 2017March 1, 2023. Published July 2017March 2023. Originally approved in 1977. Last previous edition approved in 20132017 as
E603 - 13.E603 – 17. DOI: 10.1520/E0603-17.10.1520/E0603-23.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E603 − 23
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 Room fire tests can be placed into four main categories: reconstruction, simulation, research, and standardization.
1.10 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 o
...
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