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ASTM Selected Technical Papers
Thermal Measurements: The Foundation of Fire Standards
By
LA Gritzo
LA Gritzo
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N Alvares
N Alvares
Search for other works by this author on:
ISBN-10:
0-8031-3451-7
ISBN:
978-0-8031-3451-5
No. of Pages:
201
Publisher:
ASTM International
Publication date:
2003

In standardized fire safety tests such as IMO Res. A 754 (18), ASTM E119, or ISO 834, the furnace temperature is controlled to a standard time-temperature curve [1,2]. The assumption is made that thermal exposure in these tests will be repeatable and can be described by the measured furnace temperature. The significant variations that occur in test results indicate this assumption is not well founded.

Fire safety test results are influenced by both the temperature of the furnace and by heat transfer in the furnace. The heat transfer depends not only on the furnace temperature and how it is measured but also on the design of the furnace and the test unit. In developing engineering models of fire performance and performance-based codes, there is a need to understand both aspects of thermal exposure — temperature and heat transfer.

To begin to address these problems, the U. S. Coast Guard's Research and Development Center authorized a study of furnace tests. The study documented important factors in current test methods that lead to large uncertainties in the fire safety test results.

To attempt to understand and reduce these large uncertainties, the Coast Guard authorized the development of a Furnace Characterization Unit (FCU). The FCU was built, calibrated using a special electric heater at Sandia National Laboratories, and then used to characterize temperature and heat transfer in a large, gas-fired test furnace at Underwriters Laboratories. This paper reports the results of this multi-year effort.

1.
International Maritime Organization Resolution A 754 (18) Recommendation on Fire Resistance Tests for “A”, “B”, and “F” Class Divisions,
1993
.
2.
ASTM E119 — Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
,
2002
.
3.
Wittasek
,
N. A.
, “
Analysis and Comparison of Marine Fire Testing Regulations and Procedures
” Master of Science Thesis,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
,
1996
.
4.
Babrauskas
,
V.
and
Williamson
,
R. B.
, “
Temperature Measurement in Fire Test Furnaces
,”
Fire Technology
 0015-2684, Vol.
14
, pp 226–238,
1978
.
5.
Wickstrom
,
U.
, “
A Proposal Regarding Temperature Measurements in Fire Test Furnaces
,” Nordtest Project 355-82,
SP
,
Boras, Sweden
,
1986
.
6.
Priest
,
D.
,
Omega Point Laboratories
, Private communication.
7.
Keltner
,
N. R.
, “
Thermal Measurements in Fire Safety Testing — Are We Playing with Fire?
,” Special Symposium of Fire Calorimetry,
NIST
, July, 1995,
Fire Calorimetry Proceedings
, Editors:
Hirschler
and
Lyon
, DOT/FAA/CT-95/46,
FAA Tech Center
.
8.
ASTM E457 — Standard Method for Measuring Heat Transfer Rate Using a Thermal Capacitance (Slug) Calorimeter
.
9.
Beck
,
J. V.
, “
PROP1D — Program for Estimating Thermal Properties
,”
Beck Engineering Consultants
,
Okemos, MI
, October, 1999.
10.
Beck
,
J. V.
, “
ICHP1D — Program for Calculating Surface Heat Fluxes from Transient Temperatures Inside Solids
,”
Beck Engineering Consultants
, October, 1999.
11.
Nakos
,
J. T.
, “
The Systematic Error of a Mineral-Insulated, Metal Sheathed (MIMS) Thermocouple Attached to a Heated Flat Surface
,”
Thermal Measurements: The Foundation of Fire Standards
, ASTM STP 1427,
Gritzo
L. A.
and
Alvares
N. J.
, Eds.,
ASTM International
,
West Conshohocken, PA
,
2002
.
12.
Nakos
,
J. T.
, et al
, “
Final Report — Summary of Thermal Testing of the Furnace Characterization Unit (FCU) for the Coast Guard
,”
Sandia National Laboratories
, SAND2000-1534, June, 2000.
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