AS/NZS 3837:1998

AS/NZS 3837:1998 METHOD OF TEST FOR HEAT AND SMOKE RELEASE RATES FOR MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS USING AN OXYGEN CONSUMPTION CALORIMETER

PREFACE

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

SECTION 1 SCOPE AND GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE

1.1.1 General

1.1.2 Objectives

1.1.3 Test parameters

1.2 PRINCIPLE OF TEST METHOD

1.2.1 General

1.2.2 Significance and use

1.3 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

1.4 DEFINITIONS

1.4.1 Effective heat of combustion

1.4.2 Heating flux

1.4.3 Net heat of combustion

1.4.4 Orientation

1.4.5 Oxygen consumption principle

1.4.6 Sustained flaming

1.5 APPLICATION TO FIRE HAZARD ASSESSMENT

1.6 HAZARD WARNINGS

1.6.1 General

1.6.2 Temperatures

1.6.3 Eye protection

1.6.4 Ventilation

1.7 MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS

SECTION 2 APPARATUS, SPECIMENS AND TEST PROCEDURES

2.1 TEST APPARATUS

2.1.1 General

2.1.2 Conical heater

2.1.3 Temperature controller

2.1.4 Exhaust system

2.1.6 Specimen mounting

2.1.7 Radiation shield

2.1.8 Ignition circuit

2.1.9 Ignition timer

2.1.10 Gas sampling

2.1.11 Oxygen analyser

2.1.12 Smoke measuring system

2.1.13 Heat flux meter

2.2 TEST SPECIMENS

2.2.1 Product suitability

2.2.2 Number

2.2.3 Size and preparation

2.2.4 Conditioning

2.3 TEST ENVIRONMENT

2.4 CALIBRATION OF APPARATUS

2.4.1 Heater flux calibration

2.4.2 Oxygen analyser calibration

2.4.3 Heat release rate calibration

2.4.4 Load cell calibration

2.4.5 Smoke meter calibration

2.5 TEST PROCEDURE

2.5.1 Preparation

2.5.2 Procedure

2.6 TEST LIMITATIONS

SECTION 3 CALCULATIONS AND REPORTING OF RESULTS

3.1 CALCULATIONS

3.1.1 General

3.1.2 Calibration constant using methane

3.1.3 Calculations for test specimens

3.2 TEST REPORT

3.3 PRECISION AND BIAS

3.3.1 Precision within and between laboratories (repeatability and reproducibility)

3.3.2 Bias

3.4 COMMERCIAL LITERATURE

3.4(A) RELEVANCE OF TEST RESULTS FOR THE CALCULATION OF GROUP NUMBER FOR CLASSIFICATION OF WALL AND CEILING LININGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NCC

3.4(B) VALIDITY OF EMPRICAL CORRELATION

3.5 REFERENCE IN OTHER AUSTRALIAN STANDARDS

APPENDIX A - COMMENTARY

A1 INTRODUCTION

A2 RATE OF HEAT RELEASE MEASUREMENTS

A2.1 General

A2.2 Practical applications

A2.3 Irradiance levels

A2.4 Specimen orientation

A2.5 Sustained flaming

A3 CHOICE OF OPERATING PRINCIPLE

A3.1 General

A3.2 Oxygen consumption

A4 HEATER DESIGN

A5 PILOT IGNITION

A6 BACK FACE CONDITIONS

A7 OXYGEN ANALYSER

A8 LIMITS TO RESOLUTION

A8.1 Calibration

A8.2 Response times

A9 EFFECTIVE HEAT OF COMBUSTION

A10 SMOKE OBSCURATION MEASUREMENTS

A11 SPECIMEN MOUNTING METHODS

A11.1 General

A11.2 Retainer frame

APPENDIX B - REFERENCES

APPENDIX C - DIAGRAM OF A TYPICAL OXYGEN CONSUMPTION CALORIMETER

APPENDIX D - CALCULATION OF HEAT RELEASE WITH ADDITIONAL GAS ANALYSIS

D1 INTRODUCTION

D2 MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS

D3 REFERENCES

D4 CASE WHERE CO2 AND CO ARE MEASURED

D4.1 Time shifting

D4.2 Exhaust flow

D4.3 Heat release rate

D4.4 Oxygen depletion

D4.5 Oxygen fraction

D4.6 Commentary

D5 CASE WHERE WATER VAPOUR IS ALSO MEASURED

D5.1 General

D5.2 Exhaust flow

D5.3 Heat release rate

D5.4 Time shifting

APPENDIX E - INTERLABORATORY TRIALS

E1 AUSTRALIA

E2 INTERNATIONAL

E2.1 Scope of studies

E2.2 Method of analysis

E2.3 Example of using r and R relationships

E2.4 Comparison to results for other fire tests