Comparative Rates of Heat Release from Five Different Types of Test Apparatuses

Abstract

Previously reported rates of heat release using five different bench-scale test methods are compared with each other and against a limited series of large- scale tests. The materials tested were low-flammability wall lining materials, of a construction similar as might be used for aircraft cabin walls. Based on the peak values at different irradiances, three of the methods gave similar results: the Cone Calorimeter, the FMRC Flammability Apparatus, and the Flame Height Apparatus. The other data, from the OSU calorimeter in the ther mopile mode and the OSU calorimeter in the oxygen-consumption mode, gave results typically 1/2 of the first three methods. Simple techniques for predicting full-scale performance from bench-scale data are emerging. The preliminary application of these appears promising.