ASTM E603-23

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
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
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
E603 − 23
1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the 2.3 ICBO Standards:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the Uniform Building Code Standard UBC 8-2 Standard Test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- Method for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- Textile Wallcoverings (now withdrawn)
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Uniform Building Code Standard UBC 26-3 Room Fire Test
1.12 This international standard was developed in accor- Standard for Interior of Foam Plastic Systems (now
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- withdrawn)
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the 2.4 FM Standard:
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
FM Approval 4880 (2017) Evaluating the Fire Performance
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical of Insulated Building Panel Assemblies and Interior Finish
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Materials
2.5 ISO Standards:
2. Referenced Documents
ISO 9705-1 (2016) Reaction to Fire Tests—Room Corner
2.1 ASTM Standards: Test for Wall and Ceiling Lining Products — Part 1: Test
Method for A Small Room Configuration
D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure-
ment of Wood and Wood-Based Materials ISO 13943 Fire Safety—Vocabulary
ISO/IEC 17025 (2017) Testing and Calibration Laboratories
D4444 Test Method for Laboratory Standardization and
Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters GUM, Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measure-
ment
D5424 Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating
Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables 2.6 NFPA Standards:
When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration NFPA 265 Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating
D5537 Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread, Smoke Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Wall Coverings
Obscuration, and Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Mate-
NFPA 286 Standard Method of Tests for Evaluating Contri-
rials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When bution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire
Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
Growth
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards NFPA 555 Guide on Methods for Evaluating Potential for
E800 Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Generated
Room Flashover
During Fires
2.7 Other Standard:
E906 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
DASMA 107 (2018) Standard for Rolling Sheet Doors
Rates for Materials and Products Using a Thermopile
3. Terminology
Method
E1321 Test Method for Determining Material Ignition and
3.1 Definitions:
Flame Spread Properties
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this guide and asso-
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
ciated with fire issues, refer to the terminology contained in
Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Con-
Terminology E176 and ISO 13943. In case of conflict, the
sumption Calorimeter
terminology in Terminology E176 shall prevail.
E1355 Guide for Evaluating the Predictive Capability of
3.1.2 heat release rate, n—the thermal energy released per
Deterministic Fire Models
unit time by an item during combustion under specified
E1537 Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furni-
conditions.
ture
3.1.3 oxygen consumption principle, n—the expression of
E1590 Test Method for Fire Testing of Mattresses
the relationship between the mass of oxygen consumed during
E1822 Test Method for Fire Testing of Stacked Chairs
combustion and the heat released.
E2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calo-
3.1.4 smoke obscuration, n—reduction of light transmission
rimetry Fire Tests
by smoke, as measured by light attenuation.
E2257 Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling
Materials and Assemblies 3.1.5 total heat released, n—integrated value of the rate of
E3057 Test Method for Measuring Heat Flux Using Direc- heat release, for a specified time period.
tional Flame Thermometers with Advanced Data Analysis
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Techniques
2.2 UL Standards:
The issuing organization, the International Conference of Building Officials, no
UL 1040 Fire Test of Insulated Wall Construction
longer exists.
UL 1715 Fire Test of Interior Finish Material
Available from Factory Mutual Research Corporation, 1151 Boston-Providence
Turnpike, P.O. Box 9102, Norwood, MA 02662.
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Central Secretariat, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva,
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Switzerland, https://www.iso.org.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park,
the ASTM website. Quincy, MA 02269.
3 8
Available from Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 333 Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook, Available from Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association
IL 60062. International, 1300 Summer Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-2851.
E603 − 23
3.2.1 full-scale test, n—a test in which the product(s) to be 4.5 The instrumentation for measuring burning rate, heat
tested is utilized in the same size as in its end use. release rate, heat flux, temperature, upper layer depth, air
velocity, flame spread, smoke, and gas concentration is
3.2.1.1 Discussion—In practical applications, this term is
usually applied to tests where the item to be tested is larger discussed, along with suggested locations. A minimum level of
instrumentation is also suggested.
than would fit in a bench-scale test.
4.6 A typical compartment size is 2.4 by 3.7 m [8 by 12 ft],
4. Summary of Guide
with a 2.4-m [8-ft] high ceiling. A standard-size doorway (0.80
by 2.0-m high) should be located in one wall, probably in one
4.1 This guide does not define a standard room fire test. It
of the shorter ones. The top of the doorway should be at least
does, however, set down many of the considerations for such a
0.4 m [16 in.] down from the ceiling to partially contain smoke
test, for example, room size and shape, ventilation, specimen
and hot gases.
description, ignition source, instrumentation, and safety con-
siderations that must be decided on in the design of a room fire
4.7 Insofar as possible, the construction details of the wall
experiment. It discusses performance criteria for the particular
and ceiling, as well as any enclosed insulation, should dupli-
array of finishing and furnishing products that comprise the
cate the room being simulated. Boundary surfaces that do not
room. The behavior of any particular product in the room
form the specimen should also be constructed of materials
depends on the other products and materials present and how
consistent with the room being simulated (see 6.2.3).
they are arranged in relation to one another.
4.8 The safety of observers and the crew extinguishing the
4.2 Whether a particular arrangement simulates the evalua-
fire is emphasized strongly in this guide.
tion desired depends on the size and location of the ignition
4.9 The analysis of data should include a comparison of the
source. It is therefore important that the ignition source
critical times, heat fluxes, temperatures, heat release rate, and
simulate, insofar as possible, an initiating fire for the desired
smoke generation in the room with ignition, flame spread, and
scenario.
smoke properties of the specimen materials. This would aid in
4.3 The time to flashover is often considered (for example in
the development or modification of small-scale tests and would
room-corner tests) the time from the start of test until any two
provide useful information for assisting in the development of
of the following conditions have been attained:
analytical room fire models.
(1) The heat release rate exceeds 1 MW in a standard
ASTM/ISO room (sixed 2.4 by 3.7 by 2.4 m; 8 by 12 by 8 ft).
5. Significance and Use
This criterion is the first criterion used by room corner tests
5.1 This guide provides assistance for planning room fire
such as NFPA 286.
tests. The object of each experiment is to evaluate the role of
(2) The heat flux on the compartment floor exceeds 20
a material, product, or system in the fire growth within one or
kW/m .
more compartments.
(3) The average upper air temperature exceeds 600 °C.
(4) Flames exit the compartment door. 5.2 The relationship between laboratory fire test methods
(5) Radiant heat ignition of a cellulosic (cotton or paper) and actual room fires can be investigated by the use of
indicator on the floor occurs. full-scale and reduced-scale experiments. This guide is aimed
at establishing a basis for conducting full-scale experiments for
4.3.1 Other possible performance criteria indicating flash-
over include the total amount or rate of smoke and heat the study of room fire growth.
released, the extent of the flame spread for a low-energy
5.3 Room fire tests can be placed into four main categories:
ignition source, and the size of the primary ignition source
reconstruction, simulation, research and standardization.
required.
5.3.1 Reconstruction room fire tests are full scale replicates
4.3.2 Where multi-room experiments are being conducted,
of a fire scene with the geometry, materials, contents, and
flashover may not be an appropriate performance criteria. In
ignition source intended to duplicate a particular scenario. The
fact, the experiments may have to be conducted beyond
usual purpose of such a test is to evaluate what happened or
flashover. Post-flashover is usually required in the test room in
what might happen in such a scenario.
order to observe high levels of toxic gases and smoke in remote
5.3.2 Simulation room fire tests are comparable to recon-
rooms or flame spread in adjoining surface areas. Other
struction fire tests, except that not all of the parameters are
performance criteria could be the levels of combustion prod-
duplicated. A simulated fire test is one in which one or more
ucts that impair visibility and cause incapacitation or lethality
components of a fire scenario are altered, usually in order to
in remote rooms.
facilitate conducting the test. The compartment design must
carefully address geometry and materials of construction to
4.4 Primary ignition sources include gas burners, wood
cribs, waste containers, and pools of liquid fuel. Waste con- ensure that they do not significantly alter the fire response.
Reconstruction and simulation fire tests often have a distinctive
tainers and wood cribs have the advantage of presenting a solid
fuel fire with some feedback effects and a luminous flame that objective, such as time to flashover, that is related to the nature
of the original fire scene.
appears to simulate the burning of furniture. However, the gas
burner is the best choice for most fire experiments because of 5.3.3 Research room fire tests are conducted in order to
its reproducibility. The placement of the ignition source de- elucidate the effects of one or more of the following: geometry,
pends on the desired effect on the target material. materials, placement of items, ventilation, or other parameters.
E603 − 23
The measured effects (such as room temperature, heat flux, This equation is an empirical relationship resulting from the
heat release rate, time to flashover, post flashover conditions) classic ventilation-controlled wood crib fires that Kawagoe (2)
are chosen to provide the most useful information. studied. Other experiments by Hagglund (3) reveal that flash-
5/2
5.3.4 Standardization room fire tests include scenarios that over was not observed for A√H below 0.8 m . Hagglund
have been adopted by a standardization body. In this case, the
conducted experiments on wood cribs in a compartment
compartment, ignition source, instrumentation and the nature measuring 2.9 by 3.75 by 3.7-m high. These studies suggest
of the contents are specified. The purpose of such a test is often
that if the mass loss rate of fuel exceeds the mass burning rate
the evaluation of a specific fire test response parameter. calculated in Eq 1, then the fire is ventilation-controlled. One
Simplified geometries and materials of construction are
of the indications of a post-flashover fire is that the fire is
selected, party because the compartment is intended to be used
ventilation-controlled such that part of the fuel generated will
repeatedly. Either simulated or actual commercial test objects
continue burning outside of the compartment. The correlation
are specified. The geometry of the compartment is generally
is useful as a guideline for the occurrence of flashover.
specified to allow well-ventilated burning of the contents, with
6.2.1.2 However, later studies show that the rate of burning
minimal radiative feedback, and to permit observation of flame
becomes independent of ventilation at flashover. Also, a single
spread. In most standardized fire tests, flashover is a termina-
item with a large enough burning rate can induce flashover.
tion point for the test.
Among other parameters, ventilation plays an important role in
5.3.5 In all cases, the room lining materials should be
fire severity. Drysdale (4) explores many of these parameters in
chosen carefully. Short duration fire response tests that do not
detail.
reach flashover may be less affected by lining materials than
6.2.1.3 Ventilation should be continuous in a multi-room
longer duration fire tests that are intended to go to flashover.
test facility. The doors may be either open or partially closed.
The thermal properties of the lining material (emissivity,
One can install a typical heating ventilation and air condition-
thermal conductivity, thermal inertia) should be considered.
ing (HVAC) duct system if the compartments are closed.
The three main variables in compartment design must be
6.2.2 Geometry:
considered for any of the types of room size fire tests:
6.2.2.1 The geometry of the compartment in conjunction
ventilation, geometry, and compartment materials (see Section
with the thermal properties of the wall and ceiling materials has
6).
substantial influence on the behavior of a confined fire. In
particular this affects flow patterns, and hence the mixing and
6. Experimental Choices
combustion characteristics. Thus, the compartment size, shape,
6.1 General—The complete program for any series of full-
and openings should be chosen to simulate the nature or type
scale compartment fire experiments usually involves many
of compartment or facility in which the subject material,
different considerations and possible simulations. This guide
product, or system is expected to be used in actual service. If
reflects the current state of knowledge and suggests choices for
there is a range of sizes, account should be taken of the fact that
geometry, ignition sources, and instrumentation.
for a given ignition exposure, the smaller compartment sizes
6.2 Compartment Design—When designing a compartment
will usually provide the most severe fire development condi-
fire test, the designer should consider the purpose and the
tions (due to re-radiation effects). However, it has been found
intended use of the test as one of the parameters for the
that room size (if the floor area lies between 8.7 and 11.4 m
compartment design.
and one of the room floor dimensions is between 2.4 and 3.7 m)
6.2.1 Ventilation:
has little effect on heat development if the heat release rate is
6.2.1.1 Experiments with ventilation-controlled fires in
below 600 kW (5). The compartment should preferably be
model rooms (1), where the fire has become large or reaches
designed to be symmetrical and as simple as possible for ease
the point of flashover, show that the compartment geometry
of analysis. The ASTM room-corner test (Test Method E2257)
and dimension influence the burning rate. An important rela-
is based on a 2.4 by 3.7-m [8 by 12-ft] room with a 2.4-m [8-ft]
tionship is the following:
high ceiling. It has one standard-size doorway left fully open.
The space between the top of the door and the ceiling is critical
m˙ 5 kA=H (1)
because of the trapping of smoke and hot gases. It is 0.4 m [16
where:
in.] in the ASTM room. The room dimensions may be chosen
m˙ = maximum mass burning rate inside the compartment to simulate some particular applications (see 5.3) or they may
(kg/s), be altered when conducting a special test which requires it. If
A = area of the ventilation opening (m ),
the latter, the test report should indicate that the room has been
H = height of the ventilation opening (m), and
modified from the standard ASTM room. However, if there are
k = a proportionality constant, the value of which is ap-
no constraints, it is better to remain within the dimensions of
5/2
proximately 0.09 kg/m s.
the ASTM room for possible comparison with other single
NOTE 1—The equation above addresses the maximum value of the mass
compartment tests. The room should be located inside a larger,
burning rate for all items in the compartment and not the mass loss rate of
carefully ventilated enclosure to ensure minimum interference
an individual item.
from drafts or wind currents. Ref (6) shows how doorway size
and room geometry affect fire growth. In order to measure
many of the fire-test-response characteristics (such as heat and
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
this guide. smoke release rates) that are required from room-sized tests, a
E603 − 23
canopy hood and exhaust duct are required, as part of a full thermal and radiative properties, and degradation characteris-
scale oxygen consumption calorimeter, as described in Practice tics of the compartment surfaces should be considered care-
E2067. Such a calorimeter hood is usually placed either in the
fully when conducting compartment fire experiments.
room itself, or more commonly, just outside the doorway (see
6.2.3.2 The thermal inertia (product of thermal conductivity,
Fig. 1), in order to capture the products of combustion needed
density, and heat capacity, kρc) of the materials forming the
to measure and calculate heat and smoke release rates.
linings of a fire compartment (bounding materials) directly
6.2.2.2 Examples of tests that use full rooms are Test
affects their surface temperature, and its corresponding rise, the
Methods D5424, D5537, E1537, E1590, E1822, E2257, NFPA
rate of heat dissipated into the internal surface, and the room
265, NFPA 286, UL 1715, UBC 8-2 (now withdrawn, prede-
gas temperature. The influence of the wall materials on the
cessor of what became NFPA 265), UBC 26–3 (now
temperature distribution in the gas is also a function of the
withdrawn, similar to UL 1715), ISO 9705-1, room test in FM
radiative properties of the gas and the gas velocity. Relevant
4880, and DASMA 107.
nondimensional parameters which account for this coupled
6.2.2.3 In a multi-room test, it is critical to duplicate the size
interaction have been published (9). If the thermal inertia is
and location of corridors and remote rooms. If flame spread
low (good insulation), the surface temperature rises more
along walls is being observed, it may not matter if the corridor
rapidly, the rate of heat transfer decreases, and the radiation
has a closed end; it does matter when the flame spread on the
emitted from the upper walls and ceiling to both the fire itself
floor is important. It has been shown that closing the corridor
and the lower part of the compartment increases. The emissive
has very important effects on gas flow and decay of gases (7,
power of surfaces and their temperatures are coupled through
8).
the radiative transfer equation. Bounding surfaces consisting of
6.2.3 Thermal and Radiative Properties of Compartment
materials with good insulating properties will produce substan-
Linings:
tially higher gas temperatures in the room than when poor
6.2.3.1 The fire gas temperature and heat flux levels in the
insulators are used for lining the enclosed space. The effect of
fire compartment depend on the heat balance of the compart-
compartment thermal properties on the time-temperature curve
ment (heat released during the combustion process and heat
has been analyzed mathematically in the post-flashover regime
lost to the bounding surfaces and transfer of thermal energy
with numerical methods (10-12). Full-scale studies demon-
due to the net flow of hot gas from the room through natural
strate the effect of compartment wall properties on the fire
ventilation or forced ventilation systems. Heat transfer to a
intensity (13-15). Typical thermal property values of some
bounding surface in the presence of flames occurs mainly by
samples of common materials are given in Table 1 (16) as
radiation and convection. The amount of radiant energy im-
guidance.
pinging on a surface depends on the radiative properties of the
exposure fire and of the surrounding surfaces. The convective 6.2.3.3 The radiative characteristics of the bounding sur-
heat transfer rate is determined by the geometry of the
faces influence the compartment gas temperatures, particularly
bounding surface and the magnitude and turbulence associated during the pre-flashover stages of compartment fires, but this
with the gas flow in the compartment. Heat transfer, which
effect decreases with time (10). Bounding surfaces having a
affects the magnitude of heat flux acting on the bounding
greater absorptivity result in a lower gas temperature in the fire
surface, is related directly or indirectly to both the size and
compartment. However, the surface absorptivity effect is pro-
shape of the compartment involved even though radiative
nounced when good thermal conducting materials are used on
properties of the materials contained in bounding surfaces are
the walls, ceiling, and floor and is of minor practical impor-
unrelated to geometrical issues. Consequently, the geometry,
tance for the compartment lined with high-insulation materials.
6.2.3.4 Since the severity of a fire in its early stages will
depend on the heat exchange with the bounding surfaces of the
room, it is important that construction details, such as the
wallboard thickness, type, size, and spacing of the studs and
joists, and insulation, if any, in the wall and ceiling cavities, be
representative of the construction that is being simulated. For
those areas of the interior surface not being tested, a suitable
inert material may be a ceramic fiberboard that has thermal
properties similar to those of gypsum board. (Tran and Jans-
sens (15) have demonstrated that ceramic fiberboard is a very
good insulator and can increase the severity of the test.)
Gypsum and ceramic fiberboard give different results, and the
results must not be intermixed. Gypsum is the material of
choice for normal tests.
6.2.3.5 During the course of a compartment fire experiment,
the disintegration or cracking, if any, of the materials lining the
compartment will affect the behavior of the confined fire.
Vertical pressure gradients developed in the presence of the fire
FIG. 1 Canopy Hood and Exhaust Duct will cause smoke and hot gases to leak to the outside and cool
E603 − 23
TABLE 1 Typical Thermal Property Values of Some Common Materials (to be Used for Guidance Only)
NOTE 1—The data provided in this table (Peacock, et al., NIST, 1994) defines one set of properties for common materials which are not well defined,
and are provided for approximate guidance only. The numbers listed within this table cannot be assumed to fully reflect the properties of all materials
within the generic class described. Data for common brick and clay brick were provided by the Brick Institute of America.
Thermal Conductivity, Specific Heat, Density,
Materials, in. Thickness, m Emissivity, (-)
W(m K) J/(kg K) kg/m
Gypsum board, ⁄2 in. 0.16 900 790 0.013 0.9
Gypsum board, ⁄8 in. 0.16 900 790 0.016 0.9
Gypsum board, ⁄4 in. 0.16 900 790 0.019 0.9
Gypsum wallboard, ranges 0.16–0.22 900–1047 790–400 0.024–0.050 0.90–0.97
Gypsum board, type X, ⁄8 in. 0.14 900 770 0.016 0.9
Gypsum board, type X, 3 in. 0.22 1085 1680 0.076 0.9
Gypsum substrate, w. glass matte 0.16–0.04 900–720 790–10 0.024–0.050 0.9
Brick, common, 3 in. 0.72 921 1920 0.076 0.9
Clay brick, 3 in. 1.3 1004 2082 0.076 0.9
Fire brick 0.36 750 1040 0.113 0.8
Fire brick composite, range 0.17–0.36 1040 128–750 0.005–0.113 0.95
Concrete, normal weight, 6 in. 1.75 1000 2200 0.15 0.94
Cement mortar, 1 in. 0.72 780 1860 0.025 0.9
Glass plate, ⁄4 in. 1.4 750 2500 0.006 0.1
Aluminum, pure, ⁄8 in. 231 1033 2702 0.003 0.9
Aluminum alloy 2064-T6, ⁄8 in. 186 1042 2770 0.003 0.9
Carbon steel, plain, ⁄8 in. 48 559 7854 0.003 0.9
Carbon steel, plain, sheet, ⁄16 in. 48 559 7854 0.0015 0.9
Stainless steel 304, ⁄8 in. 19.8 557 7900 0.003 0.9
Plywood building board, ⁄2 in. 0.12 1215 545 0.013 0.9
Hardwood siding, ⁄2 in. 0.094 1170 640 0.013 0.9
Hardboard, high density, ⁄2 in. 0.15 1380 1010 0.013 0.9
Particle board, low density, ⁄2 in. 0.078 1300 590 0.013 0.9
Particle board, high density, ⁄2 in. 0.17 1300 1000 0.013 0.9
Hardwoods (oak, maple), ⁄4 in. 0.16 1255 720 0.019 0.9
Softwoods (fir, pine), ⁄4 in. 0.12 1380 510 0.019 0.9
Wood board, shredded, cemented, ⁄2 in. 0.087 1590 350 0.013 0.9
Sheathing, regular density, ⁄2 in. 0.055 1300 290 0.013 0.9
Ceremic (kaolin) fiber insulation 0.22 1047 128 0.116 0.97
Glass fiber insulation, 3- ⁄2 in. 0.04 720 105 0.088 0.9
Glass fiber, organic bonded, ⁄2 in. 0.036 795 105 0.013 0.9
Glass fiber, poured or blown, ⁄2 in. 0.043 835 16 0.013 0.9
Glass fiber, coated, duct liner, ⁄2 in. 0.038 835 32 0.013 0.9
Acoustic tile, ⁄2 in. 0.058 1340 290 0.013 0.9
Vermiculite flakes, ⁄2 in. 0.068 835 80 0.006 0.9
Urethane insulation, rigid foam, ⁄2 in. 0.026 1045 70 0.013 0.9
air to be drawn into the compartment through the cracks in the the various combustibles and the maximum rise in the upper air
compartment walls or specimens. temperature that could potentially be attained.
6.3.2.1 The specimen should be divided into components
6.3 Specimens:
classified either as finishing materials, wall and floor coverings,
6.3.1 General:
or furniture.
6.3.1.1 In the room fire experiment, all of the combustible
6.3.2.2 The location of the material, product, or assembly to
products in the room can be considered to be part of the
be tested as a lining should be specified as in one or more of the
specimen. When some of these products are combined to form
following zones: (1) ceiling, (2) upper half of wall, (3) lower
an item of furnishing or a wall, the combination becomes the
half of wall, (4) floor, or (5) fraction of a zone, for screening
specimen. In fact, the walls, ceiling, floor, and all of the
purposes. Both combustible and noncombustible components
furnishings constitute a configured specimen whose properties
are to be taken into account. The test standards addressing
include the physical and chemical properties of the items and
specific items, such as Test Method E2257, NFPA 265, or
their location.
NFPA 286, give details of the locations to be used.
6.3.1.2 The following paragraphs deal with recommenda-
tions for the description and selection of specimens for the 6.3.2.3 The chemical composition, generic or brand name of
room fire experiments to ensure that the important variables the lining material, and any involved adhesive interfaces,
will be considered, and to provide a basis of comparison description of exposed area, thickness, density, moisture
between experiments conducted at different laboratories. content, and fire properties of each component should be
6.3.2 Description—As much information as possible should detailed. If possible, the thermal conductivity and specific heat
be secured and reported for the materials, products, and should also be listed. Some fundamental fire properties of the
assemblies in order to provide the necessary information on the material as determined by accepted test methods such as the
room fire specimen. Along with a description of the ventilation cone calorimeter, Test Method E1354, the OSU calorimeter,
conditions and ignition source, the data are intended to provide Test Method E906, or the LIFT apparatus, Test Method E1321,
the input necessary to estimate the degree of involvement of reflect various aspects of the fire performance in a room fire.
E603 − 23
Data such as heat release, smoke release, ignitability, flame experiments in those areas in which it was exposed to fire. An
spread, etc. may assist in interpretation of the results of the alternative is ceramic fiberboard.
room fire experiment. The ignition times, flame spread distance
6.3.3.4 The experimenter may occasionally want to evaluate
and rate, and heat release rates depend on many factors, such
the outcome of the most severe ignition source and product
as the incident heat flux on the specimen and the type of flame.
orientations. It would be prudent for a caveat to be added to the
Hence, the exposure conditions during the room fire experi-
conclusions of the experimental report stating that other
ments should be described. If possible, the bench-scale fire
ignition source strengths and material orientations were not
tests should be performed on specimens that have the same
considered and therefore could not be evaluated on the basis of
thickness as the material used in the room temperature for the subject experiments.
thicknesses up to 50 mm [2 in.].
6.3.3.5 Unless special considerations apply, the relative
6.3.2.4 The location of items of furniture in terms of their sizes of the product to be tested and of the ignition source
should be such that only a fraction of the product to be tested
distance from the wall, corner, and other furniture items should
be identified in terms of their distance from the different walls, should be consumed, if the product to be tested has good
enough fire performance.
corners, and any other furniture items specified. For each
furniture item to be tested, the horizontal and vertical exposed
6.3.4 General Considerations:
areas, total weight, and moisture content should also be
6.3.4.1 The distinction between materials located on the
described. It would also be helpful to indicate the material
upper and lower walls is made because heat conduction losses
composition, if known. The test standards addressing specific
occur primarily through the upper walls and ceiling. Increasing
items, such as Test Method E1537, for upholstered furniture or
the insulation in these areas increases the rate of temperature
Test Method E1590, for mattresses, give details of the locations
rise in the room and the maximum temperature that will be
to be used.
reached.
6.3.2.5 The ambient temperature and humidity of the room
6.3.4.2 The spacings between the items of furniture, along
and the time these conditions have been maintained prior to the
with the ignitability of the furniture, determine the probability
experiment should be recorded.
and time of flame spread between them. When two or more
items of furniture are burning, their separation distance deter-
6.3.3 Selection—The choice of the specimen is based on the
mines whether the flames will merge. Furthermore, the heat
objective of the room fire experiment, which may be one of
transfer between them will enhance their separate burning rates
three types: (1) a demonstration experiment, (2) a comparison
so that larger flames will result. The proximity of the burning
of theory and experiment, or (3) a determination of the fire
item of furniture to the wall and corner causes an increase in
performance of a particular product.
flame height with an attendant increase in air temperature and
6.3.3.1 In the demonstration experiment, the room should
the probability of the flame jumping between the item and the
be finished and furnished in the most realistic way possible.
wall.
Observations and measurements should be aimed at uncover-
6.3.4.3 In addition to its toxic effect and visibility problems,
ing the important phenomena involved in the simulated room
smoke is a factor in the heat radiative exchange between the
fire and at establishing possible levels of temperature, gas
upper and lower portions of the room. The height of the
concentration, and times of occurrence, etc.
furniture items or wall covering material will determine the
6.3.3.2 In the second type of room fire experiment, the
probability of their ignition by the hot air layer in the upper part
emphasis is on the ease of description so that calculated values
of the room. Horizontal and vertical surface areas are therefore
can be checked against the experimental results. The number of
specified separately because of the difference in heat transfer
products in any given experiment should be minimized for
from flames to surfaces with these orientations. These differ-
simplicity of description. However, products covering a large
ences lead to different heat release rates and flame spread
range of properties should be selected for the tests so that the
characteristics.
prediction formulas developed do not have limited applicabil-
6.4 Ignition Sources:
ity.
6.4.1 General—The choice of a primary ignition source in a
6.3.3.3 In the third type of experiment, to evaluate fire
compartment fire experiment is a critical item. This guide
performance, the location of the comparison product in the
presents a list of the important considerations for the choice.
room should be based on its intended use (that is, a ceiling,
There will always be compromises on the size, location, type of
wall, floor, wall covering, or item of furniture). Because of
fuel, time of burning, type of burning, and other factors. This
heat-trapping effects, the ceiling material should cover the
discussion will present some of the important considerations
complete room ceiling. While it may not be necessary to cover
and various choices that can be made.
the entire wall area with the wall product, the area covered by
a wall product must be large enough to contain all wall areas 6.4.2 Type and Size—The complete character of the ignition
exposed during the experiment and extend beyond the end of
source should be determined, including weight, material
any expected flame spread. In general, other materials in the identification, morphology, dimensions, and all other physical
room should be noncombustible, or at least of low heat release,
and chemical characteristics that are necessary to repeat each
and should remain the same from experiment to experiment. ignition scenario. Typical ignition sources may be solid, liquid,
Because of its widespread use and low heat release, gypsum
or gaseous fuels and include wastebaskets, furniture items,
board is often used, but the board must be replaced between wood cribs, gas burners, liquid pool fires, and liquid fuels
E603 − 23
poured onto items of furnishings. The size is strongly depen- 6.4.2.5 Both the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
dent on the degree of fire buildup required for the experiment nology (NIST, formerly the National Bureau of Standards
(NBS)) and the University of California, Berkeley, laboratories
and the combustibility of the materials used in the experiment.
have used plastic waste containers as ignition sources in
When choosing an ignition source for a particular experiment,
the characteristics of the product to be tested (size and heat compartment fire experiments (17, 18). The combustibles
within these waste containers have been plastic-coated paper
production capability) should be taken into account, so as to
milk cartons, paper tissues, carbon paper, paper towels, or kraft
make a reasonable selection.
wrapping paper, or some combination thereof. Plasticized
6.4.2.1 Gas burner flames have the following characteris-
paper milk cartons make a relatively intense fire, as shown by
tics: (1) they are reproducible; (2) they are well-defined (that is,
burning rate, plume temperature, and heat flux. The milk
their heat production rate is determined readily from the gas
cartons represent a combination of a cellulosic and a
flow rates); (3) they can be varied with time to represent the
hydrocarbon-based polymeric material with a high surface-to-
burning of different items of furniture or be maintained
volume ratio comparable to the contents of a typical waste
constant to facilitate analytical studies; (4) their burning rates
container in an American home.
are not influenced by heat feedback (unless controlled artifi-
6.4.2.6 If an ignition source is kept small, so that it does not
cially); (5) the radiation properties of the flames are different
cause flashover by itself, it can then be used to determine the
than those of the product simulated; and (6) gas flames do not
effect of furniture or wall, ceiling, or floor covering on fire
resemble what is seen in real fires.
development in that compartment. The maximum size of an
6.4.2.2 Differences between diffusion and premixed burners
ignition source that should be chosen is thus dependent on the
should be recognized. For example, the flames from a pre-
size, shape, and ventilation of the compartment as well as the
mixed burner will be shorter and have lower emissivities. In
location and burning characteristics of the ignition source
order to avoid locally high velocities, the gas can be delivered
itself. The size of the ignition source also depends on the
through a large-area diffusing surface, such as a porous plate or
scenario to be investigated.
a layer of sand.
6.4.2.7 It has been determined that the rate of heat release in
6.4.2.3 Liquid fuel pool fires have the following character-
a ventilation-controlled fire is proportional to A√H (6.2.1). For
istics: (1) their rate of fuel production is determined readily
a typical fire scenario, the ignition source heat release rate
from their rate of mass loss or the flow rate necessary to
should be less than 15 % of that estimated to produce flashover
maintain a constant depth in the pool; (2) they have an
in the burn room. The size of the ignition source should not
interaction with the fire environment that can be quantified by
repress the contribution of the product that is being tested.
their change in heat production rate; (3) they are reproducible
When using gas burners, or a pool fire, the flow rate can be
under the same exposure conditions; (4) their radiation char-
adjusted so that it does not cause flashover by itself. Other
acteristics can be controlled by the choice of fuel; (5) the effect
items used as ignition sources, such as furniture, can be tested
of feedback is not quantitatively the same as that for furnish-
in calorimeters to determine the heat release rate prior to actual
ings; and (6) they lack visual realism unless they are intended
testing.
to represent liquid fuel spills. A variation of the liquid pool fire
6.4.2.8 Ignition sources are characterized by the following
is obtained by supplying the liquid fuel in a matrix of sand in
categories: (1) total fuel content; (2) type of fuel content; (3)
order to vary its burning rate.
rate of fuel release as a function of time; (4) rate of heat release
6.4.2.4 The solid fuels that have been used as ignition
as a function of time; (5) height of flame for given position
sources for room fire experiments have included primarily
(that is, corners, wall, etc.); (6) direct use of convective and
waste containers and wood cribs, with the latter having the
radiative heat flux; and (7) time of burning. These character-
longest history. Stick size, type of wood and spacing, as well as
istics can be determined for a variety of ignition sources, and
total mass have a large effect on the burning rate of the wood
the compartment experiment can be initiated with the appro-
cribs. The use of the above two types of solid fuels is
priate source. The
...