ISO 13784-1:2014

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 13784-1
Second edition
2014-02-01
Reaction to fire test for sandwich
panel building systems —
Part 1:
Small room test
Essais de réaction au feu des systèmes de fabrication de panneaux de
type sandwich —
Partie 1: Essais pour des chambres de petite taille
Reference number
©
ISO 2014
© ISO 2014
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ii © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 2
4 Principle . 2
5 Types of systems . 3
5.1 General . 3
6 Test specimen . 3
7 Test method . 4
8 Ignition source . 9
9 Instrumentation .11
9.1 Thermocouples .11
9.2 Heat flux meter .11
9.3 Additional equipment .11
9.4 Heat and smoke release measurement .11
10 Test procedure .16
10.1 Initial conditions .16
10.2 Procedure .17
11 Precision data .18
12 Test report .19
Annex A (normative) Heat and smoke release measurement procedure according to ISO 9705.21
Annex B (normative) Heat release and smoke release measurement procedure using method 2 .24
Annex C (normative) Calculations .25
Annex D (informative) Laser smoke photometer .31
Bibliography .32
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity
assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the WTO principles in the Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: Foreword - Supplementary information
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 92, Fire safety, Subcommittee SC 1, Fire initiation
and growth.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 13784-1:2002), which has been technically
revised.
ISO 13784 consists of the following parts, under the general title Reaction-to-fire tests for sandwich panel
building systems:
— Part 1: Test method for small rooms
— Part 2: Test method for large rooms
iv © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Fire is a complex phenomenon; its behaviour and effects depend upon a number of interrelated factors.
The behaviour of materials and products depends upon the characteristics of the fire, the method of use
of the materials, and the environment in which they are exposed. The philosophy of reaction to fire tests
is explained in ISO/TR 3814.
The need for improved insulation of buildings has led to the increased use of insulating sandwich panel
systems in different parts of the building industry.
Sandwich panel systems are applied as external cladding of factory buildings, in internal envelopes
with controlled atmospheres, and in cold stores which can vary from small rooms to large cool houses.
Another application is the use for modular building rooms and sometimes for retail premises. They can
also be used for roof applications in a traditional construction. Multi-layered panels with other facings
(for example, plasterboard) or sandwich panel systems can be applied to walls as internal linings or
insulation but this is not within the scope of this part of ISO 13784.
With free-standing or frame supported types of sandwich panel systems, there are three primary fire
threats to the insulated walls and ceilings/roofs of the building:
a) an interior compartment fire impinging directly onto the joints of the wall (typical ignition sources
are welding torches, burning items near the wall, fire in an adjacent room);
b) an external fire of combustibles accumulated near the wall, i.e. rubbish, vegetation, vehicles, etc.;
c) fire spread to outside spaces.
Fire can spread in several ways:
— over a combustible exterior surface;
— fire travelling vertically and horizontally through the combustible cores of cavities within the
external wall or ceiling/roof;
— through combustible gases which have developed due to the pyrolysis of the combustible components
and which will ignite on the surface;
— burning debris or flaming droplets.
This part of ISo 13784 deals with a simple representation of one fire scenario with this type of product,
such as that typified by a local fire impinging directly on the internal face of a sandwich panel building
construction.
This part of ISO 13784 provides a test method which should be used to provide a small-room scale, end-
use evaluation of all aspects of sandwich panel systems, which include constructional techniques such
as supporting frameworks, jointing detail etc.
This method is intended to evaluate products which, due to their nature, are not normally used as
internal linings and are not suitable to be assessed using ISO 9705, which evaluates fire growth from a
surface product. This part of ISO 13784, however, provides a method by which a free-standing or frame
supported sandwich panel building construction may be built and evaluated within the room.
Tests of this type may be used for comparative purposes or to ensure the existence of a certain quality
of performance considered to generally have a bearing on fire performance.
These tests do not rely on the use of asbestos-based materials.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 13784-1:2014(E)
Reaction to fire test for sandwich panel building systems —
Part 1:
Small room test
WARNING — So that suitable precautions can be taken to safeguard health, the attention of all
concerned in fire tests is drawn to the possibility that toxic or harmful gases can be evolved during
the combustion of test specimen. The test procedures involve high temperatures and combustion
processes, from ignition to a fully developed room fire. Therefore, hazards can exist for burns,
ignition of extraneous objects or clothing. The operators should use protective clothing, helmet,
face-shield, and equipment for avoiding exposure to toxic gases. Laboratory safety procedures
shall be set up which ensure the safe termination of tests on sandwich panel products. Specimen
with combustible content burning inside metallic facings may be difficult to extinguish with
standard laboratory fire fighting equipment. Adequate means of extinguishing such a fire shall be
provided. When tests are conducted using the free-standing room construction, specimens can
emit combustion products from their back face, especially if joints open up. Specimen collapse
can also occur into the laboratory space. Laboratory safety procedures shall be set up to ensure
safety of personnel with due consideration to such situations.
1 Scope
This part of ISO 13784 specifies a method of test for determining the reaction to fire behaviour of
sandwich panel building systems, and the resulting flame spread on or within the sandwich panel
building construction, when exposed to heat from a simulated internal fire with flames impinging
directly on the internal corner of the sandwich panel building construction.
The test method described is applicable to free-standing, self-supporting, and frame-supported
sandwich panel systems. This part of ISO 13784 is not intended to apply to sandwich panel products
which are glued, nailed, bonded, or similarly supported by an underlying wall or ceiling construction.
For products used as internal linings, the ISO 9705 test method should be used.
This part of ISO 13784 provides for small room testing of sandwich panel building systems. For large-
room testing of sandwich panel building systems, ISO 13784-2 should be used.
This method is not intended to evaluate the fire resistance of a product, which should be tested by other
means.
NOTE Because of their design, some systems may be unsuitable for testing with this part of ISO 13784. These
systems may be suitable for testing with ISO 13784-2 and the latter test method should be considered. In this case
application area of the test report is restricted.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 9705:1993, Fire tests — Full-scale room test for surface products
ISO 13943:2008, Fire safety — Vocabulary
ISO 14934-3:2012, Fire tests — Calibration and use of heat flux meters — Part 3: Secondary calibration
method
IEC 60584-2:1982 + A1:1989, Thermocouples — Part 2: Tolerances
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 13943 and the following apply.
3.1
composite
combination of materials which are generally recognized in building construction as discrete entities,
for example, coated or laminated materials
3.2
exposed surface
surface of the product subjected to the heating conditions of the test
3.3
product
material, composite, or assembly
3.4
constant mass
state of a test specimen when two successive weighing apparatus operations are carried out at an
interval of 24 h, and do not differ by more than 0,1 % of the mass of the specimen or 0,1 g, whichever is
greater
3.5
surface product
part of a building that constitutes an exposed surface on the walls and/or the ceiling/roof such as panels,
boards, etc.
3.6
insulating sandwich panel
multi-layered product consisting of three or more layers bonded together
Note 1 to entry: One layer is an insulating material, such as mineral or glass wool, cellular plastics, or a natural
material, e.g. corkboard protected by facings on both sides. The facing can be selected from a variety of materials
and can be either flat or profiled.
Note 2 to entry: The most widely used facing is coated steel. The composite can vary from a simple construction
to a complex composite system with specific fixing joints and supports depending on the application and on the
performance requirements.
3.7
specimen
assembly representing the end-use construction
3.8
flashover
point in the fire history when the sum of the rate of heat release from the ignition source and the product
reaches 1 000 kW for more than 10 s
4 Principle
The reaction to fire performance of a sandwich panel assembly is assessed when exposed to flames
impinging directly on the internal corner of a small sandwich panel assembly. The different kinds of
flame spread, for example within the internal core, on the surface or through joints, and through ignited
combustible gases and falling debris or melting droplets of the sandwich panel assembly, are assessed
to allow the following possible fire hazards to be determined:
a) the contribution of the system to fire development up to flashover;
2 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

b) the potential to transmit an interior fire to outside spaces or other compartments or adjacent
buildings;
c) the possibility of collapse of the structure;
d) the development of smoke and fire gases inside the test room.
If for product development, quality control, or on special request by sponsor or regulatory body the heat
release and/or smoke measurement is not included in the test procedure, this shall be clearly stated in
the test report.
5 Types of systems
5.1 General
The test method applies to the following two types of structures which are representative of those used
in practice, both in construction and materials.
5.1.1 Type A: frame-supported structures
For these types of structures, sandwich panel systems are mechanically fixed to the outside or the inside
of a structural framework, normally steel, through the thickness of the panel. The ceiling/roof may be
built traditionally or with sandwich panel systems. A widespread construction is an external cladding
of industrial buildings. In most cases, this kind of sandwich panel systems is used for the exterior wall
and/or the roof of a building.
When using a frame, the deformation of the frame can influence the fire behaviour of the sandwich
panels. The test recommends that the frame is protected in practice using fire resistance requirements.
Protection can be obtained by means of insulating boards or coatings.
5.1.2 Type B: free-standing structures
Sandwich panel systems are assembled together to provide a room or enclosure which does not depend
for its stability on any other structural framework, e.g. cold stores, or food or clean rooms, constructed
normally within a weatherproof shell. The ceiling of these constructions may be supported from above.
These rooms are normally situated inside a building.
6 Test specimen
The test specimen used shall consist of the requisite number of panels required by the test method to
be performed. In all cases, the test specimen shall be representative of that used in practice, both in
construction and materials. All constructional details of joints, fixings, etc., shall be reproduced and
positioned in the test specimen as in practice. If the investigated type of sandwich panel is used in
practice with an inside or outside structural framework, this shall also be used in the test.
It is recommended that the test specimen is built by those suitably qualified in the construction of this
type of structure.
NOTE 1 If in practice ceiling panels are different from wall panels, a test can be performed with the correct
combination of wall and ceiling panels.
If the sandwich panel building system is intended to be used with decorative paint or film facings, these
shall be present on the test specimen.
7 Test method
7.1 This method specifies a procedure by which sandwich panel assemblies may be assessed in their
end-use scale and utilizing constructional details, which are incorporated in their end-use. Products
are evaluated with end-use joints and fixings and where a supporting steel framework is part of the
construction, with this framework also in place. Where the panels are self-supporting, it is recommended
that an unconnected external framework be used for safety reasons.
7.2 A room (see Figures 1 to 3) shall be constructed using the components of the sandwich panel
systems to be tested. It shall consist of four walls at right angles and a ceiling, and shall be located on
a rigid, non-combustible floor surface. The means of securing wall panels together and the means of
attaching walls to floor and ceiling to walls shall be representative of end-use. The room shall have the
following inner dimensions:
a) length: 3,6 m ± 0,05 m;
b) width: 2,4 m ± 0,05 m;
c) height: 2,4 m ± 0,05 m.
4 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Dimensions in millimetres
LW3
FW9
FW10
BW4
LW2
RW6
RW7
RW8
d 800 d
2 400
a) Isometric elevation
2 400
180 180
BW4 BW5 1
P1 P2
LW3 RW6
C3
LW2 RW7
C2
LW1 RW8
C1
FW10 FW9
b) Plan showing alternative burner position
2 400
2 000 d
3 600
Key
1 supporting frame (if applicable) LW left wall panel
C ceiling panel BW back wall panel
D thickness of panel RW right wall panel
P1 burner position 1, at corner (in case of no frame) FW front wall panel
P2 burner position 2, at joint (with frame) distance
from corner should be ≤ 300 mm
Figure 1 — Example of test specimen
6 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved

Dimensions in millimetres
2 400
2 200
A
A
100 100
100 100
600 600
3 600
3 400
100 800
Figure 2 — Example of internal structural framework (plan, section A-A, front view)
3 600
3 400
2 400
2 200
100 200
2 000
2 400
Dimensions in millimetres
Figure 3 — Example of internal structural framework (isometric elevation)
7.3 A doorway shall be constructed in the centre of one of the 2,4 m x 2,4 m walls, and no other wall,
floor, or ceiling shall have any openings that allow ventilation. The doorway shall have the following
dimensions:
a) width: 0,8 m ± 0,01 m;
b) height: 2,0 m ± 0,01 m.
7.4 The room shall be located indoors. Tests shall not be conducted unless the temperature within the
room is between 10 °C and 30 °C.
7.5 The connections between the panels and between the walls and the ceiling shall represent those in
end-use application of the product being tested.
8 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved
3 600
2 000
2 400
7.6 If the system includes any additional bracing, support members, etc., these shall also be installed in
the test specimen construction. If the investigated type of sandwich panel systems is used in practice with
an inside or outside structural frame work, these shall be used in the test. Examples are given in Figures 2
and 3.
NOTE Figures 1 to 3 give examples of the test room. The number of panels and their thickness will of course
be different depending on the type of panels tested. Also, the type of supporting frame will depend on the practical
end-use mounting. Only inner dimensions of room and door opening are mandatory.
7.7 The test room shall be positioned below the exhaust hood as described in Clause 9.
NOTE If for product development, quality control, or on special request by the sponsor or regulatory body
the heat release and smoke production is not included in the test procedure, the test room does not need to be
positioned under the hood.
8 Ignition source
8.1 The ignition source shall be a propane gas burner having a square top surface layer of a porous,
inert material, e.g. sand. The burner shall have face dimensions of 170 mm × 170 mm and a height of
200 mm above the floor (see Figure 4). The construction shall be such that an even gas flow is achieved
over the entire opening area.
The ignition source is a propane gas burner that consumes relatively large amounts of gas. The attention
is therefore drawn to the following warning.
WARNING — All equipment such as tubes, couplings, flow meters, etc. shall be approved for
propane. The installations shall be performed in accordance with existing regulations. For
reasons of safety, the burner should be equipped with a remote-controlled ignition device, for
example a pilot flame or a glow wire. There should be a warning system for leaking gas and a
valve for immediate and automatic cut-off of the gas supply in case of extinction of the ignition
flame.
8.2 The burner shall be placed on the floor in a corner opposite to the doorway wall. The burner walls
shall be in contact with the specimen. If there is a structural framework member such as a column in the
corner, the burner shall be placed at the nearest joint from the corner on the back wall. This joint shall be
not less than 300 mm from the corner column (see Figure 1).
8.3 The burner shall be supplied with natural-grade propane (95 % purity). The gas flow to the burner
shall be measured with an accuracy of at least ±3 %. The heat output to the burner shall be controlled
within ±5 % of the prescribed value.
8.4 The burner power output, based on the net (lower) calorific value of propane, shall be 100 kW
during the first 10 min and then shall be increased to 300 kW for a further 10 min. After 20 min, another
10 min of observations shall be made with no power output to the burner.
Dimensions in millimetres
A
A
Key
1 gas inlet
2 sand (2 mm to 3 mm)
3 brass wire gauze (1,8 mm)
4 gravel (4 mm to 8 mm)
5 brass wire gauze (2,8 mm)
Figure 4 — Burner
10 © ISO 2014 – All rights reserved
50 150
9 Instrumentation
9.1 Thermocouples
Thermocouples shall be positioned on the external surface of each of the panels and within their core
installed from the rear of the panel in such a way that flame spread within the core can be monitored.
It is recommended that one thermocouple is installed on the external surface of each panel, sited
on the centre line and one thermocouple within the core, one third of the distance from the top and
bottom of the panel. Thermocouples shall also be positioned in the upper third of the door opening. The
thermocouple distribution is shown in Figure 5. Only thermocouples O , O , and O in the door opening
2 6 10
are mandatory. All the other thermocouples are optional.
The thermocouples shall be either sheathed thermocouples or welded thermocouples. In case of sheathed
thermocouples, they shall by Type K Chromel/Alumel stainless steel sheathed thermocouples with a wire
diameter of 0,3 mm and an outer diameter of (1,5 ± 0,1) mm. The hot junction shall be insulated and not
earthed. In case of welded thermocouples they shall have a diameter of max 0,3 mm. The thermocouples
on the external surface of the panels shall have their hot junctions in contact with the surface of the panel.
The use of thermocouples with a copper disk is recommended for surface temperature measurements
and welded non-sheathed thermocouple for gas temperature measurements. The thermocouples shall
be of tolerance class 1 in accordance with IEC 60584-2.
9.2 Heat flux meter
A heat flux meter shall be placed at the centre of the floor of the room.
The heat flux meter shall be of the foil (Gardon) or thermopile (Schmidt-Boelter) type with a range of
2 2
0 kW/m to 50 kW/m . The target receiving heat flux shall be flat, circular, not more than 10 mm in
diameter and coated with a durable matt black finish. The target shall be contained within a water-
cooled body, the front face shall be of slightly polished metal, flat, coinciding with the plane of the target
and circular, with a diameter of about 25 mm.
Heat flux shall not pass through any window before reaching the target. The instrument shall be robust,
simple to set up and use, insensitive to draughts, and stable in calibration. The instrument shall have an
accuracy of within ±3 % and a repeatability within 0,5 %.
The heat flux meter shall be calibrated over its whole range in accordance with ISO 14934-3:2012.
9.3 Additional equipment
9.3.1 Data recorder
A chart recorder or data logger capable of recording and storing input data from the thermocouples at
intervals not exceeding 10 s shall be provided. The data recorder shall be capable of providing a hard
copy of the data.
9.3.2 Timing device
A clock with 1 s divisions or an equivalent timing device shall be provided.
9.4 Heat and smoke release measurement
Heat
...