Objective
By experience it is known that fire resistance furnaces yield deviating results on identical specimens although controlled within current standards. This is the main remaining problem for achieving harmonised fire resistance testing of building products in the EU.
In this project, the technical aspects of the above problem will be quantified and, where possible, solutions will be offered. The specific objectives are to:
investigate the extent to which applying Plate Thermometers to monitor furnace temperature will solve problems of reproducibility;
redesign and evaluate the calibration elements used in previous work;
investigate the reasons why differences in the thermal environment of the furnace have a large effect on the temperature observed at the unexposed side of a separating element.
The initial development work is in progress and the testing phase is expected to begin in November 1997.
Initial work will be carried out to:
redesign the calibration element for tests on building components with a separating function;
design a calibration element for tests on building elements totally engulfed by fire;
investigate the role of furnace construction parameters using a mathematical model of the heat exchange in the furnace;
design a simple, passive heat flux meter and an active heat flux meter for the non-exposed side of test specimens.
Subsequently, 24 resistance to fire tests will be carried out on well defined test specimens with furnace control by the Plate Thermometer.
Fields of science
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
2600 AA DELFT
Netherlands