3.1 Test principles
3.1.1 These tests are intended to evaluate the
fire-suppression capabilities of nozzles used for the
protection of cabin balconies against external fires in
furniture and furnishings of other than restricted fire
risk. The primary objective of the test is to evaluate the
ability of the system to prevent a fire on a cabin balcony
from spreading to the adjacent cabin and to other balconies.
3.1.2 The tests also define the following design and
installation criteria:
- the maximum coverage (length and width) of a single
nozzle; and
- the minimum operating pressure.
3.2 Test description
3.2.1 Fire test compartment
3.2.1.1 These tests are intended to evaluate the nozzle’s
fire-suppression capabilities against external fires on open
cabin balconies. The tests may be conducted inside a well
ventilated test hall having a specified area of at least 100
m2, a specified height of at least 5 m and adequate natural
or forced ventilation to ensure that there is no restriction
in air supply to the test fires. The fire test hall should
have an ambient temperature of 20 ± 5°C at the start of each
test.
3.2.2 Apparatus
3.2.2.1 The fire tests should be conducted in a test
apparatus consisting of a balcony mock-up in accordance with
figure 1. The balcony ceiling should be smooth to allow an
unobstructed flow of gases.
3.2.2.2 The mock-up should be constructed of nominally 12 mm
thick non-combustible wallboard panels. Plywood panels
should be attached to the wall below the ventilation channel
opening, and on the back wall, covering at least 2 m
horizontally, starting from the fan side corner. The panels
should be 2 m high and 3 to 4 mm thick. The ignition time of
the panel should not be more than 35 s and the flame spread
time at 350 mm position should not be more than 100 s as
measured in accordance with the FTP Code. Prior to the test,
the plywood panels should be conditioned at 21 ± 2.8º C and
50 ± 10% relative humidity for at least 72 h.
3.2.2.3 The dimensions of the balconies should be in
accordance with figure 1, or may be increased up to the
maximum coverage area (length and width) to be protected by
one nozzle.
3.2.2.4 A fan should be attached to the balcony mock-up, as
indicated in figure 1. The fan should provide an average air
velocity of 5 ± 0.2 m/s measured as an average over several
locations. Typically, sufficient dimensions of the fan are
0.8 m in diameter with a power of 5.5 kW.
3.2.2.5 For ceiling nozzles, the velocity measurements should
be done at nine locations; at the nozzle and around it on a
circle of 0.5 m radius (figure 3(a)). For sidewall nozzles,
the measurement should be done in six locations, at the
nozzle and around it on a half-circle of 0.5 m radius
(figure 3(b)). In vertical direction, the measurement should
be done in the middle of the wind channel (25 cm from the
ceiling). The intention is to distribute measurement
locations over the region where the wind affects the
suppression medium flow.
3.2.3 Fire source
3.2.3.1 The fire source should consist of a wood crib, two
simulated chairs and a table mock-up.
3.2.3.2 Each chair should be fitted with two 0.5 m by 0.8 m
by 0.1 m polyether cushions. The cushions should be made of
non-fire retardant polyether and they should have a density
of approximately 33 kg/m3. When tested according to standard
ISO 5660-1 (ASTM E-1354), the polyether foam should give
results as given in the table below. Prior to the test, the
cushions should be conditioned at 21 ± 2.8ºC and 50 ± 10%
relative humidity for at least 72 h.
The frame of the chairs should be of steel nominally 2 mm
thick consisting of rectangular bottom and backrest frames
constructed of steel angles, channels or rectangular stock
of at least 3 mm thickness. The frame dimensions should be
0.5 m x 0.8 m (figure 2). The seat and backrest cushions
should be supported on each frame by steel bars 20-30 mm
wide x 0.80 m long located in the centre of the frames and
welded to the edges. Steel plates should not be used to
support the cushions. The assembled frames should be
supported by four legs 500 mm in height constructed of
similar steel stock. The frames should be equipped with a
metal wire net to support the cushions, and the backrest
should be tied in place, to keep from falling over during
the test. The backrest should be placed on top of the seat
cushion.
ISO 5660: Cone calorimeter test
Test conditions:
Irradiance 35 kW/m^2
Horizontal position
Sample thickness 50 mm
No frame retainer
should be used
Test results
Foam
Time to ignition
(s) 2-6
3 min average HRR, q180 270 ± 5
0
Minimum heat of combustion (MJ/kg) 25
Total heat release (MJ/m2) 50 ± 1 2
3.2.3.3 A table should be constructed of a similar steel
stock as the chairs. The table should have a 0.5 m by 0.5 m
metal frame, supported by four legs, 520 mm in height. A 0.5
m by 0.5 m table plate should be fitted into the frame, made
of 2 mm thick steel.
3.2.3.4 The two chairs should be placed in the fan side
corner of the balcony, in such a way that the polyether foam
is 0.1 m from the plywood panel, according to figures 3 and
4, corners of the cushions touching. The table should be
placed in the corner, edges aligned with the ends of the
chairs.
3.2.3.5 The wood crib should be dimensioned 0.3 m x 0.3 m x
0.15 m (high). The crib should consist of four alternate
layers of four trade size nominal 38 mm x 38 mm kiln-dried
spruce or fir lumber 0.3 m long. The alternate layers of the
lumber should be placed at right angles to the adjacent
layers. The individual wood members in each layer should be
evenly spaced along the length of the previous layer of wood
members and stapled together. After the wood crib is
assembled, it should be conditioned at a temperature of 50 ±
5ºC for not less than 16 h. Following the conditioning, the
moisture content of the crib should be measured at various
locations with a probe-type moisture meter. The moisture
content of the crib should not exceed 5% prior to the fire
test.
3.2.3.6 A square steel tray of area 0.1 m2 and height 0.1 m
should be located under the table, so that its corner is
next to the point where chairs touch. The wood crib should
be supported directly over the tray, edges aligned with the
chair ends. The top of the wood crib should be 0.27 m above
the floor level (figure 4).
3.2.3.7 For ignition, the tray should be filled with 1 l of
water and 250 ml of commercial heptane.
3.2.4 Nozzle installation requirements
3.2.4.1 The tests with the given balcony dimensions are
intended for a single nozzle protection. The single nozzle
has to be located symmetrically in the balcony, at the
centreline in the position recommended by the manufacturer’s
installation instructions, vertically at least 0.4 m above
the lower edge of the wind channel. The two most conceivable
locations are shown in figure
3. 3.2.4.2 If the nozzle is located closer to the fan side
wall than at the centreline, the protection width of the
nozzle will be less than 3 m, i.e. twice the tested distance
between the nozzle and wall. If a larger than 3 m protection
width is aimed at, a wider balcony should be constructed for
the test.
3.2.4.3 The nozzle should be connected to a suitable water
supply and arranged to operate at the minimum pressure
specified by the manufacturer.
3.2.4.4 The tests should be repeated using two nozzle
orientations, where applicable. At first, the lowest
discharge density should be directed towards the cabin wall,
and then, towards the fan side wall.
3.2.5 Instrumentation
3.2.5.1 Thermocouples should be installed at four locations;
two on the front edge of the balcony ceiling, one 1 m and
the other 2 m from the fan side wall, one of the back edge
of the ceiling, 2 m from the fan side wall and one in the
centre of the side wall opposite the fan. Thermocouples
should be installed 30 mm from the ceiling.
3.2.5.2 System water pressure should be measured near the
nozzle, and the system water flow rate should be defined
with suitable means for the system.