Fire Instrumentation and Research Equipment (FIRE)

Apparatus for the measurement of heat release and smoke production from cables during flame spread test.

According to Draft EN 50266-2 (Currently prEN CPD-1)

This apparatus is designed to be used in conjunction with prEN 50266-1

The tests for reaction to fire performance for power, control and communication cables are listed as follows:

• Class A_{C -} EN ISO 1716
• Class B_C - EN 50266-2-x & EN 50265-2-1
• Class C_C - EN 50266-2-y & EN 50265-2-1
• Class D_D - EN 50266-2-y & EN 50265-2-1
• Class E_E - EN 50265-2-1

Classification criteria for each class have still to be finalised. 

The classification will apply to power, control, and communication cables designed for use in buildings and other civil engineering works, with a voltage rating up to 1000V for AC and 1500V for DC. It does not cover control and power circuits covered under Machinery Directive 98/37/EC or Lifts Directive 95/16/EC. 

Test EN 50266-2 is the main reaction to fire test for the designated cables and requires the measurement of heat release and smoke measurements. 

FIRE's relevant and long standing experience in the design of the Single Burning Item test equipment means that FIRE are extremely well-positioned to supply the necessary equipment and software for testing cables according to the laid down protocol.

Features

• System comprises mobile Gas Analysis Rack complete with O₂ and CO₂ measurement. PLC control system for burners with fully automated test and calibration sequencing
• Flow measurement utilising bi-directional probe and differential pressure transducer
• Gas sampling probe
• Temperature measurement at 3 different locations inside the measuring tube
• Burners fitted with flash-back protection and electronic flame sensors with safety cut-off system for enhanced safety
• Optimum sized hood and insulated ducting to transport all combustion gases
• Data Acquisition system
• Complete operating instructions
• CE compliant

Options 

Select from the following to meet your specific requirements

Complete mobile gas analysis rack

• To allow calculation of Rate of Heat Release using the oxygen consumption principle, supplied with gas transfer lines.
• Re-useable heated ceramic filter heated to 200^OC + temperature control
• Heated sampling line (9m) with replaceable PTFE core heated to 120^OC to prevent condensation of combustion gases
• O₂  CO₂analysers fitted with connectors to connect and disconnect the unit quickly for   other applications. [Unit is suitable for ISO 5660 (Cone Calorimeter), ISO 9705 (Room Corner Test), EN 13823 (SBI) and many other test methods]
• Cooler unit which reduces sample gas temperature to 5^OC (water and water soluble components such as HCl, HCN, etc. are extracted)
• Further sample conditioning (filter, sensor, drying agent)
• Pressure compensation
• CO₂ correction to O₂ signal
• High quality PTFE tubing used throughout
• Thermostatic temperature control of the gas analysis rack
• Alarm system
• Only one calibration gas required (3.5 vol % CO₂, balance gas N₂)
• Automatic calibration (if PLC and software ordered)
• Automatic status reporting in the software (if PLC and software ordered)

Smoke Measurement using Helium neon laser system

• 0.5mW helium neon laser
• Silicon diode detectors
• Large dynamic range dual signal amplifier integrated to control system
• Purging air baffling tubes to reduce soot deposition on optics
• Laser system holder in stainless steel with: a brace to fit around the ducting, holder for laser and detector and an adjustable support for the holder.

Alternative Smoke Measurement using white light system

• transmitter
• controller
• receiver (linearity = 3.5 decades)
• logarithmic amplifier with connector
• holder in stainless steel comprising a brace to be fitted around the exhaust duct, holders for the receiver and transmitter and an adjustable support for the holder
• coated glass to protect the white light system from soot deposits
• easy access to optics for cleaning
• calibrated, with certificate

Hood, collector and ducting

• Double sheeted hood (2^nd hood inside 1^st hood for total extraction of all combustion products) 1500mm long x 1000mm wide x 1300mm high constructed from RVS 304 1.5mm thick
• Flange to make connection to the plenum chamber
• Exhaust duct 315mm id, fully insulated, 2mm thick stainless steel (INOX-304) min. length 4300mm (in 4 sections with flanges and insulation rings) fitted with initial guide vanes, and guide vanes at the end of the measuring section of the ducting
• Bi-directional probe
• Gas sampling probe
• Three 0.5mm K-type insulated thermocouples for fast response time
• Stainless steel holder to position the smoke measuring system
• Additional flange to connect to any other exhaust devices.
• OPTION: Only measurement section of the ducting insulated

Pressure measurement

• Electronic pressure system to measure pressure difference, including digital readout screen and support, automatic zero adjustment and fittings.

Burner Control and Data Acquisition System

• Burner Control
• Gas circuit for propane including manual ball valve, particle filter, high quality Mass Flow Controller, electromagnetic valve, flame arrestors, piloted ignition
• Gas circuit for air including manual ball valve, oil separator, particle filter, high quality Mass Flow Controller, electromagnetic valve, flame arrestor
• The gas circuits are designed so that the burner can provide a gas mixture corresponding to a heat release of between 20kW and 50kW accurate to within 1%
• High Quality Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) for control, test sequencing, automated calibration and data acquisition
• Both Mass Flow Controllers are controlled via the PLC by the software
• Electrical facilities include power on, service switch, emergency stop, and all appropriate electrical services.
• Pushbutton control panel for ease of control of the system (independent from computer. software

Data Acquisition 

• 20 channel PLC
• Automatic calibration of gas analysis rack
• Automatic test/calibration sequencing
• Status check of apparatus before commencement of test
• Sequencing of burner ignition system and burners
• OPTION: Tele-service module (allows remote servicing/updating of PLC-software)

Data Processing Software

• Software for Windows environment (95, 98, 2000 & NT)
• Real time calculation of heat release and smoke production
• Automatic processing of data to calculate heat release, FIGRA, SMOGRA, etc. with built-in checks
• Automatic processing of calibration data with built-in checks
• Facilities for customised settings
• Configurable in several languages
• Automatic report generator enters all relevant information in a user-defined template
• Control of burner level (accurate to within 1% between 20kW and 50kW)
• Status report of apparatus
• Control of automatic calibration
• Other time-saving features

Requirements

• Electrical supply 230V 50Hz
• Air flow (8,000 + 500)l/min at (20 + 10)^OC to the test chamber
• Propane supply capable of giving a flow rate to the burner of 1100mg/s (for 50kW)
• Air supply capable of giving a flow rate to the burner of 3800mg/s (for 50kW)