Thermal and Flow Characteristics of the ASTM E 84 Tunnel Test Method. Final Report.
Thermal and Flow Characteristics of the ASTM E 84 Tunnel
Test Method. Final Report.
(28242 K)
Quintiere, J. G.; Raines, J. W.
NBSIR 75-705; 38 p. September 1975.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: COM-75-11217
Keywords:
ASTM E84; carpets; flame spread; test methods; tunnel
tests
Abstract:
Five experiments were conducted using an ASTM E 84
tunnel test facility These included a calibration test,
three standard tests involving carpet materials, and one
test in which a carpet material was tested on the floor
of the duct. In addition to the measurements recorded
during a standard test, instrumentation was added to
measure inlet air velocity, temperature within the test
section of the duct, and heat flux. From these
measurements mass and energy balances were determined
for each experiment. The results indicate that inlet
air mass flow rate dropped during a test and appears to
depend on the extent of burning in the duct. The engery
balance results indicate that for the calibration run
about half of the energy of the gas burner is lost by
radiation and convection to the walls in the test
section of the tunnel. During combustion of a test
specimen, significant energy losses occur in the last 9
feet of the test section even after the flame tip has
reached the exit of the tunnel.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899