Fire investigations often focus on the source of ignition and the spread or growth of the fire. Other times, the standard by which products are examined is their reaction when exposed to fire. Whether the project involves a new product, a potential recall, or a unique fire hazard, Exponent has the testing expertise to help solve the problem.
Exponent has experience with numerous small, intermediate, and large-scale fire and flammability testing methods, including those published by the NFPA, UL, and ASTM. In addition, Exponent engineers routinely develop and conduct specialized testing protocols that involve a variety of experimental methods and equipment for the evaluation of materials, products, or installations that fall outside the scope of industry-accepted test methods.
Fire and flammability tests are conducted in our Maryland, Boston, Menlo Park, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and Phoenix laboratory facilities, and in cooperation with several large fire research facilities located throughout the U.S. and abroad. Our staff keep up with the most current research and experimental methods to ensure that our clients have access to the best tools available to solve their problems.
Test Protocols
Cone Calorimeter:
- ASTM E1354 – Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
- NFPA 271 – Standard Method of Test for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
- ISO 5660-1 - Reaction to fire tests - Heat release, smoke production, and mass loss rate - Part 1: Heat release rate
- ISO 5660-2 - Reaction to fire tests - Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate - Part 2: Smoke production rate
- NFPA 272 - Standard Method of Test for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Upholstered Furniture Components or Composites and Mattresses Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
- ASTM D 6113 - Standard Test Method for Using a Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
- ASTM E 1474 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate of Upholstered Furniture and Mattress Components or Composites Using a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
- ASTM E 1740 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate and Other Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Wallcovering Composites Using a Cone Calorimeter
- ASTM F 1550 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Components or Composites of Mattresses or Furniture for Use in Correctional Facilities after Exposure to Vandalism, by Employing a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
Lateral Ignition and Flame Spread Test (LIFT) Apparatus:
- ASTM E1321 - Standard Test Method for Determining Material Ignition and Flame Spread Properties
45° Degree Flammability Test Cabinet:
- ASTM D1230 - Standard Test Method for Flammability of Apparel Textiles
- 16CFR-1610 - Standard for the Flammability of Clothing Textiles
Vertical Flammability Test Cabinet:
- ASTM D 6413 - Standard Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test)
- Federal Test Method Standard (FTMS) 191, Method 5903 - Flame Resistance of Cloth (vertical)
- TB117 - Requirements, Test Procedure and Apparatus Testing the Flame Retardance of Resilient Filling Used in Upholstered Furniture
Horizontal Flammability Test Cabinet:
- Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 302 - Flammability of Interior Materials
- SAE J369 - Flammability of Polymeric Interior Materials - Horizontal Test Method
- ASTM D5132 - Standard Test Method for Horizontal Burning Rate of Polymeric materials Used in Occupant Compartments of Motor Vehicles
- ISO 3795 - Determination of Burning Behaviour of Interior Materials
Underwriter’s Laboratory Test Protocols:
- UL 94 - Test for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances
Open Cup Tester:
- ASTM D92 - Standard Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester
Cigarette Ignition Test Protocols:
- NFPA 260 - Standard Methods of Tests and Classification System for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Components of Upholstered Furniture
- NFPA 261 - Standard Method of Test for Determining Resistance of Mock-Up Upholstered Furniture Material Assemblies to Ignition by Smoldering Cigarettes
- TB106 - Requirements, Test Procedures and Apparatus for Testing the Resistance of a Mattress or Mattress Pad to Combustion Which May Result from A Smoldering Cigarette
- TB116 - Requirements, Test Procedure and Apparatus for Testing the Flame Retardance of Upholstered Furniture
Hot Wire Test Protocols:
- CEI-IEC 60695-2 Glowing/Hot-wire Based Test Methods
Other Testing
- Heat release rate
- Intermediate-scale calorimetry
- Conditioned lab spaces for bench-scale and intermediate-scale experiments located throughout the country
- Spontaneous combustion/self-heating
- Fire sprinkler testing
- Smoke and heat detector testing
- Full-scale mock up testing
- Vehicle fire testing
- Hot surface ignition testing
- Fabric and textile flammability testing
- Upholstered furniture and mattress component and mock-up testing
- Pressure and leak testing
- Thermal hazard testing
Equipment and Instrumentation
Exhaust systems capable of fires up to 500 kW
- Pressure and flow testing rigs
- Furnaces to 1100°C
- Convection ovens
- Vacuum ovens
- Environmental chambers
- Mass and volumetric flow rates
- Velocity measuring
- Heat-flux transducers
- Infrared thermography
- Smoke and particulate analysis
- Thermocouples
- Thermocouple data loggers
- Data acquisition systems
- IR thermometer