Fire investigations often focus on the source of ignition and the spread or growth of the fire. Fire tests can contribute to these investigations by demonstrating how a fire can originate and spread. In addition to supplementing fire investigations, fire tests are widely used for product research and development. Whether the project involves a fire investigation, a new product being developed, 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
- NFPA 702 - Forced edge ignition of fabrics cited by California for Hospital Apparel and Bedding Fabrics
- CA TB 117 C and E - Upholstery Fabrics (Section E) Synthetic Filling (Section C)
- BIFMA - Upholstery material screening test
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
- Airbus AITM 2.0002
- Boeing BSS 7230
- CPAI 84 - Tent walls and tops
- FAR Part 25 Appendix F Part I
- NFPA 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 2112
- ASTM F 1506
- NFPA 701 (1989) Small Scale
- CPAI 84
- CAN/ULC S109 Small Flame
- UL 214 Small Flame
- CA TB 117 AI and B
- CA Title 19
- CPSC 16CFR 1615 and 1616
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
Exponent also has representation on a number of NFPA and ASTM fire testing technical committees and can provide consulting services relating to these test methods. These committees include the following:
- ASTM Committee C16 – Thermal Insulation
- ASTM Committee D13 – Textiles
- ASTM Committee E27 - Hazard Potential of Chemicals:
- Subcommittee E27.02 - Thermal Stability and Condensed Phases
- Subcommittee E27.04 - Flammability and Ignitability of Chemicals
- Subcommittee E27.05 - Explosibility and Ignitability of Dust Clouds
- ASTM Committee E05 - Fire Testing:
- Subcommittee E05.13 - Large Scale Fire Tests
- Subcommittee E05.15 - Furnishings and Contents
- Subcommittee E05.21 - Smoke and Combustion Products
- Subcommittee E05.32 - Research
- ASTM Committee F15 - Consumer Products
- ASTM Committee F23 – Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
- NFPA Committee on Fire Tests:
- NFPA 251 - Standard Methods of Tests of Fire Resistance of Building Construction and Materials
- NFPA 252 - Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Door Assemblies
- NFPA 253 - Standard Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
- NFPA 257 - Standard on Fire Test for Window and Glass Block Assemblies
- NFPA 259 - Standard Test Method for Potential Heat of Building Materials
- 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
- NFPA 262 - Standard Method of Test for Flame Travel and Smoke of Wires and Cables for Use in Air-Handling Spaces
- NFPA 265 - Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Coverings on Full Height Panels and Walls
- NFPA 268 - Standard Test Method for Determining Ignitibility of Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
- NFPA 269 - Standard Test Method for Developing Toxic Potency Data for Use in Fire Hazard Modeling
- NFPA 270 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Smoke Obscuration Using a Conical Radiant Source in a Single Closed Chamber
- NFPA 271 - Standard Method of Test for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
- NFPA 273 - Standard Method of Test for Determining the Degrees of Combustibility of Building Materials (Proposed)
- NFPA 274 - Standard Test Method to Evaluate Fire Performance Characteristics of Pipe Insulation
- NFPA 275 - Standard Method of Fire Tests for the Evaluation of Thermal Barriers Used Over Foam Plastic Insulation
- NFPA 276 - Standard Method of Fire Tests for Determining the Heat Release Rate of Roofing Assemblies with Combustible Above-Deck Roofing Components (Proposed)
- NFPA 284 - Standard Test Method for Mattresses for Correctional Occupancies (Proposed)
- NFPA 285 - Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components
- NFPA 286 - Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth
- NFPA 287 - Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Flammability of Materials in Cleanrooms Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA)
- NFPA 288 - Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Floor Fire Door Assemblies Installed Horizontally in Fire Resistance-Rated Floor Systems
- NFPA 289 - Standard Method of Fire Test for Individual Fuel Packages
- NFPA 290 - Standard for Fire Testing of Passive Protection Materials for Use on LP-Gas Containers