- Author
- Thureson, P. | Nilsson, M.
- Title
- Degradation of Fire Properties of Approved Products as a Result of Ageing.
- Coporate
- Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, Boras, Sweden
- Report
- SP REPORT 1994:61, 1994, 63 p.
- Keywords
- degradation | ageing (materials) | building materials | cone calorimeters | test methods
- Identifiers
- full scale curtain test; age simulation treatment; ISO 5660 test results; NT FIRE 043 test results
- Abstract
- Many building products and textiles have to meet specific criteria on the materials reaction to fire in order to be used in buildings in the Nordic countries. Products are therefore fire tested in order to find out if these criteria are met. This is done on new products taken directly from the producer. As the authorities mainly set rules for new buildings and major renovation work, the degradation of the fire properties are rarely considered. The question arises if the fire properties of new products still remains after a few years of ageing. SP has, under assignment from Nordtest, performed a series of fire tests on common materials in their new form as well as on the same materials after simulated ageing. A number of building products and textiles was chosen for the test series. Common, type approved, building products that appears on the Nordic market were selected. The test methods adopted for the project are not the regular classification methods normally used. Instead modern test methods, capable to measure heat release rate and smoke production rate quantitatively, have been used. These were small scale testing, ISO 5660-1 "Cone Calorimeter" and the large scale curtain test method NT FIRE 043. The materials performance prior and after ageing, show no serious degradation of fire performance that would necessitate an alternation of the classification system used today.