Fire and Flammability Testing
Well-founded fire testing of building materials and other products is a critical part of complying with fire safety codes, industry regulations and safety standards. Flammability tests also allow you the opportunity to learn how materials and objects behave under a multitude of different conditions.
Fire and flammability testing saves lives, and it can also boost your product's market value of your product. Testing is a short- and long-term investments — it makes the product more versatile, more likely to reach different markets and better understood in terms of its potential fire hazards.
Choose VTEC Labs as Your Fire and Flammability Testing Lab
VTEC Laboratories offer a range of flammability and fire testing services suited for various types of material components. Ensuring your materials and products meet industry regulations and safety standards — as well as your own — is critical, so we aim to meet all of your fire testing needs quickly and efficiently.
At VTEC Laboratories, we’re an expert in fire testing and flammability testing. One of the top flammability and fire testing laboratories, we offer more than three decades of experience, accompanied by worldwide support to clients across a range of industries, including transportation, construction, industrial, chemical and more.
Call us today at 718-542-8248 - to learn more about how we can assist you with your fire testing needs. We offer a two-week turnaround time on all tests with the ability to get you the results even sooner if a rush is requested.
What Is Fire and Flammability Testing?
At its core, fire and flammability testing is the act of taking a product and testing its resistance to heat, electrical current, open flames and other conditions that might cause a fire. Most importantly, fire and flammability testing does so in a rigorous, quantifiable manner that creates usable results.
A proper fire testing laboratory will have national accreditations and certifications and will work to ensure compliance with local, state and federal codes as needed. Certified flammability testing labs are typically required to have a well-ventilated test chamber, fans and a viewing window for safe observation throughout the various tests. Product certifications may also be a requirement. Fire and flammability tests generally include the following.
- Fire reaction: This element of the test helps us discern how your product reacts when exposed to a fire and can take place under predesigned conditions. Note that this is not a test of the material's fire resistance, but rather what happens to its consistency, rigidity and form as a result of a fire. Because fire naturally causes materials to break down, this section of the test will also determine how the material's decomposition affects the fire.
- Fire resistance: Fire resistance testing gauges your material's ability to withstand and resist catching fire. A useful outcome of this fire test is the time rating — that is, how long your material can withstand a fire. The longer the time, the more chances improve of first responders extinguishing the fire and occupants reaching safety. One example of a fire resistance test is exposing a fire-retardant door to flames, then measuring how long it lasts before either incinerating or transmitting a dangerous amount of heat to the other side.
- Flame spread: Materials can spread fire, and the flame spread test uses different techniques to gauge your material's tendency to do so. Administrators will seek both a qualitative understanding of how fire spreads on the material and a quantitative measurement of how far it was able to spread.
Depending on the test program and the industry standards, fire and flammability tests may require additional timing and measurement devices. VTEC Laboratories can help you ensure a clean and functional product testing environment.
Fire and Flammability Certifications and Standards
Specific standards, certifications and organizations guide the fire and flammability testing process and set policy. Here are some of the primary things you should know about fire testing.
What Are ASTM Standards?
Formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM International is the worldwide leader in the development of voluntary consensus standards. Companies, individuals, organizations and other institutions around the world use these standards to guide the development and testing of materials, including flammability testing methods.
ASTM documents detail exact requirements for the safe use and quality of materials across industries. These can include paints, metals, textiles, plastics, consumer products and petroleums.
Organizations that follow ASTM standards can prove to their stakeholders that they are providing high-quality, consistent products that follow the standards needed to reduce the risk of fire combustion and spread.
What Is NFPA?
NFPA, which stands for the National Fire Protection Association, is one of the leading bodies in developing standards and consensus codes for fire safety. For flammability testing, the NFPA's goal is to reduce the chance of fire and the effects of fire on materials should a fire occur.
The documents that NFPA produces establish detailed sets of criteria for designing, processing, building, servicing and installation processes in the United States and several other countries around the world.
In short, NFPA standards help organizations with the following:
- Designing fire-safe products and buildings
- Maintaining building safeguards
- Improving structural safety performance
What Are ISO Accreditations?
ISO is a nongovernmental organization that develops market-relevant, consensus-based and voluntary international standards that provide solutions and support innovation. By achieving ISO accreditations, you can earn a certification that demonstrates your services or products can meet your customers' expectations.
Here are three ISO accreditations you should know about.
- ISO 17020: The ISO 17020 standard is for third-party inspection bodies. It ensures organizations stay consistent and impartial in their operations, including the handling of their structure, resources, processes and management systems.
- ISO 17025: The ISO 17025 standard focuses on calibration services, specifically the quality management used when operating them. Certification organizations and independent labs use this standard to ensure compliance and conformity with best practices.
- ISO 17065: The ISO 17025 standard ensures testing labs, inspection bodies and certification bodies correctly certify the quality of services, products and processes across industries. When consumers see ISO 17065 accreditation and certification, they can know that the products or services they're receiving will meet all required international standards.
Common Fire and Flammability Tests We Perform
The following are examples of common fire and flammability tests used in different industries. VTEC offers these tests and many others, including custom tests.
1. ASTM E119
This test determines how long specific building elements contain the fire and maintain their strength and form. Technicians place the item in a controlled fire situation, in which the fire's temperature varies according to specifications. Dousing with a fire hose may follow this step, which provides a thorough test of how the material might respond in real-life conditions. The variability of the ASTM E119 test simulates the variable conditions in actual fire situations.
2. ASTM D93
This flashpoint test determines the temperature at which chemical mixes with air and combusts. This characteristic of a chemical's flammability is an essential factor in categorizing a chemical as hazardous or combustible. The Pensky-Martens closed-cup method tests chemicals in the range of 40 degrees to 370 degrees Celsius.
3. UL 555
UL 555 covers standards for fire dampers and is in accordance with NFPA 90A, or the National Fire Protection Association Standard for Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Systems. Fire dampers can be useful in the following situations.
- Static systems: These automatically shut down during a fire.
- Dynamic systems: These remain in operation during a fire.
- Combination fire and smoke dampers: These are used at points in HVAC systems where both a fire and smoke damper are necessary in the same place.
- Corridor dampers: These dampers are placed where air ducts end in the ceiling of interior hallways.
This test exposes a damper to a fire with a specified course of temperatures, then douses the flames with a fire hose to simulate a real-life situation.
4. ASTM D1929
This test is useful for comparing the conditions under which different plastics combust, and reporting the minimum air temperature at which combustion will occur. To achieve these results, the test makes use of a hot-air furnace.
5. ASTM D635
This test compares the rates at which plastics burn and the characteristics of their burning. It does not measure flammability. Because variables like density and presence of pigments contribute to burn rate, the test only compares materials of similar thickness.
6. ASTM D2843
It is crucial to measure the relative thickness of smoke produced by burning plastics. Such information determines visibility during a fire. This test exposes plastics to controlled flame or heat so the plastic produces smoke, though it doesn't necessarily determine other characteristics of the plastic's decomposition or burning.
7. ASTM D2863
This test is interesting because it seeks to determine the minimum amount of oxygen necessary to produce a candle-like flame in a plastic. It involves blowing in a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen and expressing the oxygen level as a percentage of volume. This method involves three separate procedures.
- Procedure A: Igniting the top surface of the material
- Procedure B: Propagating the ignition
- Procedure C: Running a comparison with a predetermined minimum oxygen percentage
By design, this test describes the tendencies and behaviors of materials under a flame, though not necessarily under the same conditions as in a standard flame test.
8. ASTM E162
This test also examines surface flammability, except by administering heat via radiant heating. It determines how the material's surface will react to radiant heat from fire. Though we generally use smaller samples of the material for flammability testing, they are comparable to the dimensions and design of the material in practice.
9. BSS 7239
Also known as the Boeing Safety Standard 7239, this fire test assesses the toxic gases emitted when different materials — specifically, those on an aircraft — combust. A technician places the item in a smoke chamber, using a specified amount of heat to generate smoke. From there, they capture and analyze the gases for toxicity. This test takes place with and without flames, when the material is merely decomposing as a result of heat.
This test is used to measure the production of particular gases: hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, hydrogen fluoride, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen cyanide.
10. UL 94
UL 94 is a flammability test that examines a material's tendency to either spread or retard flame once it has been set on fire. This test uses a small bar or plaque and a more severe flame than in other tests.
11. ASTM D257
This test studies the behavior of a component subjected to direct current. We use it to measure DC surface, volume and insulation resistance. It involves identifying the voltage stress limits of a component shrouded in high-resistance insulating material. The dimensions allow operators to calculate the amount of surface resistivity in the insulation and provide several other useful calculations for comparison.
12. SMP 800C
Also known as the Bombardier toxicity test standard, the SMP 800C measures the release of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen bromide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. A standard imposes limits on how many parts per million burning materials can emit.
Work With VTEC Laboratories for Your Fire and Flammability Testing Needs
VTEC is a certified industry leader in testing, consulting and expert testimony for situations that include fire, arson and fire property damage. Using our expert resources, we will compile evidence and participate in expert witness projects and will help settle legal disputes with evidence-driven tests.
Additionally, VTEC performs testing for nearly all the major railcar manufacturers and their suppliers. Our tests include flame spread, smoke and toxicity, bond strength and accelerated aging. We also work closely with the Marines and have earned accreditation from BOCA, NYC MEA, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver for building construction.
Other Fire Tests VTEC Labs is Capable of Performing
Industries That Need Fire and Flammability Testing
Many industries rely on fire and flammability testing to ensure human safety, equipment protection and liability minimalization.
Aerospace
With unprecedented advances made every day, aerospace manufacturers need reliable fire testing services more than ever. Aerospace components feature an exceptional degree of engineering precision and specification, and fire testing is imperative to ensure safety in extreme conditions.
VTEC is capable of testing components, engine seals and materials from all parts of the craft in our test facility in Bronx, N.Y. Our state-of-the-art test facility delivers beyond the call of duty to meet the growing list of needs of aerospace manufacturers. We help your products comply with different fire test requirements, which allows them to surpass industry-mandated standards and customer expectations for factors like airflow, strength and smoothness.
Aerospace regulation also requires reliable fire resistance and fireproof testing, which may require specific or customized tests with extremely high temperatures. Our tests for aerospace include, but are not limited to, the following.
- ASTM E906: Measuring how quickly materials release heat at different rates
- FAR AC 20-135: Examining the fireproof and fire-resistant properties of propulsion systems
- SMP 800-C: The generation of toxic gas.
- AITM 2.0005 (7.1.6): Flammability at 60 degrees
- AITM 2.0008: Smoke density in terms of visibility
- AITM 3.0005 (7.4): A test for toxicity
- BMS 13-48: Aircraft cable, extruded and cross-linked
- FAA/FAR 25.853: Ensuring compatibility with requirements for seat cushions in aircraft
- FAA/FAR 25.855: A test for flammability in the interiors of aircraft
Automotive
Fire and flammability tests are paramount to the automotive industry, where passengers must remain safe from high temperatures and carefully controlled internal combustion processes. Various car components need flammability testing, including hoses, heat shields, filters, engine components, metals, and composites.
Because the automotive industry is advancing rapidly, customers often need customized tests that evaluate performance under specific situations and conditions. We can also perform fire tests on whole cars. Due to the prevalence of traffic accidents, it is imperative for compromised vehicles to be safe from fires.
Marine and Rail
The marine industry requires testing for such factors as materials' surface flammability, how much smoke and toxic byproduct they release during combustion, how building construction materials hold up to fire and how products test under fire. Additionally, marine applications need to test for several variations of heat release — for example, how much heat combustion produces. Often, calories are the best measurement.
Rail transportation needs many of the same tests as marine and automotive — tests for surface flammability, construction materials, liquid contaminant, inclined-plane tracking and more. VTEC is an industry leader in performing fire and flammability tests on all modes of transportation.
Military and Government
Many military and government industries perform fire testing on their buildings, materials and equipment. Military personnel, government officials and even government contractors must rely on various products to withstand the pressures they'll encounter — flammability testing can help you address specifications for the qualification and reliability of your products.
VTEC Laboratories offers certified fire testing to ensure military and government materials you can trust while governing and protecting your country. Our fire and flammability tests for military and government industries include the following.
- NES 711: Determines the smoke index of products of combustion from small material specimens
- NES 713: Determines the toxicity index of products of combustion from small material specimens
- NES 715: Determines the temperature index of small material test specimens
- Acid gas: Tests the potential for sheathing or insulation material to emit corrosive gases when exposed to flames or high temperatures
- Fungal resistance: Tests if a material will support fungal growth in warm, humid conditions
- UL 1686: Measures the smoke production and spread of cable flames when electrical and optical fiber cables are exposed to fire
- ASTM G21: Gauges the resistance of synthetic polymeric materials to fungi
- MIL-DTL 24643: Cables, electric, low-smoke halogen-free, for shipboard use
- MIL-DTL 24640: Cables, electric, low-smoke halogen-free, for shipboard use
- MIL-STD-810: Tests of rugged computing equipment
- MIL-STD-2031: A test for fire and toxicity
Construction and Engineering
The construction and engineering industry includes industrial and manufacturing applications, which play a prominent role in everyday life and are subject to heavy regulation and standardization. Materials need to be tested to ensure they are durable and pure enough to withstand heat from electrical short circuits, overheated surfaces, and other conditions.
VTEC Laboratories can also perform room flammability tests using a room with an adjustable ceiling that is 12 feet per side. Our tests for construction and engineering include the following.
- ASTM C542: Tests the fortitude of lock-strip gaskets against fire
- ASTM C1166: A test to determine how flame propagates through cellular and dense elastomeric gaskets, as well as other accessories
- ASTM D229: Tests the rigid materials for sheets and plates in electrical insulation
- ASTM E84: Determines how the surfaces of building materials burn
- ASTM E162: Surface flammability of materials using a radiant heat energy source
- ASTM E603: Gauges how a room fire will spread and grow
- ASTM E648: A test to measure the critical radiant flux of systems that cover the floor, using a source of radiant heat energy
- DIN 4102, Part 1, Class A1: A fire test for non-combustible building materials
- ISO 9705: A test for surface materials that takes place in a full-scale room
- NFPA 225: A fire test for home installations manufactured from a model
- UBC 8-2 & UBC 42-2: A study of textile wall coverings to determine how much they contribute to fire growth
Chemical
The chemical industry is particularly reliant on fire and flammability testing due to the nature of its products. Whether a chemical is used for agriculture, manufacturing, consumer products or other purposes, it will be subject to regulations and needs to be tested. Some chemical tests include the following.
- ASTM D93: A flashpoint test that uses a Pensky-Martens closed-cup tester
- ASTM D1929: The temperature at which plastics ignite
- ASTM D3065: Tests aerosol products for flammability
- ASTM E659: The temperature at which a chemical ignites
- ASTM E681: Tests the limits of concentration for chemical flammability in gaseous form
VTEC IS YOUR GO-TO FIRE TESTING LABORATORY
With more than 30 years of experience, VTEC Laboratories is an expert in flammability and fire testing. We’ve provided companies worldwide with accurate, comprehensive tests that ensure your materials meet industry regulations and your in-house quality and safety standards.
Receive a quote for fire and flammability testing by calling us today at 718-542-8248 or contacting us online.
