- SP Fire Research

SINTEF REPORT
TITLE
SINTEF Civil and Environmental
Engineering
Norwegian Fire
Research Laboratory
Address:
Method for testing the response of vehicles exposed to a fire
simulating burning tyres.
Location:
N-7034 Trondheim,
NORWAY
Tiller bru, Tiller
AUTHOR(S)
Telephone:
Fax:
+47 73 59 10 78
+47 73 59 10 44
Are W. Brandt
Enterprise No.: NO 948 007 029 MVA
CLIENT(S)
Directorate for Fire and Explosion Prevention (DBE)
Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRV)
REPORT NO.
CLASSIFICATION
CLIENTS REF.
STF22 A98833
Unrestricted
Arne Johansen, DBE and Joakim Nielsen, SRV
CLASS. THIS PAGE
ISBN
PROJECT NO.
NO. OF PAGES/APPENDICES
Unrestricted
846174
ELECTRONIC FILE CODE
PROJECT MANAGER (NAME, SIGN.)
CHECKED BY (NAME, SIGN.)
Are W. Brandt
Per Arne Hansen
Document2
7+7
FILE CODE
DATE
APPROVED BY (NAME, POSITION, SIGN.)
X
1998-05-25
Kjell Schmidt Pedersen
ABSTRACT
The main object of this study was to establish a test method to determine the response of a vehicle
transporting substances and articles of Class 1 when exposed to a fire in the tyres.
The method uses a multi-nozzle propane burner to simulate the combustion of two tyres, and a
characteristic heat release rate curve is to be followed. The maximum heat release rate during the
simulated combustion of two tyres is 600 kW, achieved after 20 min.
The tests which this method is based on were carried out in SINTEF Civil and Environmental
Engineering – Norwegian Fire Research Laboratory’s large scale fire test hall
KEYWORDS
GROUP 1
GROUP 2
SELECTED BY AUTHOR
ENGLISH
Fire
Car
Tyre
Vehicle response
NORWEGIAN
Brann
Bil
Dekk
Respons på lastekasse
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................3
2.
SUMMARY ...........................................................................................................................4
3.
TEST METHOD ....................................................................................................................5
3.1 Test arrangement ..............................................................................................................5
3.2 Test criteria .......................................................................................................................5
3.3 Heat release rate................................................................................................................5
3.4 Temperature measurements ..............................................................................................5
3.5 Test specimen ...................................................................................................................6
3.6 Gas burner.........................................................................................................................6
4.
REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................7
APPENDIX A:
Test arrangement
APPENDIX B:
Heat release
APPENDIX C:
Temperature measurements
APPENDIX D:
Gas burner
STF22 A98833
3
1. INTRODUCTION
In connection with the transport of substances and articles of class 1 there are special
requirements to be fulfilled by the vehicles and their equipment. These matters are described in
European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road /1/ and
ADR Vegtransport av farlig gods – Forskrifter om landtransport av farlig gods /2/.
On request from Directorate for Fire and Explosion Prevention and Swedish Rescue Services
Agency, SINTEF Civil and Environmental Engineering – Norwegian Fire Research Laboratory
(SINTEF NBL) was asked to develop a test method for vehicles transporting substances and
articles of class 1 according to /1/ and /2/. The method should determine the response of a vehicle
when exposed to a fire in the tyres.
The method described in this report is based on European agreement concerning the international
carriage of dangerous goods by road /1/, ADR Vegtransport av farlig gods – Forskrifter om
landtransport av farlig gods /2/, Fire in tyres. Heat release rate and response of vehicles /3/, Brann
i bildekk. Varmeavgivelse ved bruk av gassbrenner /4/ and ISO 9705, Fire tests – Full-scale room
test for surface products /5/.
The fire tests, which this method is based on, were performed in SINTEF NBL’s large-scale fire
test hall under controlled temperature and ventilation conditions. Tests were done to determine the
heat release rate of two tyres /3/ and to validate the use of a gas burner to replace the actual
combustion of two tyres /4/.
This programme was sponsored by Directorate for Fire and Explosion Prevention and Swedish
Rescue Services Agency.
STF22 A98833
4
2. SUMMARY
In order to ensure a safe transport of substances and articles of class 1 a test method has been
established at SINTEF Civil and Environmental Engineering – Norwegian Fire Research
Laboratory. The method is based on European agreement concerning the international carriage of
dangerous goods by road /1/ and ADR Vegtransport av farlig gods – Forskrifter om landtransport
av farlig gods /2/. The method determines the response of a vehicle when exposed to a fire in the
tyres.
STF22 A98833
5
3. TEST METHOD
The test method was developed in order to investigate the response of vehicles exposed to a fire in
the tyres. The heat release from a fire in two tyres should be simulated by use of a multi-nozzle
propane burner.
3.1 Test arrangement
The test arrangement to create a relevant fire exposure consisted of a multi-nozzle propane burner,
which shall be placed at the virtual centre line of a tyre flush with the outer wall of the vehicle.
The vehicle it self is to be supported by a chassis equivalent to the one used in practice and a
realistic load depending on the size of the test vehicle should be applied.
The test arrangement is shown on the drawing in A.1. and A.2.
3.2 Test criteria
The criteria for vehicles transporting substances and articles of Class 1 are given in /1/ and /2/.
The construction should ensure that the inside temperature of the vehicle dos not exceed 120°C at
any given time when exposed to an external fire during a 15 minutes period. There should be no
gaps or openings through the vehicle during the same period.
3.3 Heat release rate
The heat release can be calculated from the propane consumption of the burner and should follow
a given characteristic curve. The characteristic curve represents the fire growth from ignition to a
fully developed fire which is documented in /4/. The total duration of the fire should be 20 min,
allowing for a 5 min. preheat period. The curve is shown on the graph in B.1. A graph showing
the heat release rate curve of the combustion of two tyres is given in B.2.
3.4 Temperature measurements
The temperature measurements in connection with the method are done by the use of
thermocouples as described in C.1. These are the same type of thermocouples as described in ISO
834 Fire resistance test – Elements of building construction /6/. The thermocouples should be
glued to position ensuring a good contact between the test specimen and the thermocouple.
The location of the thermocouples on different parts of the test specimens is shown in C.2.
STF22 A98833
6
3.5 Test specimen
The test specimen should consist of a wall and floor segment with a minimum dimension of (H x
W x D) 1500mm x 2100mm x 1300mm, and should represent the weakest section of the vehicle.
A chassis equivalent to the one used in practice should support the wall and floor segment. The
whole test specimen should be mounted on four legs with a minimum height of 800mm. This is
shown on the drawing in A.1 and A.2.
3.6 Gas burner
The gas burner that is to be used for this method should have an area of approximately 0.6 m2
(520 mm ± 50 mm x 1100 mm ± 100 mm) and consist of 4 stainless steel pipes with a diameter of
35 mm. There should be two rows of 2 mm holes with a spacing of 10 mm. The two rows of holes
should have a spacing of 90°. A drawing of the burner is given in D.1.
STF22 A98833
7
4. REFERENCES
/1/
European agreement concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by road
(ADR) and protocol of signature, Economic Commission for Europe – Inland Transport
Committee, United Nations New York and Geneva, 1994.
/2/
ADR Vegtransport av farlig gods – Forskrifter om landtransport av farlig gods. Europeisk
avtale om international vegtransport av farlig gods, Elanders Forlag.
/3/
Hansen, Per Arne: Fire in tyres. Heat release rate and response of vehicles, SINTEF-report
STF25 A95039, SINTEF NBL – Norges branntekniske laboratorium, Trondheim, 1995.
/4/
Hansen, Per Arne: Brann i bildekk. Varmeavgivelse ved bruk av gassbrenner, SINTEFreport STF84 A96609, SINTEF Energi - Norges branntekniske laboratorium, Trondheim,
1996.
/5/
ISO 9705, Fire tests – Full-scale room test for surface products, First edition, 1993-06-15.
/6/
ISO 834, Fire-resistance test – Elements of building construction, First edition, 1975-11-01
STF22 A98833
APPENDIX A.1.
Fig. 1 Front view of test arrangement
APPENDIX A.2.
Fig. 2. Side view of test arrangement
APPENDIX B.1.
Heatload
Heat Release Rate (kW)
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0
5
10
15
Time (min)
Graph 1. Heat release rate curve to be followed when using the gas burner.
20
APPENDIX B.2.
Graph 2. Heat release rate curve during combustion of two tyres /3/.
APPENDIX C.1.
THERMOCOUPLES USED IN THE METHOD
Wire thermocouples K28-2-305, temperature rating 482°C.
These thermocouples should be used to measure the temperature inside the vehicle.
The thermocouple should be made according to the description in ISO 834, /6/
APPENDIX C.2.
2100 mm
500 mm
500 mm
TC1
TC2
X
400 mm
1500 mm
400 mm
X
TC3
TC4
100 mm
400 mm
X
X
TC6
X
X
TC5
X
TC7
X
TC8
Rear View of Front Wall
250 mm
XTC12
X
TC9
XTC10
XTC11
XTC13
X TC14
XTC15
XTC17
XTC18
XTC19
300 mm
1300 mm
250 mm
2100 mm
XTC20
300 mm
500 mm
500 mm
Top View of Floor
300 mm
XTC16
APPENDIX D.1.
Fig. 3. Sketch of gas burner /4/.