Crewe, Robert J.

Hidalgo, Juan P.

Hull, T. Richard

Jomaas, Grunde

McLaggan, Martyn

Molyneux, Shirley

Stec, Anna A.

Sønderskov, Anne

Sørensen, Martin X.

Torero, José L.

Welch, Stephen

Online Research Database In Technology

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Downloaded from orbit.dtu.dk on: Dec 17, 2017Effect of insulation material on the fire performance of composite panelsMcLaggan, Martyn ; Sørensen, Martin X.; Hidalgo, Juan P. ; Crewe, Robert J. ; Molyneux, Shirley ;Sønderskov, Anne; Jomaas, Grunde; Welch, Stephen ; Torero, José L. ; Stec, Anna A. ; Hull, T. RichardPublication date:2014Document VersionPublisher's PDF, also known as Version of recordLink back to DTU OrbitCitation (APA):McLaggan, M., Sørensen, M. X., Hidalgo, J. P., Crewe, R. J., Molyneux, S., Sønderskov, A., ... Hull, T. R.(2014). Effect of insulation material on the fire performance of composite panels. Poster session presented at11th International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, Christchurch, New Zealand.Effect of insulation material on the fire performance of composite panels Martyn McLaggan1, Martin X. Sørensen2, Juan P. Hidalgo1, Robert J. Crewe3, Shirley Molyneux3, Anne Sønderskov4,  Grunde Jomaas2,  Stephen Welch1,  José L. Torero1, 5, Anna A. Stec3 and  T. Richard Hull3 Discussion Conclusions and future work 1. University of Edinburgh, UK 2. Technical University of Denmark, Denmark  3. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), UK 4. If P&C Insurance, Denmark 5. University of Queensland, Australia Modifications to the standard test Background Commercially available sandwich panels have been involved in several large fires costing insurance companies millions of Euros [1]. It is widely believed that sandwich panels containing polyisocyanurate (PIR) are able to provide an effective fire barrier. However, the fire tests that are carried out are on pristine panels often more carefully constructed to perform well in the test and do not have the large fire loads which are found in actual buildings.  The main objectives of this study were to investigate: 1. Whether or not insulation materials contribute to a fire 2. The toxicity of the gases generated 3. How more realistic and imperfect conditions affect the results Four tests were conducted in rooms constructed according to the ISO 13784-1 standard [2], subject to minor alterations. Firstly, superficial damage was added to simulate observed modifications in real buildings, such as damage due to fork lift trucks, installation of pipework and cable trays, and screw holes. The rooms were also constructed by builders as opposed to fire technicians.  Secondly, the fire loading of the test was increased to be more representative of fuel loads found in real buildings. Thus, the burner used in the test was increased from 300 kW to 600 kW after 20 minutes, and a separate test with a substantial wooden crib was carried out.  These modifications were conducted on two types of sandwich panels one with a core of polyisocyanurate (PIR) and the other with a core of stone wool (SW). Both types of panels have achieved the highest FM (Factory Mutual) Fire Safety Rating of Class 1 [3]. 1. PIR composite panels can contribute significantly to a fire despite having the same fire safety certification as SW.  2. High levels of toxicity were recorded in the PIR tests, particularly HCN.  3. The use of more realistic fire loadings and the introduction of imperfections caused external flaming which would otherwise not be present in the standard test.  It is intended to analyse the remaining data gathered from the tests (CO, CO2, temperature profiles) and publish them in a journal. Repeat tests to investigate the effects further may be carried out in future. The difference in fire behaviour dependant upon the insulation material used in the walls and ceiling was substantial, despite the fact that both materials have achieved the same certification. In the burner-only tests the PIR contributed significantly to the calculated HRR but in the stone wool room the contribution was negligible. The HCN concentration in the PIR room was 10x greater than the lethal level, and a factor of 40 greater than in the SW room. Flaming through gaps and outside the room for PIR was substantial which would present the risk of fire travelling through walls in the event of a real fire. In the SW room there was a small amount flaming through holes, but this was due to the high flames from the burner. For more information, please contact:  Martin Sørensen (martinsoerensen1@hotmail.com),  Grunde Jomaas (grujo@byg.dtu.dk) or Richard Hull (TRHull@uclan.ac.uk) References 1. If P&C Insurance, 2013. Risk Consulting 2/2013. If’s Risk Management Journal [online]. 2. ISO, 2002. ISO 13784-1:2002: Reaction-to-fire tests for sandwich panel building systems - Part 1: Test method for small rooms. Geneva: ISO. 3. FM Approvals, 2010. Approval Standard for Class 1 Fire Ratings of Insulated Wall or Wall and Roof/Ceiling Panels, Interior Finish Materials or Coatings and Exterior Wall Systems. Class Number 4880 [online]. Test 1: PIR Test 2: Stone wool Test 3: PIR Test 4: Stone wool Propane burner only Propane burner and wooden crib Tests conducted HCN and temperature comparison Test 1: A burner was placed in the corner of the room surrounded by PIR sandwich panels. The Heat Release Rate (HRR, above) shows the output of the burner, as well as the calculated HRR based on O2 consumption through the doorway. The contribution of the PIR can be seen as the calculated HRR increase over the burner input.  The toxicity of gases leaving the door is shown (above, right) which shows presence of HCN due to under-ventilated combustion of PIR. Average temperature of the upper thermocouples is shown to the right. Test 2: Stone wool panels were used in a test otherwise identical to test 1 (where PIR was used). The total calculated HRR (above) closely followed the calculated amount from the burner, suggesting negligible contribution from the stone wool.  The levels of hydrogen cyanide (HCN, above left) were much lower than those noted in the PIR room. The average temperature in the upper layer compartment was lower overall despite longer burner time at 600 kW and increased test duration (left). Test 3: A 169 kg wooden crib was placed on the opposite side of the enclosure, in addition to the burner. The crib ignited after 11 minutes (1 minute after stepping the burner up to 300 kW) from radiation above, and took 2 minutes for the flames to reach the bottom of the crib.  Measurements of HRR, HCN and average upper temperature are shown above, above right and right, respectively. Test 4: A larger wooden crib weighing 297 kg was placed in the same location as test 3. This took 22 minutes to ignite (2 minutes after stepping the burner up to 600 kW), and the flames reached the bottom after 10 minutes.  Measurements of HRR, HCN and average upper temperature are shown above, above left and left, respectively. HCN and temperature  comparison Contact Figure: Room before burner shut off Figure: Room before burner shut off Figure: Under ventilated burning in room Figure: At peak HRR; no contribution from SW 040801201600 10 20 30 40 50HCN Concentration /ppm Time /minutes HCN concentration (burner only) PIRStone wool040801201600400800120016000 10 20 30 40 50Time /minutes HCN concentration (burner and crib) PIRHCN Concentration (PIR) /ppm 0200400600800100012000 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90Temperature /°C Time /minutes Stone woolPIRAverage upper temperature of room (burner and crib) 0200400600800100012000 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90Temperature /°C Time /minutes Stone WoolPIRAverage upper temperature of room (burner only) HRR of PIR room (burner and crib) HRR of SW room (burner and crib) HRR of PIR room (burner only) HRR of SW room (burner only) 01000200030000.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00Heat release rate /kW Time /minutes Calculated HRR regionOC - Upper  LimitOC - Lower LimitHRR - INPUT01000200030000.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00Heat release rate /kW Time /minutes Calculated HRR regionOC - Lower LimitOC - Higher LimitHRR - INPUT01000200030000.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00Heat release rate /kW Time /minutes Calculated HRR regionOC - Upper LimitOC - Lower LimitHRR - INPUT01000200030000.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00Heat release rate /kW Time /minutes Calculated HRR regionOC - Upper LimitOC - Lower LimitHRR - INPUTHCN Concentration (SW) /ppm 

Effect of insulation material on the fire performance of composite panels

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Effect of insulation material on the fire performance of composite panels

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