Factory Mutual Calorimeter Test

Although the tunnel test is widely accepted, conditions and orientations involved are not those normally found in installed insulations. New laige-scale tests have been developed the results can be taken to represent actual performance more closely. Such tests include the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) and ASTM E603 full-scale room tests, ASTM E108 roofing test, the UL roof deck construction test, the Factory Mutual Calorimeter Test, and both alaige- and small-scale comer test. 

Radiant panel test for flame spread Factory mutual calorimeter test UL and FM corner wall tests Full-room burnouts— FM, UL ASTM E162... 

The Ohio State University (OSU) calorimeter (12) differs from the Cone calorimeter ia that it is a tme adiabatic instmment which measures heat released dufing burning of polymers by measurement of the temperature of the exhaust gases. This test has been adopted by the Federal Aeronautics Administration (FAA) to test total and peak heat release of materials used ia the iateriors of commercial aircraft. The other principal heat release test ia use is the Factory Mutual flammabiHty apparatus (13,14). Unlike the Cone or OSU calorimeters this test allows the measurement of flame spread as weU as heat release and smoke. A unique feature is that it uses oxygen concentrations higher than ambient to simulate back radiation from the flames of a large-scale fire. 

The large-scale tests, which are believed to be amongst the best of those available, are the Factory Mutual Class 1 Calorimeter Test, the FM 25-foot Comer Test, and the so-called Mini-comer test. 

The Fire Products Collector. The first industrial-size calorimeter for fires into the MW range was built at Factory Mutual (currently FM Global) around 1980. This calorimeter, also referred to as the FM fire products collector, was designed to measure heat and other fire products from test fires up to a size... 

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