Modelling with Calorimeter data


Early work carried out in the USA and Sweden showed how successful the Cone Calorimeter was in generating good input data for models.


After the EUREFIC project demonstrated excellent prediction of Room Corner (ISO 9705) performance for wall lining materials from Cone Calorimeter data the European Commission funded several large multi-lab research projects to develop models for prediction of the performance of finished construction products from small scale calorimeter tests.These include the CBUF (Combustion Behaviour of Upholstered Furniture) project for furniture, the FIPEC (Fire Performance of Electric Cables) project for electric cables and the FIRESTAR project for railway rolling-stock.


FTT now supplies Cone Calorimeters that enable materials and products to be tested both in accordance with product standards and with novel developments for advanced research studies.We also produce a range of larger calorimeters that enable products of all sizes to be tested full scale. FTT researchers continue to cooperate with the worlds leading research teams who are using bench scale calorimetry and flame-spread data to predict fire development rates.


FTT’s contribution to the development of calorimetery


Applications


Most leading fire research groups now use cone calorimeters both as a prime source of data on properties of materials and as a source of input data to models used for predicting the fire behaviour of finished products. International standards have been published describing the equipment and several national standardisation bodies have now published product standards for use of the Cone Calorimeter in assessing performances of finished products.


 Furniture (ASTM E 1474)


 Wall lining materials (ASTM E 1740)  Prison mattresses (ASTM F 1550)  Electric Cables (ASTM D 6113)


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Railway rolling-stock applications (BS 6853)


 Maritime applications (IMO)


In the mid 1980’s FTT directors worked with Dr.Vytenis Babrauskas (who invented the Cone Calorimeter) and other colleagues to help develop international test standards based upon it.They also designed European prototypes and Stanton Redcroft’s commercial Cone Calorimeter. Since 1989 FTT has been the worlds leading manufacturer of full scale calorimeters (e.g. Furniture Calorimeter and the ISO 9705 Room Corner test).The introduction of the FTT Cone Calorimeter in 1993 offered a new generation commercial instrument to the market at approximately half the price of the then current commercial systems.This brought calorimetry into the budgetary reach of most laboratories and FTT subsequently supplied the major sector of this market. FTT later launched the new Cone 2000 and the Dual Cone 2000.Throughout this period FTT scientists and engineers led several calorimetry research projects and contributed extensively to International, European,ASTM and British Standardisation groups.


The FTT group have supplied more than 300 Cone Calorimeters to customers in more than 40 countries.Our specialist calorimetry design engineers ensure our products integrate new developments, our production engineers are the world’s most experienced cone builders and our team of specialist service engineers ensure that FTT calorimeters are promptly maintained on all 5 continents.


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