Cone calorimeter

A cone calorimeter provides valuable information about material properties and predicts their fire behavior.

The instrument can define important parameters such as Heat Release Rate (H.R.R.), smoke release, ignition time, oxygen consumption, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide development, and mass loss rate.
The name “cone calorimeter” comes from the conical heater first used by Dr. Vytenis Babrauskas to inspect 100 mm×100 mm specimens with a flux up to 1100 kW/m2, highlighting oxygen depletion. The cone calorimeter test is based on the theory that the calories of pure combustion are proportional to the amount of oxygen required for combustion, generating 13.1 MJ/kg for every 1 kg of oxygen consumed.
The cone calorimeter produced by FT Solutions is designed for easy control of the entire test cycle thanks to its DAQ (Data Acquisition) program. The onboard 19″ touch screen allows for automatic test execution.
The following are measured: heat release, ignition time, oxygen consumption, CO and CO2 generation, and the gas flow produced by the tested materials.
The cone calorimeter produced by FT Solutions is designed for easy control of the entire test cycle thanks to its DAQ (Data Acquisition) program. The onboard 19″ touch screen allows for automatic test execution.
The 5-stage conical temperature controller manufactured by FESTEC (available as an option) helps measure the combustion characteristics of samples by varying and increasing temperature, allowing for the setting of a virtual temperature based on real fire conditions. This option enables the measurement of various results similar to those obtained in a real fire environment. The operator can easily set the temperature, speed, and holding time after the ramp-up with the 5-phase temperature controller.

Standards

• ISO 5660: Reaction-to-fire tests – Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate
• ASTM E 1354: Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter.
• BS 476 Pt.15: Fire tests on building materials and structures – Method for measuring the heat release rate of products