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INTERMEDIATE-SCALE TESTS AND CONE CALORIMETER TESTS - FIRE BEHAVIOUR OF SELECTED FACADE MATERIALS

Cernosa, Tanja LU (2020) In LUTVDG/TVBB VBRM05 20201
Division of Fire Safety Engineering
Abstract
In the last few years, the implementation of well-ventilated façades in buildings increased due to their improved energy performance. However, their double-wall construction due to the limited airflow within an air cavity represents a significant fire risk, since the flames that spread into the air cavity can elongate up to ten times.
The main goal of this thesis is to provide additional information regarding the fire behaviour of stone wool, phenolic foam, as well as the stone wool and WRB composite, that are frequently installed materials in the well-ventilated façade systems. Their fire behaviour was initially evaluated with the cone calorimeter and then compared to the results of the intermediate-scale façade tests.
The heat release... (More)
In the last few years, the implementation of well-ventilated façades in buildings increased due to their improved energy performance. However, their double-wall construction due to the limited airflow within an air cavity represents a significant fire risk, since the flames that spread into the air cavity can elongate up to ten times.
The main goal of this thesis is to provide additional information regarding the fire behaviour of stone wool, phenolic foam, as well as the stone wool and WRB composite, that are frequently installed materials in the well-ventilated façade systems. Their fire behaviour was initially evaluated with the cone calorimeter and then compared to the results of the intermediate-scale façade tests.
The heat release rates that were obtained for the test, including the WRB and stone wool material demonstrated, that the cone calorimeter data is comparable to intermediate-scale test. Based on the cone calorimeter results, the WRB and stone wool composite will have relatively quick ignition time at various heat flux values. For this reason, the WRB and stone wool could represent a fire hazard when implemented in a façade system. In addition, the intermediate-scale experiments also exhibited the significance of additional parameters on the heat release rates, such as oxygen availability and the instalment of the cavity barriers. (Less)
Popular Abstract
In the last few years, the implementation of well-ventilated façades in buildings increased due to their improved energy performance. However, their double-wall construction due to the limited airflow within an air cavity represents a significant fire risk, since the flames that spread into the air cavity can elongate up to ten times.
The main goal of this thesis is to provide additional information regarding the fire behaviour of stone wool, phenolic foam, as well as the stone wool and WRB composite, that are frequently installed materials in the well-ventilated façade systems. Their fire behaviour was initially evaluated with the cone calorimeter and then compared to the results of the intermediate-scale façade tests.
The comparison of... (More)
In the last few years, the implementation of well-ventilated façades in buildings increased due to their improved energy performance. However, their double-wall construction due to the limited airflow within an air cavity represents a significant fire risk, since the flames that spread into the air cavity can elongate up to ten times.
The main goal of this thesis is to provide additional information regarding the fire behaviour of stone wool, phenolic foam, as well as the stone wool and WRB composite, that are frequently installed materials in the well-ventilated façade systems. Their fire behaviour was initially evaluated with the cone calorimeter and then compared to the results of the intermediate-scale façade tests.
The comparison of the heat release rate values of the WRB and stone wool composite at 50 kW/m2 indicated that the values of cone calorimeter data and the intermediate-scale tests are comparable. In both cases, the material started to melt after a few seconds into the test, which resulted in high heat release rates. The cone calorimeter data demonstrated that the WRB and stone wool composite would have relatively quick ignition times and high heat release rates even at heat flux values lower than 50 kW/m2. For this reason, the WRB and stone wool composite could be defined as a fire hazard when implemented in a façade system. Therefore, the façade systems that would have implemented WRB and stone wool composite would also require instalment of cavity barriers, that would prevent the vertical flame spread within the
cavity.
In addition, the intermediate-scale experiments also exhibited the significance of additional parameters on the heat release rates, such as the openness of the sides and the external cladding panels. The executed intermediate-scale tests had open sides, which provided the supply of air into the system and limited the chimney effect. Consequently, the experiments had lower heat release rates compared to previously executed tests. The analysis of the previously executed tests also demonstrated that a substantial influence of external cladding panels on the maximum heat release rate might be extended from ACM to other types of external cladding panels. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Cernosa, Tanja LU
supervisor
organization
course
VBRM05 20201
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Fire behaviour, Intermediate-scale facade tests, cone calorimeter, stone wool, phenolic foam, WRB
publication/series
LUTVDG/TVBB
report number
5613
other publication id
LUTVDG/TVBB-5613-SE
language
English
id
9012751
date added to LUP
2020-06-04 12:44:05
date last changed
2020-06-04 12:44:05
@misc{9012751,
  abstract     = {{In the last few years, the implementation of well-ventilated façades in buildings increased due to their improved energy performance. However, their double-wall construction due to the limited airflow within an air cavity represents a significant fire risk, since the flames that spread into the air cavity can elongate up to ten times.
The main goal of this thesis is to provide additional information regarding the fire behaviour of stone wool, phenolic foam, as well as the stone wool and WRB composite, that are frequently installed materials in the well-ventilated façade systems. Their fire behaviour was initially evaluated with the cone calorimeter and then compared to the results of the intermediate-scale façade tests.
The heat release rates that were obtained for the test, including the WRB and stone wool material demonstrated, that the cone calorimeter data is comparable to intermediate-scale test. Based on the cone calorimeter results, the WRB and stone wool composite will have relatively quick ignition time at various heat flux values. For this reason, the WRB and stone wool could represent a fire hazard when implemented in a façade system. In addition, the intermediate-scale experiments also exhibited the significance of additional parameters on the heat release rates, such as oxygen availability and the instalment of the cavity barriers.}},
  author       = {{Cernosa, Tanja}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{LUTVDG/TVBB}},
  title        = {{INTERMEDIATE-SCALE TESTS AND CONE CALORIMETER TESTS - FIRE BEHAVIOUR OF SELECTED FACADE MATERIALS}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}