NBSIR 76-1012

Fire Performance Testing of

Bulkhead Insulation Systems

for High Strength to Weight

Ship Structures

B. T. Lee

Center for Fire Research

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

Final Report

August 1 976

Prepared for

Ship Damage Prevention and Control

Naval Sea Systems Command

Department of the Navy

Washington, D. C. 20362

NBSIR 76-1012

FIRE PERFORMANCE TESTING OF

BULKHEAD INSULATION SYSTEMS

FOR HIGH STRENGTH TO WEIGHT

SHIP STRUCTURES

B. T. Lee

Center for Fire Research

Institute for Applied Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D. C. 20234

Final Report

August 1976

Prepared for

Ship Damage Prevention and Control

Naval Sea Systems Command

Department of the Navy

Washington, D. C. 20362

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Elliot L. Richardson, Secretary

Edward O. Vetter, Under Secretary

Dr. Betsy Ancker-Johnson, Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Acting Director

CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF FIGURES iv

LIST OF TABLES iv

SI CONVERSION UNITS V

Abstract 1

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. EXPERIMENTAL AND TEST PROCEDURES 2

2.1. Fire Endurance 3

2.2. Smoke Density Chamber 8

2.3. Potential Heat Release 10

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 10

3.1. Fire Endurance Testing. 10

3.2. Other Laboratory Fire Tests 18

3.2.1. Measurement of Combustion Products 19

3.2.2. Potential Heat Analysis ... 19

4. CONCLUSIONS 21

5. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS , 21

6. REFERENCES 22

APPENDIX A. ANALYTICAL ANALYSIS OF HEAT CONDUCTION IN TEST

MATERIAL 2 3

APPENDIX B. FIRE ENDURANCE TEST DATA 26

APPENDIX C. FIRE ENDURANCE TEST OBSERVATIONS 50

iii
LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 1. Test Furnace 4

Figure 2. Panel Detail and Relationship to Furnace 5

Figure 3. Thermocouple Locations on Unexposed Surface 9

Figure 4^ Specimen 1 — Before and After Fire Exposure 12

Figure 5. Specimen 3 — Before and After Fire Exposure 13

Figure 6. Specimen 10 — Top and Base Insulations Following

Fire Exposure 15

Figure 7. Specimen 12 — Top and Base Insulations Following Fire

Exposure 16

Figure 8. Specimen 19 — Before and After Fire Exposure 17

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Description of Specimens 6

Table 2. Summary of Furnace Test Results 11

Table 3. Results from Potential Heat and Smoke Density Chamber

Tests 20

Table Al . Calculated Plate Temperatures 24

iv
SI CONVERSION UNITS

In view of the present accepted engineering practice in this country,

common U.S. units of measurement have been used throughout this report. In

recognition of the position of the United States as a signatory to the General

Conference on Weights and Measurements which gave official status to the

metric SI system of units in 1960, we assist the readers interested in making

use of the coherent system of SI units by giving conversion factors applicable

to the U.S. units used in this report.

Length

1 in = 0.0254 meter

1 ft = 0.3048 meter

Volume

1 ft3 = 0.0283 m3

Mass

1 lb = 0.4536 kilogram

Density

1 pcf (lb/ft3) = 0.0160 g/cm3

Temperature

Temperature in °F = 9/5 (temperature in °C) + 32 °F

Energy

1 Btu = 1054.6 joules

Power

1 Btu/s = 1054.6 watts

V

FIRE PERFORMANCE TESTING OF BULKHEAD INSULATION

SYSTEMS FOR HIGH STRENGTH TO WEIGHT SHIP STRUCTURES

B. T. Lee

Abstract

Sixteen insulated aluminum bulkhead specimens were subjected

to a material screening process as well as evaluated for their

comparative fire performance with a 2-foot horizontal slab furnace. Two insulated and two unprotected glass-reinforced plastic

specimens were also tested to obtain fire performance data on

these structural materials. In addition, painted aluminum and

steel panel specimens were included to determine the fire protective merits of two types of intumescent paints . Potential heat

release, smoke, and combustion gas generation were also determined

for the insulation and coating materials. Specimens insulated

with organic base foams released high levels of combustion gases

and could contribute considerable heat to an on-going fire.

Specimens insulated with either refractory fibrous material or

with mineral wool gave the best overall performance. The same

thickness of insulation needed to protect an aluminum panel for

over an hour can provide up to 20 minutes of protection for a

glass-reinforced plastic panel of the same thickness. The intumescent paints did little to protect the specimens during the

fire exposure. Parameters of insulation thickness, heat capacity,

density, and thermal conductivity as well as fire duration on

specimen temperature were analytically investigated.

Key words: Aluminum bulkhead; combustion gases; fire endurance;

insulation; intumescent paint; potential heat; reinforced plastic;

small furnace test; smoke.

1. INTRODUCTION

Fire at sea presents a serious threat to a ship and to the life safety

of its crew. It is essential that fires are contained and that the structural

integrity of naval vessel bulkheads are maintained for a sufficient time

period to permit operation of automatic suppression systems or effective

manual f iref ighting . This is accomplished through the use of fire-resistive

materials and design and is referred to as passive fire protection. This

need is especially critical when aluminum ship bulkheads are to be protected

due to their greater fire-susceptibility compared to steel. Depending on the

exposure conditions aluminum and its alloys lose one-third to over one-half

of their yield strength at temperatures above 232 °C (450 °F) [I]-'- as opposed

to about 538 °C (1000 °F) for steel and do not regain their full strength

upon cooling. A temperature in the range of 232 °C (450 °F) therefore, would

represent the limiting temperature to ensure a yield strength at least equal

to the design allowable stress during a fire test exposure of an aluminum

bulkhead

.

''Numbers in brackets refer to the literature references listed at the end of

this paper.

1
The superstructure of many Naval ships is mostly all constructed of

aluminum, and aluminum is being considered for the construction of entire

hulls of some high speed high performance craft to save weight, and materials

for fire protection of such vessels must of necessity also be lightweight.

At the same time, protected aluminum structures must still be cost competitive

with a steel design. Since many lightweight insulating materials have combustible components, care must be taken to ensure that the crew will not be

subjected to high levels of smoke and toxic combustion products from the

burning insulation, in the event of fire.

An alternate bulkhead material with desirable properties for shipboard

use is glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) and similar considerations apply.

Thus, the combined considerations of cost, weight, and fire performance

including the generation of smoke and combustion gases are all crucial for

optimizing the value of passive fire protection for high strength to weight

ship structures. Unfortunately, the choice of materials known to be suitable

for the adequate protection of aluminum is very limited. A state-of-the-art

study [2] documented all known research and testing programs relative to

passive fire protection of aluminum structures. It found that little work

was done in this area outside of the SNAME (Society of Naval Architects and

Marine Engineers) program [3] , which indicated that 3 inches of mineral wool

or 3/4 inch of 36 pcf asbestos board will protect the aluminum for a one-hour

fire exposure. The state-of-the-art study [2] did, however, focus on some

lightweight materials being considered or used by the aerospace industry.

From the survey, polyisocyanurate and polyiraide foams and a refractory fibrous

material appeared to be likely candidates for protecting aluminum in ships.

In order to evaluate the fire performance of these materials the Navy

initated a screening program described in this report. Mineral wool and

fibrous glass hull board were also included in the study for comparative

purposes. Sixteen insulated aluminum panels were subjected to a 60-minute

fire exposure following the ASTM E-119 time-temperature curve. This standard

curve was based on temperatures found in the various stages of growth of

actual fires in buildings [4] and represents a widely accepted fire exposure

for evaluating the fire performance of materials and construction in terms of

the time period during which the construction serves as an effective fire

barrier. In addition, the fire performance of two insulated and two unprotected GRP specimens and the effect of two types of intumescent paints on

four steel and aluminum panels were investigated. Also included as part of

this evaluation were laboratory determinations of the potential heat and

smoke and combustion gas generation of the insulation and coating materials.

Along with the experimental results presented in this report, a brief

analysis, given in appendix A, has been prepared on the specimen substrate

temperatures as affected by the parameters of thickness, heat capacity,

density, and thermal conductivity of the insulation, and fire exposure time.

2. EXPERIMENTAL AND TEST PROCEDURES

Twenty-four bulkhead specimens were fabricated by the Wayne Manufacturing

Corporation in Waynesboro, Virginia, under the supervision of Gibbs and Cox,

Inc. for testing at NBS. The composite specimens consisted of selected combinations of base insulating materials, covering laminates, cloth facings and

coatings on 1/4-in bulkhead panels. The base insulating materials included

conventional fiber glass and mineral wool, refractory fiber felt and blanket,

and polyimide and polyisocyanurate foams of different densities and thicknesses. The laminate coverings were mineral wool and refractory fiber felt.

The facing materials were glass cloth and a fiber blend of phenol-formaldehyde

resin and polyamide. Coatings were two kinds of intumescent paints. Twenty

of the bulkhead panels were of 1/4-in aluminum alloy 5086-H32. The remaining

2
four panels were of 1/4- in GRP. Two of the latter specimens were made in

conformance with military specification MIL-P-17549C , grade 3 with DION FR6692

fire retardant resin. The other two were similar except for the addition of

alumina trihydrate and antimony trioxide fillers. All twenty-four of the

plate panels were 30 x 30 inch in size. The insulation systems mounted on

these panels were cut 28-1/2 x 28-1/2 in. This permitted an overlap of 3-1/4

in along the entire periphery of the 22 x 22-in furnace opening. In addition,

a 3/4-in asbestos board frame was fabricated and installed around the outside

edge of the insulation to prevent the escape of furnace heat around the sides

of the insulation. Specimen mounting on the furnace is shown on figure 1.

Specimen construction details are shown on figure 2. Detailed descriptions

of these test samples are presented in table 1. In the evaluation of the

fire performance of these bulkhead panels, consideration was given to the

fire endurance capability, and to the heat release, smoke, and combustion gas

generation potentials of the materials when involved in compartment type

fires

.

2.1. Fire Endurance

Preferably, fire endurance tests with an E-119 type fire exposure should

be conducted on full size bulkhead specimens. However, these tests are

expensive and time consuming. Reduced-scale tests, e.g., with a small slab

furnace, are relatively inexpensive, easy to run and are ideal for screening

purposes. The NBS slab furnace, figure 1, takes 30 x 30-in specimens with a

fire-exposed area of approximately 22 inches square. Where assemblies do not

experience excessive lateral heat transfer and are uncomplicated by air spacing,

the slab furnace test can generally simulate full size test behavior. For

example, slab furnace fire endurance data for unprotected wood floor constructions compared reasonably well with their corresponding full size deck test

results [5]. However, for bulkhead constructions consisting of a very good

thermal conductor such as steel plating [6] and for sandwich type construction

with an air spacing [7] , slab furnace testing gave considerably lower unexposed

panel temperatures than their counterpart large-scale tests.

In spite of these deficiencies with slab furnace testing, it can be used

effectively to screen out less promising candidate materials among specimens

having similar construction. All of the aluminum bulkhead configurations

submitted for evaluation have similar construction, i.e., 1/4-in aluminum

alloy 5086-H32 insulated on the fire side. In the slab furnace tests of

these assemblies, the specimen was positioned horizontally over the furnace

opening as is shown on figure 2. As the specimen extends 4 inches beyond the

furnace opening along the entire periphery, considerable lateral heat dissipation could occur beyond the exposed area.

The effect of the lateral heat transmission in the samples can be experimentally ascertained, and test results can easily be modified to give approximate full-scale bulkhead fire test behavior. Preliminary slab furnace experiments were conducted to assess the effect of lateral heat transfer in the

30-in samples and to determine whether heat transmission through the 3/16-in

fastener pins, attaching the insulation to the plate, had an effect upon the

temperature of the unexposed surface. Two 30 x 30-in specimens consisting of

two-in thick mineral wool applied to a 1/4-in aluminum plate of the same area

were tested with the insulation fire exposed. Two additional specimens,

similar to the above two, except using a 24 x 24-in aluminum plate, were also

tested under the same conditions to measure temperatures that are relatively

unaffected by lateral heat dissipation beyond the exposed area. All four of

the above test specimens used fine nichrome wires for attachment of the

insulation. A fifth sample, similar to the first two, but having a 3/16-in

diameter fastener pin in addition to the nichrome wires, was also tested.

3
4
TOP VIEW

BASE PLATE 1/4" THICK

\ , , , ,

INSULATION

22 FURNACE OPENING

3/4" MARIN ITE

36 FRAME ALL

AROUND

FASTENER

(3/IS" SELF

TAPPING SCREW

WITH 1" WASHER)

SECTION A-A

Figure 2. Panel Detail and Relationship to Furnace

5
O

CM

OO

O

O

in

OS

00

in

01co

co

01coztuao

CH

O

s

mo

U

O

c .

CUo

co

01co

0)GO01coz

01aoz

4- 3 !< O -K

1-1

X ^ 4-1 •H O

fa

u

In

m

i-H 03 O 0) . I-H O U

o

M <

00

OJaoz

T3 •T3 -o

a T3

a

X

X

C

c

C

c

C

c

cc

01 0) 01 01 0) 01 01 01 01 01 0) 01 01 01 01 01 T3 rH t) T3 Tt 1-1 iH XI rH X rH X rH

>i pa >^ oa oa >> pa pa >^ pa >^

M >. pa J= j= ,c J3 x:

0)M 01u 01 01

u 01

M 01 iH 01M 01 1-1 T3 01 T3 01 •o 01 T3 01 a 01 13 01 X 01 X 0)

r-l X5 rH x> rH .a rH rO rH rH rH J3 rH ja

CO

H CO •H CO •H CO •H to •H CO •H to

H to •H

e fae fa

e faE fa

B fa

e fa

B faB fa

u >->

u 01 ^4 01

o 01 0 01

O 01o 01o 01o 01

co 01c 0 01 O-K fa XI fa o fa TT fa •o fa -a fa X o fa X 0 fa X

•H •H •H •H •H •H z •H z •H ^ 4J I-H B B rH S rH s rH B rH B rH B rH B

•H 0 0 to

o CO 0 CO 0 CO 0 to 0 CO

O to

C CO

lil i-H

cc >^

Ccc >>cn P^n >^

o Cb I-H 01 r-4 0) •H 01 iH OJ rH 01 rH 0/ rH 01 rH o o -C 0 o x: C = J= o O O

tn ra in fa fa in fa fa in fa fa

m fa fa in fa fa in Pj fa in fa fa in fa fa

i-H CO rH iH rH rH rH rH rH O CU o 6-S o 5^ o 6^ o 6^ o 6~S O 6-5 6^ O 6^ o . t—1 o O o O o O o O o O . O O o O

Oo

o

o

o CO CO C^

d cno

m CO 00

o r~. c^O

o

4J 4^

u

c rHV rH

1-

c 01 CO 01

01>•H

iJ fa

u

Mh

fa

o to

u 01 rH fn 0) fa 01

01 3 01 Oi 01 01 01 4J

X 01 01 01 0)X

Cf.

ccc

cB Mh •Hc

C

C ro

c CO •H

CO

C

oo

o

o 0 fa 0 O

o 4-J

o 4J fa

d

M z z z z z z z z Mh z Mh

H rH 4-1 >^ B Oj X3 rH X 1-

CO CO

o rH 0) rH

o

rJ to 1 4J fa 4-J pa o < c

<r to 1 IH 1 CO

0/ IH CO MH CM X CM M-- 1 01 •r4 0/ rH 03 rH fa fa

K •K lA

XX rH rH to Oj 01 O C to X X E B c o rH 01 01 IH s- 3 4J U u O tJ iH IH E E B E c o

ac rH rH rH CM

o

o 1- CO

u CO M- 1+-

c rH rH 0) 01 0)

m 4-1 4^

oO 0 0 01 Oi •H to to fa fa fa 3 o o M-. fa 1^ fa u u

4-1 iH

G 1 CO CO Oi 0) fa fa

CO Ol 0^ ^ U

u rH !h i-l

u Oi IH 01 rH rH C c Oi ii 01 X 1 Mh MH fa 4-1 fa 4J ro ro

to •H •H 4J X3 4-i ja 4J XI •H rJ 01 01 CO to 4H

E 4-1E

CO •H s; I4H •H IJH •H MH •H fa

M 4-1 fa 4-1 enu rou Mh CO Mh CO

C l-i fa fa fa

s 0^ 0) 4-1 3 4-1 3 0 o

01

m to ja X3 -Q

m ro ^ m ^ MH

C Mh (3

X fa -O fa

-U 4J rH >> rH >> rH >. 4H

X 4JC 4H

C to to rH 1—1

01 to 14H IH IH MH )r MH CO MH CO

X >^ XI 0, Ol

m 0 vt

o <r

o to rH ---rH rH

O rH

o <r

X <r

X

CO -Q XI 4J _l 4J

J

4J

X

o Xi PQ X2 PQ 0 o _l •H 1 •H

pa rH

O

o C^ rH pa rH rH tn

w in in

E

E

CO <f CO < CO ^4 •H •H <r •H <) •H u iH o-i >^ rH ^ Oi -a- 0) CM CM >^ >^

J _l 14H

m MH CO MH _l > rH 1 -Q 1 X

J

rH _l rH CO CO 1 0) 1 1 01 to 3 Z 'H 0 o 1 O 1 o

cn rn rH DS rH Pi rH PC!

ZK CM fa CM fa CM fa CM fa rH fa rH fa

CN CNJ CN CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM CM

01

EEE

E cnB C^

B COB cnB CO

B CO

B CO

B CO

B CO

4-1 3 32 3 X 3 3 33 3 a: 3 3 33 3 3d 3 EC 3 33 3 33 3

toC 1 C 1 c 1 C 1 n 1 C 1 C 1 C 1 C 1 n 1 c 1 C 1 rH •H vO •H y3 •rl •H ^ •H •H •H vO •rt ^ •H <D •H H •H

faE 00E 00

E ocB 00B 00E CO

E 00

E 00B CO 6 00B CO

E 00 3 O 3 o 3 o 3 O 3 o 3 o 3 O 3 O 3 O 3 o 3 o 3 o

01 rH in rH in rH in rH in rH in rH m, rH

m rH in rH in rH

m rH in «H in

CO < < < < < <! < < < <: < <

to >> >^ >^ >> >, >. oa Z O G o o O o : o : o o o o o

<f rH rH rH <3- rH rH <r rH < rH ^ rH rH rH rH rH
00dco3

(Uaoco

IZ

01do

(Uco

CN

O 00 00 oo 00

f—1 O

o

o • O iH • o • o • o • O • o o o —o o

o CN CM CN CN CM o o O O O

4J

ou CD 4J 4J

d

u CD

C

cc

BB

(U < (U < (1) < <U > <u < 0) O 01 CJ o CJ u c CO 00 c Ul 00 oc cn 00 tn OC

(U

co dlG <uc (11

B (Uc

•H z •H

B •H 4ii •H ii i

•H

4J

o 3 4-1

o 3 4-1 CJ 4-1O 4-J CO •H 4^ a H 4-1 CD •H 4-1 CO •H 4-1 a

c

o j:

C 0 COBO

B

o

M

H

M

uH

M

O

H

M CJ

00o

o

CMO

4J

d

B «

cu > o

cn ocB

B

O jC

M CJ

P

4J n) -H box: M O H

T3 T3 "O c d C

0) <Li dj di cu (U T3 -o rH

ca >i 03 t>% pa

J=

u <u

u lu •a 0/ T3 dl T3 d). .H J3 1-4 iH J2

•H ni •H ra

H

e dl

e dl dJ Cu

U

C

BB (/J •{< cn * c c G 01 O G o dj 3* 3*

id id

Z 1^ T3

•H O*

o * U J=

E

e t—1 E J= 4j J3 4-.

c ra

C cd

o

H

G •HO

c P^

CB Cu .-H Cu .H

<u r-H dJ i-H dl r-H ILJ CJ s: O O G

a- Ph cn Cu in cu cn cfi in c/} I-H CO rH cn

o s-s

ooO CT3

O CD

o

oo

ooo

O

o (^

o c^

O C3 (D

O

dJcc301co

BO

ooI

d;BGZ

COz

4-1 4H

r-l iH 0 d; (M

iu IH

m dJ oo dl

4-1 -Q XI

4uH C4-I •H

\ Cu Cu

t-H Or I-H ?^

V4

EU

<rG

G ~aO

4-J

Z _l 4-1 CJ Cj

Cd <f

^4

ciu cn Hh 1 d) 1 01 Oi Oi

01coz y—V

4.4 4-1

u tn * tn *

04 dl to * to -K CM CN

rH iH rH r—ViH

\

E COB

rH iH CU ^4 Oh Ih 3 cn 3 CC H H 01 01 c 1 B 1 c« T3 14H tn CM tn T3 iH tn T) iH H •H

Cfi d/ cn dJ tn dJ rH tn 01 rH

B 00B CO

CO CJ 4H COo 4-1 CO CJ -H toO -rH 3 o 3 o

iu

O 3 r-l V4 Cj 3 iHU 14HU HHH

m I-H in

O fo ti ho

a fo ti ho

o 0

hh j:

CJ 0

'4H x: <

>^ < E cn 4J c cn 4-1 B 4-1 C 4-1 0 o

<f •H CO •H < *H to •H -H -H <f •H -rH rH rH

Oi dl rH dl

S 01 3 iH rH

I-H B3 Oi CU I-H oi rH Oi • rH < iH < =

o

<f rH

CN

E cn 3 a: B I •rlE 00 3 O

iH in <z O

<r iH \ rH o

CM

01BOZ

d)coz

cn tn

tn tn

CO to

dl 01 I-H rH E S E E (J) (J) C4 to CO o o o O tn tn

14H Cu Mh 3

01 Oi 0 G

)H 01

U dl V4U

PH 4-4 Oh 4h J3 T3

to CO •H ^4

H V4

Ih

m

U Cu to Cu CO 4H 3 3 G G

t4H

B MhE

m pa

m CQ

CO \. CO 4-1 tj CJ 01 rO >. X3 >s CIH rH CN 14H rH CM B

iH Cj rH Cj rH rH <r

O

CO x> 3 X3 3 z

is 1^ is rH 32 1 HH rH IE 1 HH

m > m ?^ cn >^ 1 cn ?n

_i

n _l rH

J > rJ _l > ri 0 C to M CO M

CN fu CN CU cn z S cn

Z

d)BOZ

dJcGZliECZ

dJBGZ

EOZ

dlccz oEOz

01BG

OEGZ

33I vC00oO

01

01 4J

dl

01 4h

C/2

inm

(I)

oo

Qi

I—1 1—1 u CJ o C

(L* *H 1—1

I-H 4-1 H O

4-1 Mh 3 OJ

o

'O

oO

H

C

X

'r*

o 4-1 H ( 1 OC

Qp E-" •H E •H CD o CA o CU C

i-i

c 1—1 c '^ c c

•"^

Co Co CO

It* *n

4-J cd

Q

t

P

<^ cy

c

frt

y

J Oj m_

t-l

M"

J;_ Cj 11

r"

m

o

pj *H

*H

'H

CD CLt cn o CO o> rCl

<j- lO

C CO

Cj r-vo 0; fO -H rs) U

(L 1 4-1 <J- CO (X a 1 1 0- GO hJ C O C (-H I CD •H "4-. CJ J-l *-

COa

M-l

e tn oc

•H x: 3 Cfj 4-1 4-t QJ *J •H 3 H 3 c

J-4 ^ 0 4-> oc CO

Cfj M-i •H

a>C

H OJ ^-

CJou

e

a tu

Qi

u CO 4-< •H o cn CO Cu M-t u B

rH

G

cu 0 oc M Id 'O o Xi H c c at

(/) ca CO cn cn u 0) cu

I-H in 0 4-» oc

tH rH .H cu CU CO

CJ 4J r-(u

O* CO cn CO a.

Q

<u iHH « CU

(U (U cn OJ CJ 0 c ffl u cn u

03 tH CO CO OJ Oh U Xi pi.

C •J<

K i- -i- K +-

•K 7
In each of these preliminary tests and for each of the twenty-four bulkhead panels, the temperature of the unexposed surface was determined by

five thermocouples constructed in the same manner as those used in the fullscale fire endurance tests of bulkhead panels [8] . As indicated on figure 3

these were located at the center of the specimen and at the center of each

quadrant. In addition, thermocouples were embedded midway through the insulation and between the different material layers of a composite specimen.

The average furnace temperature, as determined from four rapid response

mineral insulated thermocouples, was made to follow the ASTM E-119 timetemperature curve. The points on the curve that determine its character are:

538 °C (1000 °F) at 5 minutes

704 °C (1300 op) at 10 minutes

843 °C (1550 °F) at 30 minutes

927 °C (1700 OF) at 1 hour

1010 °C (1850 °F) at 2 hours

During each test, the combustion products in the furnace exhaust were

examined for the presence and approximate concentrations of hydrogen cyanide,

HCN, hydrogen fluoride, HP, hydrogen chloride, HCl, and the oxides of nitrogen,

NO and NO2 , using commercial colorimetric detector tubes. Carbon monoxide,

CO, and carbon dioxide, CO2 , were continuously monitored with infrared analyzers. The furnace test had no provision for measuring the smoke emission

from the burning specimens.

2.2. Smoke Density Chamber

The relative amount of smoke produced during the burning of test specimens was measured photometrically in the smoke density chamber [9] . The

test utilizes a closed chamber of 18 ft^ volume containing an electrically

heated furnace which provides an irradiance of 2.2 Btu/s/ft^ on the surface

of a 3-in square specimen. Smoke quantity is reported in terms of optical

density, the single measurement most characteristic of a "quantity of smoke"

with regard to visual obscuration.

To take into account the optical path length, L, the volume, V, and the

specimen surface area producing smoke. A, a specific optical density is

defined as Dg = V/LA (logio 100/T) , where T is the percent light transmittance

.

Thus, for a selected exposure in the test chamber, and within certain limitations, a single test permits rough extrapolation to other surface areas and

chamber volumes.

Specimens are subjected to two modes of exposure conditions, namely

flaming and non-flaming. Both conditions can be considered typical in a real

fire situation. Under the non-flaming exposure mode, the specimen receives

an average irradiance of 2.2 Btu/s/ft^ on its exposed surface to cause pyrolysis and emission of smoke. Under the flaming mode, in addition to the same

surface irradiance, the specimen is subjected to pilot flames consisting of

six small (0.37 in length) premixed air-propane flamelets impinging on the

base of the specimen.

Wherever CO, HCN, HP, HCl, and the oxides of nitrogen were found in the

exhaust from the slab furnace tests, colorimetric indications of the concentrations of these gases were sought in the smoke density chamber. In addition,

the presence of SO2 was investigated for samples having intumescent paint

coatings

.

8
TOP VIEW

Figure 3. Thermocouple Locations on Unexposed Surface

9
2.3. Potential Heat Release

All of the insulation, facing and coating materials used in the program

were measured for their potential heat release [10] . Potential heat of a material is the difference between the heat of combustion of a representative

sample of the material and the heat of combustion of any residue remaining

after exposure to a simulated standard fire, using combustion calorimetric

techniques. One of two samples removed from the material to be tested is

pulverized, pelleted, and burned in a high-pressure oxygen atmosphere. This

determines the gross heat of combustion of the material. The second specimen

is heated in air for 2 hours at a temperature of 750 °C (1382 °F) , conditions

adopted as representing a standard fire exposure. A portion of the resulting

residue of this specimen, if any, corresponding to a predetermined weight of

original material, is ground or pulverized, mixed with a combustion promoter,

and pelleted for burning as was the first specimen. After correcting for the

heat produced by the combustion promoter, the difference in heating values of

the two specimens is the potential heat.

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

3.1. Fire Endurance Testing

Preliminary tests to evaluate the effect of lateral heat conduction

indicated that full size bulkhead fire tests could give temperatures roughly

19% higher than those shown on table 2. This is based on the temperature

differences noted when testing over 24-inch versus 30-inch square aluminum

plates. An average temperature of 161 °C (322 °F) was found for the two 30 x

30-inch specimens after a fire exposure time of 60 minutes. The two 24 x 24-inch panels, tested under the same furnace conditions and exposure time,

reached an average temperature of 192 °C (376 °F) . The latter panels were

considered to be relatively unaffected by lateral heat conduction to the

aluminum beyond the exposed area, and thus represented more nearly the onedimensional heat flow conditions in a full-size bulkhead fire test. Another

preliminary test showed that heat conduction through 3/16-inch steel fastener

pins had negligible effects on the aluminum substrate temperatures.

Temperature data and combustion gas concentrations for the twenty-four

specimens described in table 1 are presented on tables B-1 to B-24 in appendix

B. Observations on each specimen test are found in appendix C.

Table 2 gives a brief summary of the average temperatures on the unexposed

side of the aluminum, GRP and steel panels. In addition, table 2 includes

the maximum recorded percentages by volume in air of CO and CO2 and partsper-million concentrations of HCN, NO and NO2 , HCl and HF.

Temperatures on the unexposed side of specimens 1 and 2, which were insulated with 3-inch thick mineral wool, were well within the limiting temperature of 232 °C (450 °F) . These two tests also substantiated the preliminary

finding that the fastener pin did not provide a significant heat transfer path

to the base panel. Specimen 1 had a metal fastener, yet its plate temperature

was lower than that for the second specimen without the fastener. Photographs

of specimen 1, before and following testing, are shown in figure 4. With

samples having 1-3/4-inch and 2-inch thick refractory fibrous material as the

base insulation, i.e., tests 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 on table 2 , or as a laminate

over the base insulation, test 6, the thermal protection was as good as or

better than with the mineral wool. Figure 5 shows the condition of the refractory insulation in specimen 3 before and after furnace exposure. The pictures

are typical of specimens having the refractory material as the surface insulation. Heat retention capability, i.e., the product of the material weight per

unit surface area and its heat capacity, for the 6 pcf mineral wool is greater

than that for the 6 pcf refractory felt. The thermal conductance of the

10
o

X

o

<U

E

m 3 H

c

tr, 'H

QJ a; CL

E

H CT3

O

to < c

(X • e a ' e o > t- < a ' > Ea.

CN ,-H

oc OC 1^ oc

c

cC 00 00 4-1c

•HH

H 4-1

e

C ^- •H 0 0

CO CO CO 0)u

X 4-1 CO

U-l CO 03 •H U-1

14-. y-j <L x: J= X

X 4-J CIJ -C X >. 4-1

cc

C

X

u i~

c

H

c 0 - c (h

CJ

u .—1 --H 4-t

X 0

OjU c_

4-1 -a ?^ CO 4-1 TD

n;

cc -u ID

u

C

0) 0 0 0 c

C 4-1 OJ

r-H AJ Ol 0 0 U

c XJ

X i-- 0 X

c CO

X 4-i DC Vj (-1 <+- S-i 4-1 C c Qj Qj u c CO 0)

n; •HXX 01 OJa

X

O •H •H

H j« XI

X 4^ •r-l CO I4-. l+H t4~< •H H <j- OJ 4-i u- )-< u

x: Ui 4-J

a CM 4-1 1—1 4-1 4-J . c

oC QJ a- Ol Qj

H-i J3i

oC -Ji-i u u CO CO OJ Qj

(fi y. Qj Q; 1—

t

4-J 4j

Cfi Uj XI

X

X c^XX to CO

X

n: CO i- J-

(—1 l4-( M-J iD 4-. &0 01 01 C C

>> >^

X

X CO CO >i

1-1 1-1

W •H •H >s ?^ 0;

U 0 0 0 M-l M-J u U •a nj 0 C 'o u u i-l CO 0 0 H 4J 0 0 u C- iH >^ >. 01 « s _B 3 3 CO fO CO OC •H CO

Ih 1-1 0 0 >, ?^ >,u

I—1M-i u-« « 4-1 4h

nj CO 01 0 0 0 0 C CU

li

uMp 0 CO CO CIaaa t4

dj 1-

cC 4-1 jn i+- 14-- 4- 4-- 4h 4-1 'H U •H QJ 0 u U 0 E B a 0- U & a c a a

o- •<t y-i M-i 14-1 CN (N <t

Uo 0 U

u

aa

a

aa

<f <r <r CN CN

r-i

iH

H CM CM CN rH 1-H

41

K

in <cH

toO.

acc

•Hs: <

r—1 Cc

C

COa.

CO0 00 QC c cH e u C

CO CO M-. 4h Ua X X

4-> ^x c

rH

L,

r-l Vi

0. cu CO CO

4-J CO (0 00 OC

)- 1-1 DC

CO CO CD >^ >. CO to c 0 00 OC w U) •H > >^ D0 C 0 0 u a a X X

•H

4-t 4-10

4-. 4-1

& a. 4-1 4-1 a

rv a.

a

ro

m ro

fM ro ro

r»« CO o> 0 H H

0. 2 c

4-t 'H .H

I- .-H r-l 0 01 'w B a

tu nj

n

e£ A' 0. * !< * O OJ

J-l

H

OJ X

>.

CO

X CO - 01 X >H in OC C 01

CO

OJ

u

O" 0) H X c S' X 4-t u

OJ

X 0)

4-1 4J 6 G

4-1

c 4-. CO

u 0 0 H QJ •H x: 4-1

4-i

c 4-1 Ot

U 0 T5

OJ 'H OC

+J 4-1

c

U

QJ CO

H 'H

U CO )-< H 4J

cn ID QJ -H C E X H -H X u

4-1 0

CO 4-1 X G

G

to 4J

U

OJ

C

X

c 01 •H 'H X 4-) 4-) 4J

OJ CO

}-* OC

U 4-(

c fO •H 0

4-1 4J -o

(0

c

U

u to

H •H

H

e

TD

a 0 •H

C CO

C rH

H CO

(A •H QJ

(LuU TZl

X 0) rH •H a a 4-1 1-1 -0 >^ a U CO

CO CO 01 T5

e

CO QJ a H CO 0) X 4-< S-^ !-i 4-1 0 0 QJ 01 1 X X nj 0 4-1 4-1 OJ c (-< u X)

•H 0 CO QJ 4h X CO rH QJ a C 4-1 X U H H 3r >i

1-. 01 3 QJ c SCO 13 (f) 0 CO 0 CTj OJ >^ 4-^ rH

T3 C/) 4J QJ

CO CO CO 4J > e C (0 OJ

4-1 00 •H CO

X rH 0 t-i 4-> u

iH 0; 0) CO

H

C

a

X 0 0) CJ

c 0 B ffi to H 0 4- to 0) X 4-1 0 u 4^ CO a: <v U 0 3 OJ u 4J 0 H C 0) (= 4- X H X OJ

4-1 Ui OC

u 0 H c

C •H bO

X 0

•HH u<

C

u

CO •H CO

X <r 1-1 rH •H CO

11
12
13
former is lower than that for the refractory material. Thus, the mineral wool

would be expected to yield lower substrate temperatures. However, the data in

table 2 showed that the 3-inch mineral wool gave fire resistance only comparable to the 1-3/4-inch refractory insulation. A possible explanation for this

unexpected performance of the mineral wool sample is that the seam in the

mineral wool specimen, shown on figure 4, may have opened during the test,

partially exposing the substrate to the fire.

As expected, tests 3, 4, 6 and 7 indicated that the substrate temperature

decreased as the density and thickness of the insulation increased. However,

since there can be considerable variation in the experimental results for

several furnace tests of the same material, e.g., + 20 °C (36 °F) at a temperature of 200 °C (392 °F) , it should not be surprising to observe a contrary

effect of increasing density for tests 7 and 8.

In test 5, it is likely that the apparent increase in fire protection

from the intumescent paint is partly due to experimental variation. The

intumescence on the sample surface helped retard the heat conduction for only

about 10 minutes, at which time the covering split and was hanging down,

exposing the insulation. This latter behavior was typical for the phenol

formaldehyde-polyamide cloth facing used for many of the specimens.

Test 11 with the 4 pcf polyimide insulation and test 17 with the 3.7 pcf

polyisocyanurate material reached the limiting temperature of 232 °C (450 °F)

at 39 and 26 minutes, respectively. These foam insulations tended to shrink

and crack upon exposure to the furnace fire. Post-fire analysis showed that

the shrinkage in these materials left one- to two- inch wide cracks, exposing

the substrate. Test 9 with the 2-1/2 pcf polyisocyanurate was stopped after

16 minutes because of the high smoke and combustion gas concentrations in the

test area. It was decided that in subsequent tests, personnel would leave the

room rather than prematurely terminating the test whenever smoke and combustion

product gas levels were considered unsafe. From the results in table 2, the

polyimide foam in test 11 gave 50% longer protection than the polyisocyanurate

in test 17. Little difference in plate temperature was observed for the two

different density polyisocyanurate foams. When 1/2-inch thick refractory

fiber felt or 1-inch mineral wool was laminated over the polyimide and polyisocyanurate foams, tests 10, 12 and 18, considerable shrinkage and cracking

still occurred in the foam materials. However, the overlay acted as a barrier

to the furnace flames and helped achieve acceptable plate temperatures. The

condition of the fire exposed and base insulations for specimens 10 and 12 are

shown on figures 6 and 7. The shrinkage and cracking indicated on the latter

figures are typical of the post-fire foam insulations in tests 9, 10, 11, 12,

17 and 18.

Three-inch fibrous glass insulation, tests 19 and 20, gave thermal

protection comparable to that of 1-3/4-inch refractory insulation for the

first 20 minutes. However, fusing of the fibers and sagging of the insulation

had started by that time. Melting and opening of the insulation occurred

after 30 minutes. Complete exposure and attainment of the limiting temperature of 232 °C (450 °F) occurred within 37 and 35 minutes for tests 19 and 20,

respectively. Figure 8 shows the condition of the fibrous glass before and

following the fire exposure.

When the substrate material is fibrous glass reinforced plastic (GRP)

instead of aluminum, tests 13 and 15, the structural failure temperature of

the panel is dependent on the type of resin and fire retardant fillers used.

In general the temperature range in which GRP begins to lose its strength is

between 65 and 93 °C (150 and 200 °F) [11] . The results of tests 13 and 15

indicated that 1-3/4 inches of refractory fiber material protected the plastic

panels from attaining these temperatures for as long as 20 minutes. The

unprotected plastic panels, specimens 14 and 16, quickly reached the above

temperature range within 2 minutes.

14
Figure 6. Specimen 10 — Top and Base Insulations Following Fire Exposure

15

17
In the aluminum panels protected with the intiamescent coatings , samples

21 and 22, it took only 9 and 6 minutes, respectively, for the panels to reach

232 °C (450 °F) . These times should not imply equivalent thermal protection

times for the paints. Heat must be slowly stored in the metal substrates

before attainment of that temperature level, and the storage periods alone

would approach the above times. Steel panels, specimens 23 and 24, protected

with the same paints approached their limiting value of 538 °C (1000 °F) only

after an hour's exposure in the furnace. The temperature of the steel panel

is somewhat lower than that for the aluminiom plate at comparable times because

the heat storage, i.e., the product of heat capacity and density, is greater

for steel of the same thickness.

Specimens 1 to 20 also had thermocouples embedded within the insulation,

as requested by the sponsor, to ascertain the temperature gradient through the

material and to detect either excessive heat generation or mass transfer

cooling from the out-gassing of volatiles. However, the temperature data from

these thermocouples were not always consistent. The erratic temperature

behavior measured within many of the specimen insulations made it difficult to

determine reliable thermal gradients for any of the specimens tested. One

possible explanation was that the semi-rigid thermocouples were sometimes

inadvertently moved when the samples were positioned over the furnace.

Neither heat generation nor mass transfer cooling was obvious from the

specimen tests with the exception of panel 18, which had mineral wool laminated over a high density polyisocyanurate foam. In this latter test the

thermocouples at mid-depth through the foam and between the two insulation

layers both registered temperatures higher than the average temperature in the

furnace after 60 minutes of fire exposure.

Inspection of the combustion gas concentrations shown in table 2 for the

twenty-four tests showed that the mineral wool, refractory fibrous material

and fibrous glass insulations generated relatively low levels of HCN and

oxides of nitrogen when exposed to the furnace flames. The intumescent paints

generated higher concentrations of HCN, and the polyisocyanurate foams produced

the highest levels of HCN and HF in the tests. Concentrations of these two

gases were especially high for the 3.7 pcf polyisocyanurate foam, run 17. The

only other sample for which HF was detected was the fibrous glass with paint

V. Combustion of the polyimide insulation also produced measurable indications

of HCN. Small concentrations of nitrogen oxides are normally produced during

furnace combustion and their levels can vary from one run to another. None of

the specimens produced particularly high levels of NO and NO2 . Furthermore,

none of the specimens generated measurable quantities of HCl using the colorimetric indicator tube technique. The presence of the oxides of nitrogen could

completely suppress any indication of HCl with this method when HCl occurs in

concentrations equal to or less than those for NO and NO2 . In table 2 a value

of zero was assigned to any non-measurable concentration of the combustion

products analyzed. As for the production of carbon monoxide, the furnace test

of the fiberglass reinforced plastic panel, specimen 14, resulted in the

highest concentrations of this combustion gas. Like the nitrogen oxides, CO

and CO2 are naturally occurring products of furnace combustion and unless

measured levels are considerably greater than in most of the tests, they are

not very meaningful.

3.2. Other Laboratory Fire Tests

All of the base insulations, laminates, coverings and coatings shown on

table 1 were evaluated with the smoke density chamber (SDC) and potential heat

tests, Colorimetric indications for fume emissions were also included as part

of some of the SDC tests with the flaming mode of radiant exposure. Whenever

relatively high levels of the gases CO, HCN, NO and NO2 , HCl and HF were found

in the exhaust from the slab furnace test of a specimen, the concentrations of

18
those gases were also measured in the SDC tests on the component materials of

the specimen. For comparative purposes the refractory fibrous material which

produced little combustion fumes from the furnace test was also included. In

addition, the presence of SO2 was also sought in the SDC test of the intumescent paint A. Table 3 summarizes the results from the SDC tests.

Each of the specimen component materials was also subjected to a potential heat analysis. The potential heat of a material is the maximum heat that

can be released to the environment during the materials exposure to a typical

fire. This data is also presented in table 3.

3.2.1. Measurement of Combustion Products

The relative quantity of smoke produced, as indicated by the maximum

specific optical density, for the bulkhead insulations and coverings is shown

on table 3. These values varied from almost zero for the refractory fibers

and fibrous glass insulations to a high of 180 for the 3.7 pcf polyisocyanurate evaluated under the flaming mode of radiant exposure. A distant second

to the polyisocyanurate foam was the intumescent coating A. Close behind was

the phenol formaldehyde-polyamide fabric. Non-flaming exposure in the SDC

test also resulted in a similar ranking of the polyisocyanurate and the intumescent paint materials. However negligible smoke from the fabric material

was generated under this type of exposure. The remaining materials listed on

table 3 produced little or no smoke in the SDC tests.

The gas measurements from the smoke density chamber tests were, in

general, in agreement with some of the findings from the furnace tests. As in

the latter tests, the refractory fibrous insulation produced little combustion

products, and the highest concentrations of HCN were found for the polyimide

and polyisocyanurate foams, followed by the phenol f ormaldehyde-polyamide

fabric and the intumescent paint A. The polyisocyanurate material also generated a relatively high level of HF. A measureable quantity of the latter

was also found for the paint.

As mentioned in section 3.1., small quantities of nitrogen oxides were

generated by the furnace fire and these levels varied from test to test.

Consequently, it was difficult to ascertain the relative concentrations of

these gases from the burning materials. This may have accounted for the

comparatively high NO and NO2 production in the furnace test of a material,

e.g., the 3.7 pcf polyisocyanurate, and a low NO and NO2 level in the SDC test

of the same material. The only case where somewhat high levels of NO and NO2

was found in both laboratory tests involved the polyimide foam.

The range of CO levels in the slab furnace tests of the thermally protected aluminum panels was rather narrow, and it was felt that additional

measurement of this gas in the SDC was not necessary.

A comparison of the SDC concentrations of SO2 for the refractory fibrous

material and the intumescent paint A showed that the level of SO2 was only

slightly higher for the paint.

3.2.2. Potential Heat Analysis

Table 3 shows that the potential heat values ranged from 55 to 6600

Btu/ft^ for the insulations and coverings used for the bulkhead test specimens.

A review of the data indicates that only the polyimide and polyisocyanurate

foams had high values of potential heat per unit surface area. These values

ranged from 5200 to 6600 Btu/ft^ for the three foam insulations. Such high

levels of potential heat release could add considerably to the fire risk of

the overall furnished space.

19
* C 0) o u

(0

h

Ho

p

U2 CI XS

rac

Q)O

a.

43

CP i s

>1

4J H

0)co

0)cu 1 O 1 1 1 1 1 1 O o 1 O 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 C<1 03 1 iH t 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 rH 1 O 1 1 1 1 1 in o 1 CN S 1 1 1 1 1 1 rH (N 1 — - - 1 1 1 1 1 CM 1 1 1 ID (N ro o^ 1 o 1 1 1 1 l-t 1

'Z 1 1 1 1 1 U 1 m 1 1 in

o in rsj CN 1 1 1 1 1 CNJ ^ CN rH rH

•rH11 00

o rH rH

oo «^O

o in in r-- rH 0

CP

•Ho

o rH rH

o rHn r--

o

o

e 00 CM ro rH rH

rH

-P * * m 00 00 o in <y\ 00 <ri

T ro 00 \. m ld in in in CO ij3 a> rH C3^ m rH rH rH o iH in ^ in

-P 1^ in

CQ

XI

K *

nH ^X) CN CO \o ^ in 1^ \ ro CM in <D in a\ 1X1 J3 CN rH rH m ^ in *^ CN

-P

o

o

o C^J CP i-\ ^ rH

Tj

—

-1 -P in rHO in in 00 CT\ fN in CO

rHO CT^

o inoo

-J XI

o rH

O rH

oooooo

D

nj +J

^3 4-1

m o*i 1 1 -P \ • ' • 1 1 O JD in <^ rs] ro 1 1 < 1—1 C -P •H in c-~ 1 1 E \ VD rn 1 i 0 XJ rvj ro 1 1

rH

fO

~ rH CN CN 3 C ro \, (N (N \ \ tN O O

+J -H

m ro ro <y\ • u ( 1 1 1 rH rH 1—i CM

fO -—•"ST «^\ ON ro 1 1 -H -H ro ro 1 1 e 1 1 1 1 1 0 rH rH rH 1 QJ <. T3

+J +J +J

P !h fd fO .C 4->

c

•H QJ

uu QJ 0

Si 3 3 T) rH • H tn C C rH CJ Q. rH CO (d ai o x: fd QJ >i >i e QJ P

iH 0 -P >1 rH TJ 0 U

a

fd

S 0 u -P -P

U -HOC 0 H Q) •H rH 0 QJ g ui m fc, 6 0

rH

U +J

w rl -H -H (0 in cu fd o -P -P C c >1 >! >1 rH >1 Q) 4J u w fd rH rH nj fd 0 rH rH rH 0 rH

fd QJ 0 0 0 c 0 E G fd HH IH IH CQ CQ XI fd a- (X QJ 4-1 H rH QJ •H 0 £. C s o QC Pj M

rH ro in

c0

•rl

a 4-1

ani us J3

>,

E

rH 0

QJ 0

+J

(0 14H ^ 0 3O 10 o c

(0 0

•H

QJ 44 U ra 3 u

Ul +4

ra

c

QJ QJ g 0c 0 0

4-) 0

4J rH

u

rH ra QJ 3 3 42 U m CP H 3 •H

HH

C £.

IH 3 H QJ 13 4J in 0 3

Q)

C ra0

ra QJ QJ U £>

ra ra

c

QJ XI QJ rH U) \ 0

rH 3 x;

ra 44

u

•H CQ

4J

m

c

o ra

Q)

o 3

44 rH

ri Ql + 1 3

IH MH 10 0 0 0a

in in

X

rH

c QJ 0 > •H CP

QJ +Jc

rH ra •rl •H e 3 > ra 0 01 rH J T3 &4

110B

Ul •H

44U

QJ T3C3

in

r-lra •H

44

ragu

•H

ra0

rH3

rH

rH

QJU1c0c

>H fo

-ac30

14-1

rHrH

>H0c

QJCP QJu

OJ 3

IH in

ra 0a

in

X

QJ QJ

in

ra IM

CP 0

20
4. CONCLUSIONS

Most of the specimens experienced aluminum base temperatures within the

limiting value of 232 °C (450 °F) during 60 minutes of fire exposure in the

slab furnace. Candidate assemblies failing this criterion were panels having

a single component insulation consisting of either polyisocyanurate foam or

polyimide foam. The panels protected with fibrous glass or intumescent paint

were included for comparative purposes; and these also did not meet the above

temperature requirement. Addition of an overlay of refractory fiber felt or

mineral wool to the foams and to the fibrous glass kept the aluminum panel

temperature within the prescribed limit.

The polyisocyanurate and polyimide organic foams were found to shrink,

crack and char, even when used as the base of a multicomponent insulation, so

that their thermal protective properties are reduced. In addition, the foam

materials have high values of potential heat, and thus, could contribute much

heat to the fire environment. Furthermore, polyisocyanurate generated relatively high levels of HCN and HE as it pyrolyzed. Intumescent paints did

little to protect the specimen, and contributed HCN as a combustion product.

The same thickness of insulation needed to protect an aluminum panel for

over an hour can provide up to 20 minutes of protection for a GRP panel.

When insulation weight and the cost of installation are considered along

with the fire performance of the material , three materials stand out among the

possibilities evaluated. It can be concluded that either the 4 or 6 pcf

refractory fibrous material or the 6 pcf mineral wool will afford the optimum

passive fire protection for an aluminiam bulkhead structure.

5 . ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Appreciation is expressed to Mr. E. Butler of Gibbs and Cox who assisted

in taking test observations and to Mr. M. Womble and others who performed the

actual testing.

This project was sponsored in part by the Naval Sea Systems Command,

Department of the Navy, under the direction of Mr. A. Winer, technical agent

for the Material and Application Office of Naval Ship Engineering Center.

21
6 . REFERENCES

[1] Aluminum Construction Manual, Section 3, Engineering Data for

Aluminum Structures, The Aluminum Association, 750 Third Ave.,

N.Y.C. 10017, Second Edit. (1972).

[2] Passive Fire Protection Program for Aluminum Ships State-of-the-Art

Study, Gibbs and Cox, Inc., Serial 17551-68 1-194 (March 1973).

[3] Aluminum Fire Protection Provisional Guidelines, Society of Naval

Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) Technical and Research

Bulletin 2-21.

[4] Shoub, H. , Early History of Fire Endurance Testing in the United

States, American Society for Testing Materials, Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, ASTM Special Technical Publication No. 301, 1-9

(1961).

[5] Son, B. C. , Fire Endurance Tests of Unprotected Wood-Floor Constructions for Single-Family Residences, Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.),

NBSIR 73-263 (July 1973).

[6] Gross, D. , Fire Endurance Tests of Structural Insulations and Bulkhead Panels, Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), (Sept. 1973) Unpublished Report.

[7] Benjamin, I. A., Fire Endurance of Double Wall Marine Bulkheads Constructed of Steel Skinned Gypsum Wallboard Sandwich Panels, Nat. Bur.

Stand. (U.S.), (Aug. 1972) Unpublished Report.

[8] United States Coast Guard Specification for Bulkhead Panels, Subpart

164.008, August 17, 1949, 5th Amendment, October 29, 1969.

[9] Gross, D. , Loftus, J. J. and Robertson, A. F., Method for Measuring

Smoke from Burning Materials, American Society for Testing Materials,

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ASTM Special Technical Publication No.

422, 166-204 (1967).

[10] Loftus, J. J., Gross, D. and Robertson, A. F. , Potential Heat — A

Method for Measuring the Heat Release of Materials in Building Fires,

Proceedings of the American Society for Testing Materials, Vol. 61,

1336-1348 (1961)

.

[11] Butler, F. , Gibbs and Cox, Inc. New York, N.Y. , Personal Communications.

[12] Carslaw and Jaeger, Conduction of Heat in Solids, Second Edition

(Oxford, 1959).

22
APPENDIX A. ANALYTICAL ANALYSIS OF HEAT

CONDUCTION IN TEST SPECIMEN

The problem of heat flow through an insulated bulkhead panel exposed to

an ASTM E-119 time- temperature environment can be very difficult to solve. It

becomes a three dimensional composite flow problem requiring numerical, finitedifference solution techniques when there is significant lateral heat conduction in the panel. For materials which generate heat, intumesce, ablate,

melt, shrink, disintegrate, etc., upon exposure to the fire, the variation of

these physical alterations or chemical reactions with time and temperature

must also be known. Even one dimensional computer solutions of difficult

situations could readily exceed experimental determinations in cost and time

without necessarily approaching the accuracy of the latter.

To arrive at a very quick and simple, but still useful, analytical

solution for predicting the temperature of the aluminum substrate for some of

the specimens, the following assumptions were made:

1. no chemical reaction in or physical alteration of the specimen

2. one dimensional heat conduction only, i.e., no lateral heat

dissipation and no mass flow

3. no heat losses on the unexposed side of the specimen

4. no thermal resistance across the interface between the insulation and substrate

5 . constant furnace temperature

6. exposed surface temperature is the same as the furnace temperature

7. no thermal gradient across the aluminum

8 . constant averaged thermal properties

9. initial temperature of the aluminum substrate is at 20 °C (68 °F)

.

With the above simplifications the problem becomes one of heat transmission through an insulation in contact with a perfect conductor, and the

solution to the heat conduction equation can be expressed in the form of an

infinite sine series [12] . Computed substrate temperatures for the 4 and 6

pcf refractory fibrous material are indicated on table A-1 along with the

actual values for the materials. Thermal conductivity values for the refractory

fibrous material vary between 0.35 and 0.42 Btu in/hr/ft2/°F and calculations

for the 4 pcf material show the effect of this variation on the substrate

temperatures.

It is apparent from the table that a conductivity value of 0.42 gives

better agreement with the actual data. From assumptions 2 and 3, calculated

temperatures should be considerably higher than the measured values. However,

assumptions 4 and 6 can counterbalance these effects. Even slight separation

of the insulation from the substrate can result in considerable resistance to

thermal transmission. Temperatures on the exposed surface should also be

lower than the furnace value. Lower surface temperatures mean less heat

available for conduction through the material. Assumption 5 would affect the

calculations only at early times.

23
Table A-1. Calculated Plate Temperatures

Exposure 1 Insulation

j Aluminum Plate

Time

1

1 Temp. \ Thickness

(inch

)

Thermal

Conductivity k

Btu

hr ft^ F/in

Heat

Capacity c Btu

IbF

Density p

Ib/ft^

Calculated

Temp.

(°C)

Test

No. ActualTemp.

(hour) (°F) (°C)

1

(°c)

1/9 1300 703 ; 9 n A 9 U . z / H

7/ JQ 7 ^

-1-/ ^^ 1300 703 X J / H nU • A9H- Z. nu . 97z / H H XU7 1 no

X 1400 760 2 0. 42 0 97 U XH O 7 146

X 1400 760 9 nU • A9HZ. nu . z97/ A X DU QO 1 9'^ X Z J

1 1400 760 X J / H nU • A9H Z 0u • z97/ D 1X 7A/ oQ~j X D U

; X

1 1400 760 X J / H 0U • A9H Z. nU • Z97/

/,H xo uAH X O J

1

! 1

I X

[ 1400 760 X X/ ^ ;

1 0U • 1x0 H Z

1 nu • 97z / zx o

.1-1 |X— X//?z. 1500 815 9

1

1 DA? nu • z.97/ 244

: X 1400 760 \

!

1 0.42 0. 27 A 308

1 / 9 1300 703 9 i n

1

n 97 AH f^9 o z 8 76

X/ z 1300 "7 A Q /(Jj X J/ H j U. J J

i

n 97 A 7R/ o A XU1 nQ7

1 1400 760 2 j 0.35

1 0.27 4 135 8 123

1 1400 760 1-3/4

1

! 0.35 0.27 4 158 183

i 1 1400 760 1-1/2

j 0.35 0. 27 4 i 187

1-1/2 1500 815 2 0.35 0.27 4 208

: 1 1400 760 1

j 0.35 0.27 4 267

24
Results are tabulated in the order of increasing substrate temperatures

calculated from the aforementioned method. As expected, increasing the quantity,

p c, means greater thermal storage in the material and less heat transferred

to the aluminum substrate. Also, a higher conductivity results in more thermal

transmission, and therefore higher temperatures on the unexposed surface.

Similarly, less insulation means less resistance to heat flow and higher

temperatures. The principal value of such calculations tabulated in the

manner shown is to allow the engineer to predict at a glance the magnitude of

the temperature change achieved by varying the parameters of insulation thickness, conductivity and the volumetric heat capacity, for various durations of

fire exposure.

25
APPENDIX B.

FIRE ENDURANCE TEST DATA

26
X—\

to 1—1

B

w

o uc

CI.

c0 o

p-i COM c

4-J

o

•H

o

0) 4-1

a cn

cou ino -—s

T3

u

s

0)

o a.

4-1

m a.

nJ 3 ^—

u O

•H (U 13 w CM C to O h-l o U '—

c

4J 4J

o

•rl

m 4-1 D. n CO to

o

e 1 to r-t 0

0) 13

m 3Mc

<uo

H-l to

4-1

O >4-l to ^-1 ;4 3

a. (i> CO (J) E 4J O

oj

e 0) ^ H <U 4J O CO iH

Ph

p.EH

00>

0)o

to ^C U

^4

O 3 ^ H 4-1 ^ M-i to U • O iH o

Ml PM >

•H

e

ca

0)

ci,

o

in

00do

-3-

o

CM

COd

tjN in

o

CNO

CN

in

rH

O-l

m

in

00

o CJ\

in

^3^ en

CN

00

00 00

00

inOCN

in

00

CN00o

o

in

r-l CJN

CM

in

<3-

Oin

in

in in in

00

t3>

CNo

to

CO

O

_ I rH 6

C3 60 60 3

•rl

c

a

rH

o

e

UH

O CO 3 O O iw rH

O.

S to X: rH vO rH 4J r 0)

to

o oC

S V4 rH •'^ to ai a rH_fi,

27
aa

s

a^—s

CO

B

4J

ua

OU

a 3 C T) o o

•H

u csl

U

O

(0U fi

s

o

u

o pi

c •H

0) 4-1

o

o cn c 3 o .Q u Bo ^—V u e

01

U a.

O

03 a.

to 3 o O

•rt 0)

"13 03 1 C 1 M o O 1 U ^ ^

COo

o

o

4::

c

l-l 0 a •H

<]j tu 4-1

aa 03 COU

m 0 e 1 CO 1-t 0 ON

<u -a 3 ^—

iH

H Mi

Ins

a

01

01O

M-i CO O M-l

>-i 3 ^ 0) CO U 4J o C (U ^

OJ 4-1 U CO

aE

OJ H>

0.I

CJ

CO ^C U

S-i

o 3 ^ ><

M-i CO

O

O tH

o

ft,

w

01

C

•3

e

0)e

•HO

OJa

(73

O

O

c^

CD

do

CM v£S 00 -^f

O

00

00

CO ON

o CO CO ON

CSl CO

iri

o

csi in

CO

o 1-1

CO CO

O

r-l LTl 1 c

Xi 1 4J

e

U <-{ 03 rH 0 C 0 CO

U-l 0 H 0 (3 U-i (U 0 0 0 03 (X 60 CO » >-( 3

03 (3 rH 0) iH 03 •H (LI 4-1 CO CO U <r c c <U

>-< iH CO CO 4)

C

CO 0) (JO

m tH p- .0 01

tX5

COOCN

(X3

CO

<3\ o

CO

cn

CO

COo

CT\ o

o

Ln

o

ON

00O

28
1^B

n Q. 0 u9 & a -a 0 0

•H

4J

rt

O

Md0 d •H t«

p

4J o.

u CO

o ^ a 9 g 0u i z a u » U p.

fi 9 caa

u 0

•rl (U T5 (fl aH a

O B<« O ^d

4J 0 a •H

P.a

a (flo

B 1 r-l 0

(U 00

a

w

H

wpH

<Uu

cfl

u 0 3 ^ w u i e po (fl iH

PLi

i*

(UO

H (0 ^

XB

au 3 w 1 a) H 4J

(flu 0 iH 0 c

QJ6HODa

CO

es

es

ino

oH

00

CO

•a'

H

00 CO 00 o « -a

cx -u P rH O 01

60 I _ C 3 C -H iH

QJO (fl (0

W U-4 ^ 14-1

<r to

p x: ^ . i-t <D <\} U r-i

m u-i j3 XI

o

0) -H -H

O

c

(fl

es

CMo

00o

St

00

C>4

mH

o

in

CM

soo

00 00

ino fn

00 I 0^

O(Nl

0>o

o

in 1^ (*i Ln

oO

29
Table B-4

Temp at Avg. Temp Avg. Temp Temp at Mid-Depth Indicated Concentration of

Specimen 4 Time

(min)

of Plate

(°C)

in Furnace CC)Center of Plate Surface

(°C)

Base Insulation

(°C)

Gaseous Combustion Products

CO

(%)

CO 2 HCN NO & NO 2 HCL

(%) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)

HF

(ppm)

1 — J / ^ "4 per 1 J J z / u J J

1

1 refractory

1 f iber felt, J

cD 1 fiber blend 1 cloth facing T 1/9 J-1/ Z

1 on 1/A" alu- minum panel 4-1/ Z

rvU ^

5 3/ 565 Jo 9 A

u

9 Q Z . J

7 0

10 45 718 H /

/. /. U . 14 y . u

12 U

12-1/2 -> Q

15 b / 9 D T

/ O J / 1 n 7 U . 1 J in 9 1 u . z

9 n oZ ft! A O J 88

Q

9 /. Z4

27 Q

9 Q Q

30 109 868 IZl 191 U . UD 11 9 i 1 . Z

3 1. Q

32 Q

J J >9

0

0

43 0

45 147 912 152 166 0 >9

51 0

57 5

59 0

60 183 952 184 202 0 11.2 0

30
Table B-5

Avg. Temp

of

Avg. Temp

in

Temp at Center of

Temp at Mid-Depth

Base Indicated Concentration of Gaseous Combustion Products

Specimen 5 Time

(min)

Plate

(°C)

Furnace Cc)Plate Surface

(°C)

Insulation

(°C)

COmCO2 HCN NO i NO2 HCL

(%) (ppra) (ppra) (ppra)

HF

(ppm;

1-3/4" 4 pcf

refractory

fiber felt,

fiber blend cloth facing,

paint A on

1/4" alu- minum panel

1

5

7

8

10

44

44

46

331

579

731

40

43

44

77

120

285

0.23

0. 17

2.9 >9

>30

9.0 0

0

13 54 789 54 443 0.19 9.4 5

17 7-1/2

20 66 814 67 523 0

• 22 0

25 >9

27 1

30 89 864 91 620 0. 12 9.7 °

32 0

40 >9

43 0

45 131 921 137 716

46 0

47 0

55 >9

57 0

60 165 950 170 751 0 6.9 0

31
Table B-6

Temp at

Avff . Tpitid Avg Tstnp T6inp & t Mid-Den th 4.11UX^CILCU >arfU It L.C 11 L ^ Cl L X U 1 1 UL of in Other* uascUUs LiUuluUBLXOn rcuQuccs

J ^ c ^ i.iilc 11 U T Ime Plate ruLiia^c^ Tnonl moil-Laa^"^ n-n LAiUii Teinp s CO nr (min) ( / \ fr^T^m* fr^T^mi fi^TMn^ \f° ) kppni; vppni^ i,ppnij (ppm)

l" 3 pcf fibrous 1 34 208 32 37 46 glass, 1-3/4" 4 pcf refractory 5 34 32 34 146 0.17 4.9 12.5 ** fiber felt,

fiber blend 6 14.0 cloth facing

on 1/4" alu- 8 0

rainiim panel

10 39 720 36 132 389 0.41 9.6

12 15.

14 3.3

15 44 773 43 275 509 0.41 10. 3

16 0

20 53 811 54 359 580

23 20.

1

!

26 1.7

27 0

30 75 868 75 429 662 0.41 10.9

35 20.

36 0

38 0

45 103 910 104 497 753

48 20.

50 0. 56 11.4 0

52 0

ftO 141 943 142 562 826

.,...JiL> twcen fibrous glass and refractory felt

Dat.T unavailable

32
Table B-7

1 — 1

Avg. Temp

of

Avg. Temp

in

Temp at Center of

Temp at Mid-Depth

Base Indicated Concentration of Gaseous Combustion Products

Specimen 7 Time

(min)

Plate

(°C)

Furnace

(°C)

Plate Surface

(°C) Insulation(°C)

CO

(%)

CO2 HCN NO 6, NO2 HCL

(%) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)

HF

(ppm)

2" 6 pcf re- fractory fiber

blanket, fiber blend cloth facing on 1/4"

aluminum panel

1

3

4

5

7

9

40

42

45

215

517

584

39

41

42

48

51

62 0

3

12-1/2

0

0

10 49 739 47 200 0

13 7

14 0

15 55 782 53 321 0 20

16 0

18 0

0 J AT0 J

23 >9

25 0

27 0

29 0

30 85 858 85 491 0 41

37 >9

39 0

41 0

44 0

45 115 906 119 570

53 >9

55 0

57 0

59 0

60 146 948 149 610 0 46
Table B-8

Temp at Avg, Temp Avg, Temp Temp at Mid-Depth Indicated Concentration of of In Center of Base Gaseous Combustion Products Specimen 8 Time Plate Furnace Plate Surface Insulation CO CO2 HCN NO & NO2 HCL HF

(mln) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (%) iZ) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)

2" 4 pcf re- 1 38 314 36 306 fractory fiber

blanket, fiber 5 40 565 37 529 0, 12 5.6 7 blend cloth

fnclng on 1/4 7 3-1/2

uluminum panel

10 44 724 41 717 0. 35 11. 3

11 0

12 0

15 48 786 47 785 0. 64 13.5 7

18 1

20 56 819 57 823 0

23 0

28 7

30 76 873 78 871 0.41 14. 5

31 0

33 0

36 0

40 7

42 0

45 96 916 101 911 0

47 0

50 0.64 14.5 7

57 0

59 0

60 123 948 129 936 0

34
TO Pu

a.o

e I s

(tJ CJ

rH

O

wco

l-i (0 O H-i

O. CD c/1

o 0

0)

a

H

&v,_-> rH rn

to

ll 1 1 1 . ?

1—1

p (-\ r T f\ O 0

'HM [ t ni*UVl 9 00 j 1 r*M *H p, tH

•U

CO <-<

w

ClnQ

!S

P

CD

rT lO LO

4J

w 33 ^

CO

m

a 0

ni

UJ

H nj CN H O O 5-5 U ^ CN LOo o CN u ^ o O C Q;

(U 4-1 U (0

o.0H

00>

0)uC

U

U

o 3 --^

14-1 4-1

U >< o rt o rHcs

•Ha

0)ex

CM CN

ON

CN

o

o CN

OJ

4-1

1-4 3 = C -J

>, rH

MHO

O (3 in w o

CM >,

B

=o

OJcc

•H63

00o

CO

c» CJN ON in ro vO

LTl

CM

it

MC

•H-d

•H3

XI

4-1 CO

01 u

0) rC

4J

ci H

0)OBM

<U .5MW

0)uX

0)o

4-J

(U3

-a

cu u

(fl C

•nl0U

0)

4J

0) H

35
Table B-10

Temp at Avg. Temp Avg. Temp Temp at Mid-Depth * Indicated Concentration of of in Center of Base Other Gaseous Combustion Products Specimen 10 Time Plate Furnace Plate Surface Insulation Temps CO CO2 HCN NO & NO2 HCL HF

(rain) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (°C) (%) (%) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)

2" 2.5 pcf

polyisocyanurate

foam, 1/2" 4 pcf

refractory fiber

felt, fiber blend cloth

facing on 1/4"

aluminum panel

1

3

5

6

7

9-1/2

10

12

15

17

20

21

24

25

26

30

35

38

56

60

30

31

32

37

51

82

114

145

214

736

779

815

873

915

947

31

29

31

37

54

85

117

149

37

101

395

479

534

599

644

693

29

44 0.15 1.3

176 0.27 1.5

373 0.27 2

438

487

519

549

0.56 4.2

0.52 2.7

50

65

75

25

7-1/2

2.8

6.3

11.3

20

20

19

20

0.53 10.2

Between foam and refra^rory felt

36
Table B-11

- Avg. Temp

of

Avg. Temp

In Temp at Center of

Temp at Mid-Depth

Base

Indicated Concentration of Gaseous Combustion Products

Specimen 11 Time

(min)

Plate

(°C)

Furnace

(°C)

Plate Surface

(°C)

Insulation

(°C)

CO

("/)

CO2 HCN NO i NO2 HCL HF

(%) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)

1 3/4" 4 ocf polylmlde foam

on l/A" ^^^^l^n^ num panel

2

3

4

32 240 29 57

J-/ 1 /?^

0

5 33 368 31 146 0.06 4.

1

6-1/2

8

2

0

g 0

10 39 706 37 500 0. 17 9.2 15

52 779 52 725 0.36 10.2 2-1/2

1 7 riu

Au

20 66 808 73 765

24 3

26 0

28 0

30 149 862 167 0.41 11.4

31 25

35 1-1/2

44 30

46 318 911 356

47 0.41 11.4

37
I pa

nj H

g

B£

w 0 CJ

o

tp^ CM

4J

Q CM

COq •H

O ^ CM

CJ SB B0 CM O -i0 iH

T3

o z a 1 p>

JJ c/) PC Cl, 0^

COu 0

•rl OJ

(A

c CO M

OUo ^s w

43

gu

Q 4J O tH in

J=p

U

Q

CO

a •pH 01 c<

a

Q cc

u CM

a 1 CO rH 0 ro

<u

d pa H Ulqo

M-l

4-1 0

CO

u

& (b r». e 4J 0 CN

m

c

0) 4J o 03

In

aB

01 El

C CJ 1 •H M 0 1 60 3 w i-H 1 ><as

cu

CH 4-1

U CO

o CO

o CM

tic ><

OJ

c

e -H rH -4- 1 V<

OJO

rH U-l

oU J2

U U-l r{ V4 J=

C

a t4-l C4-I 01 4J

0) (U CJ ^ 0 & •H rH

•H VJ IH CJ

u 0

4J » -o

a >, : o 4-1

C

CO CM CO ^ 0) 1 o \ l-l 0) .H

rH

& ^ U-l

CM I CMCM

CM

•arl

m r~ \e 00 rH00 CO

u-i i-> 00 00

0^ CM CO 1^

o 1—1 CM -a- CO U1

mCO

u-i Oc^^

0^

tn

CO LTl

a

00 CM

CO I o I

00oCN

u-i CM I 00

CM

O

00O

oo

u-l -a-

-aC3S ino

OJc

CO

o

a3 M C c •r^ •H e a 3

CO iH

yj CO

0)

<4-l

>^

l-l o

COan

•oc

COe

tooc

01%u

OJ m

38
Table B-13

Temp at

Avg. Temp Avg. Temp Temp at Mid-Depth Indicated Concentration of

of in Center of Base Gaseous Combustion Products

Specimen 13 Time Plate Furnace Plate Surface Insulation CO CO2 HCN NO & NO2 HCL HF

Cmln) (°C) CO CO CO (%) (%) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm) (ppm)

Panel -1/4" 1 35 182 34 169

f Iberglass

reinforced 3-1/2 5 plastic

(without 4 38 35 460

filler)

5 39 36 573 0.06 2.6 10-1/2

Insulation - 1-3/4" 4 5-1/2 0 0 pcf refractory fiber 6 41 39 669

fflt, fiber blend cloth 10 44 705 41 829 0.23 8.3 10 facing

11 9.2

13 0 0

14-1/2 5

15 62 786 63 883 0.43 10.2

17-1/2 12

20 76 816 80 899 0.69 10.8

26 1-1/2

27-1/2 18

30 109 857 122 909 0.29 10.8

32 0 0

45 159 914 176 933

46 1

48

' 15

50 0.35 10.8

59 0 0

60 185 936 194 943

39
fa oEB P.

sdd

05 U 0 on c

o

o

o 2; , , H u g

•U CM •-a a.

cfl

co ^—

4-1 0 z C •H

01 4-1 o W C 3 0u e z 0 u

a

-a

u a:;

a

dj •—•- u w

tti 3 a O

•H <U XI M c tB

C

M

O

U

4Jae

CD

C 6-S O

c

^1 3 CJ

01 cr. 0 C CD O 4-1

aBH

60>ae

01 H

CJC

U

U 0 3 ^ > O

4^

O

n3

o

01

C

B •r^ H e I CN I t

as

o

in

00

CN ID

LA CNCN

00

O

-a- oo

00

in

00

OJ C3> CN

O

CN

eg

00

in

CN on

00

O

CN ICN I 00

CM

0^

CN

O

c

1h

CO T3 c:

cu 01 0 e O 4-1 •H

•M 1 .-1

O 3 4-1

a

o •H 0 S-l rJ

d) r-l !-i 4J x: 01 rH

OJ 0)

d to 4J tH 3 OJ

c X3 •H CB •H .-H enC

•H 0) 3

•H

do

Ph U-l S-l

a 14-1

M

nJ H>C3

ctJ 4-1 Q

40
(0

4-1 0 U 1-3 B

3 U 0. a "a o O

•r( >-i 4-1 Oh CM

td o

u C /—

s

4-1 0 S c •H p.

Qi 4-1 o< 0 CO o ^—

0 z

o

§

o

01 z 4J M 1

(B S3 p. U 0

•H OJcn cM O ^s u

/•^ o ^e u

*

u

ti xt s u

<D 0 o H

C u 0

a. •H

0) Q) 4J Q 0) (fl U

1 03 1—

1

0 XI

•H in M

0)O

to O

CO 1-1

J-t 3 U

s 4-> 0

CD C <u H 4J U W

rH

PLO.e Oia H (0 c c O • •H u o a

'

y >

fte

0) H 01

4-t 4-1 0 CO o

oi 1—1 > p-i <

'c e

•H E H —

u&

CN

CN

C3> CN

orHA O

A

0-1 in o CN

cn

1^ O

n

CM

O

H

A

d

CM

00

C3^

CN

o iH LO in CN eg

in cn ro m CN

<• m tn

o CJ^ in m

CNON

00 CN c:^ <! I—

1

in in

in 1—

1

00 t-H o <r

0-) in 00 00 ON

in

OCN

O

o O

in

in

CN

00

o

I

<U OJ

•rl to T3 &

CO <U

Cfl O

rH H

60 O

O ^H M

4.) 0)

CO rA

(fl rH

rH -H

CI, U-1

I 14H bO C D. t>^ 4-1 C -H O >-l rH 0) O

•H O 0) rH CO 4J 4J UH ,£3 UH (Or o

rH CO 1-1 ^-l x: 3 V-i <U <U 4-1 CO CO 14H ^ J3 O

C I OJ -rl -H rH

l-H rH >-l M-l UH tj

rH

CUC

«&

CO

CO

cd rHM

(U

MH

T3c

CU

14Hd

OJ

OJ&

4J

(U M

41

'•Vi
0; iH

r} H

O O

to

!^

4-1 C

OJo cn C 3

O X3 O BO

T3 U

0) 4Jo

•HM O

hJ 0

u a

EC p.

p. O

a &

O 6-«

o e-s

01o

c y-i

1-1 (-ISO

0) C/O o

4-1 > c <u

QJ 4-1 O «

iH

e

OJ H

>

<;

0.o ecu •H 1-1 o 3

P-eH

>

o

in

O

00 in

in o-i

OJ C

c

OJe

•HO

OJ

CI. CO

fl4 M-l

4-1

tn 0) --^ u

60 O

U ^

4J 0) U5 T-H tH H ---I a, >4-i

o

•H

n)3

cn

C! M

00

rH CM

<) 00

csl CO 00 00

.H o CN o 00 O

CN CN

I O Oro ro

XI

tH

•H>

d

3

rt

4-1C« o

42
CO , 1 B II 1 j } fw^

\j (J Q Q

*H iiw

jj

*uM 'a'

4-J eM *H

(J CO cM n

Cj -g0

^3

B

OJ

ua 4J CO HI a

CO 3 O O

•H c;

CO

dH

o

O

CJ

s—

O SvS c

4-1

U

o

CO

a

&,Q

W nj

U

B I W t-H

o

H -H tfl S C

0/u

o u-iM

p. a> !/i CJ 5 4J o

aj

p a) U CO

CO 4

Pio

COC CJ M 0 ><

0)

O CO 0

1—1 ^

0)

c

e -H •H 6 Ca

•Ha

a;

CO I CO o oo

CM

d

CN

t Sto

Sto

00

St

\0

o

1-1 -<f

VOSt eo

CM 0^

00 iH

CM sr

vO

CO

00 CMiHCO 00 00

00

St

OJ u

CO iH

Q) 3 r (3 C -a- CO

CO ^ ft

CJ >y iH

a,

O0 c 1

cn

o

c

•H •H 6

iH CO 0 0 iH

a. u-i CO

00

CM

CMO

VO

O iH

CM ro

CM in

CM

o

43
P- CM

h—1 Q

p ,

\J CN

'H

H j 1 Ph

Q rH

ni 11 c: o 1 *H I—M

Qj

COp

Q ^ nQ

<u p. in

4J CO CM

n3

d

Oo

H OJ ^3 cn C Cst M O o rH o U K

p.E

u

•p 01o

oHC

•P 4-J 0

nj

&

H

OJ 01 J-i ^—\

P.O

Mu

e 1 n) rH 0 m s In

0)

14-1 n]

l-l

c M-l nj U

l-l

P

a OJ C/3

u

B 4-1

o

QJ

c

O

H 4J o ro

PL,

ae 0

tu

c

H n) c C CJ •H 0 3 > !i <

D.B

OJ H <U

1+4 4J G 0 rH <

0)

c

•H

e

00

0)ya

o

ro

CN

O

<fO

-Jo

-4-

t—I

LA

0) •u 0 <

n) M-i rH

S-i

o

a

C 1 C 0 H 3 H

M-< n) vo 0 c rt tH OJ U s 0) p. nj C & o : rH nj 0 rH 1—1

JO Pw 60 O- H u M P S

>^

B 0) <U •H 'in 3 H nj c O fi 0 0 •H •H nj C •H P. M-l S 0 B

o

CN

00

00

CT\ m

o

00 CN

CM CN

CN vO

0^

00do

0^

H

O

00 o\

CO

00

a^

00

o <3> 0-

in

o

00 00

0-1

o

CN CN CMCM

ifo

CO

O

O

LO

o

44
M

U-t U

o u

a "TS O 0

•H U

4J

flj u a

^~> 0 c -H u cn c a " i

(U 4J CO

c

o

^ a

p. o

^

s s u a

33 &,

CM o

u

4J W O

re a -H

(U Cj u a Q 03 re u SI re rH 0

(L -d « 3 ^ S C

01o

u-i re

a a> c/2 u

0 U 0

a> q3 Q) a re

in

CM oCM o

CM I

00 CM

re

0;O

rec CJ u o 3 ^

e

u-i -u CJ

• Oreo

60

•H 0

C

CJ

OJ&

10

0^

in 00

o so o

0^

Jc:> •J- \0

CVJ iH00

1^

00

00

O

00

0^

I 00 oCM \0

CM CM o CJ^

CN

o

o

(0 CO CO CO bO I re re c 3

iH r-l -H iH

00 bo u re re

<j tn cfl 14-1 r

D- 3 3 <J- M W rH OH C

O O

O

cn Vj

CO IM '4-1

OJc

re

45
^ u

o y3

c -o o o H 1-1 4J PL, cau c

JJ o

C -H

(U 4J o w

C 3 o ^ U B

o

-a u

o

I

J3

to H

a

Si a

o a

X o.

o

B

t^l Q.& O

z

IS B U &

BC PCM / O i

O 6^

U u O

TOD- -H

(U OJ ^

a. Q w o El CO M o

<u -o pa 3 ^

o

i4-< re m 1-1 3 ^

a. Qj cj E -i-i 0

0; C V—

H CD -u

a

B

cu H

a:><

B

cu H

>

CLO

COC O

Vj o

0/ C

O

C

0;e

•H

CJ

OJa.

(N O

O

o

00

oen

o

ON

CX5 CTn 00 i-i CN CN in m

CO in 00 as

o C3N O

CN

CN

r—

I

CN

-a- CN vC <t o r-i f—

'

CO

CO 00 00 00

u I—

1

O ro CN .—

1

0 CO o < m 1—

1

(—

1

CN

o

csi c^CN O in o

cn m 00

CO CO c

1-1 rH -H

OC M O

4-1 CO

CJ C/1 Cfi a 3

o

>-i S-l

•r-l -H

3

O ^

ro u-i C4-I o

< rH

(0

4-1 C r

•H <(

CO

46
I PQV

H

CO 0 .

D -d

4J

a a; § a

Eh OJ u

n a

il

8!S

o

01u

n

9 U

«

^1

01 o H to

• -H (-1 o >

<;

B

O (fl o SO>

•3 e

O

eo

o

fM

I H

I

eo

' i

o

OS

H in

CM

PO

o

00 o

00

o

o

CM

r-H

00 ON o

4-1 r-H C = 0) •H O- C

PM rH &,

rH

•H>

c

3

4 7
nj

•H>

(=3

48
Table B-23

AvB . Tgitid Tpttid at

of in Center of

Specimen 23 Time Plate Furnace Plate Surface

(min) Cc) (°c)

Paint A on 1 47 131 45

1/4" steel

panel 5 148 520 164

10 224 705 229

15 248 770 257

19-1/2 266 797 279

30 316 861 332

A5 391 908 417

60 467 934 515

Gas analysis not taken

Table B-24

Specimen 24 Time

(min)

Avg. Temp

of

Plate

(°C)

Avg. Temp

in

Furnace

CC)

Temp at

Center of

Plate Surface

CC)

Paint V on

1/4" steel

panel 1 58 163 60

5 184 538 215

10 258 720 267

15 286 775 293

20 315 820 322

30 362 865 367

45 433 909 431

60 484 944 478

Gas analysis not taken

49
APPENDIX C. FIRE ENDURANCE TEST OBSERVATIONS

Specimen 1

Nothing unusual occurred during the 60-minute duration of the test. The

specimen had been constructed from two pieces of mineral wool pushed together.

A large washer on a fastener pin between the pieces kept them against the

plate center. During the test it was difficult to see how much of the seam

had opened to expose the substrate.

The glass cloth facing was very brittle following exposure to the furnace

fire. Even after the test it was difficult to tell how much the seam between

the two pieces had opened as portions of the insulation fell apart upon removal

from the furnace.

Specimen 2

Behavior of the sample was similar to the test of specimen 1. This

specimen was also constructed from two separate pieces of mineral wool, but

without a fastener pin in the central part of the sample. Nichrome wires tied

to washers were then used at NBS to hold the wool against the plate.

Because portions of the insulation fell apart upon lifting from the

furnace, it was also impossible to note whether the seam between the two

pieces of mineral wool had opened up.

Specimen 3

After 5-1/2 minutes in the furnace the cloth facing split.

At six minutes the facing became loose and was just hanging, completely

exposing the insulation.

At eight minutes the facing glowed red but was not flaming.

At 12 minutes, the facing still glowing red but not flaming.

At 15 minutes conditions unchanged.

At 19-1/2 minutes the insulation was bowing except at the attachment

pin and it appears to have an irregular or alligator pattern throughout the

insulation surface.

At 2 6 minutes all conditions are unchanged.

At 33 minutes the hanging facing is fraying and glowing pieces are falling

off.

At 39 minutes no change in the specimen.

Forty-four minutes the facing has almost all dropped off.

At fifty minutes no change in appearance of the insulation.

At 60 minutes the test was terminated.

50
After the panel was removed from the furnace the alligatoring was found to be

approximately 1/64 to 1/32 of an inch deep. From the exposure to the fire the

furnace exposed face of the beige or grayish brown color insulation had turned

white. This whiteness extended for 1-1/4 inch into the material. Natural

refractory fibrous felt without binder is white, so it appears that the binder

was distilled from the insulation to the above depth. Other than that, the

insulation appeared to be in good condition with no other effects being

apparent at the time.

Specimen 4

Behavior of sample similar to test of specimen 3 except the surface facing was

not hanging down, exposing the insulation, until about 11 minutes.

Specimen 5

At 1-3/4 minutes, the surface paint flashed over.

At 6 minutes, the paint has intumesced.

I At 10 minutes into the test, the cloth facing was hanging down, exposing the

insulation.

Behavior of sample at subsequent times was similar to tests of specimens 3 and

4.

Specimen 6

At 3 minutes, some smoking around outside edge of specimen on unexposed side.

At 6 minutes cloth facing split.

At 10 minutes facing sagging down along one end of specimen.

After 15 minutes entire facing hanging down.

23 minutes into test, cloth facing breaking up and falling into furnace.

30 minutes into test, cloth facing almost totally gone.

At 32 minutes, irregular or alligatoring pattern over entire exposed surface.

At 57 minutes, exposed surface slightly warped.

After 60 minutes, test terminated.

Post fire observation of specimen showed surface irregularity, but no cracks

of any depth.

Specimen 7

Behavior of sample similar to tests of specimens 3 and 4. The refractory

fibrous blanket shredded on the surface and it alligatored similar to the

felt. The shredding had the appearance of delamination , although in the

original state, the material was not manufactured in layers.

Specimen 8

Behavior of sample similar to tests of specimens 3 and 4

.

51
Specimen 9

At four minutes exposure to the fire, the polyisocyanurate foam burst into

flames. Prior to this and even during the flaming the sample exuded heavy

amounts of acrid smoke. At six minutes the isocyanurate is still flaming.

Observation at ten minutes indicates some slight reduction in the flaming but

the material is glowing red and has split open into wide cracks. Because of

the heavy fume and smoke concentration this test was stopped after sixteen

minutes

.

After the panel was removed from the furnace it was noted that the polyisocyanurate was badly burned and had opened into very wide cracks which went all

the way through exposing the aluminum base plate.

Specimen 10

At four minutes into the test smoke started to exude from the furnace. The

smoke is apparently from the facing material.

At six minutes into the test a slight flaming occurred on the surface of the

facing. Also at six minutes the cloth facing split open.

At 7 minutes into the test about half of the facing dropped loose. The facing

material is flaming and glowing red.

At 8 minutes into the test the facing dropped off completely.

At 8-1/2 minutes the entire surface of the refractory fibrous felt is engulfed

in flame.

At nine minutes into the test the sample is smoking quite heavily.

At ten minutes into the test large quantities of smoke now exuding from the

furnace and the detectable odor of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is present. Readings

taken of this gas at this particular time indicate a high concentration of

HCN.

The refractory fibrous material appears to be standing up well, although as

opposed to other tests, it is flaming. This may be the consequence of the

isocyanurate pyrolyzing under the refractory material.

At nineteen minutes into the test the alligatoring pattern, which has been

present in all other panels using refractory fibrous material, has taken place

on the fire exposed surface of the insulation.

At 23 minutes into the test it appears that the flaming on the surface of the

refractory material has stopped, although the panel is glowing red.

At 25 minutes into the test the sample is still smoking rather profusely.

At 3 0 minutes into the test visual conditions of the sample and the smoke are

unchanged

.

At 4 5 minutes into the test the 1/2" refractory felt appears to be buckling.

Aside from this all other conditions are the same. This buckling, however, is

not too severe.

At 50 minutes into the test conditions seem to be unchanged except that the

illigatoring had penetrated deeper and the refractory felt covering buckled

more

.

At 55 minutes into the test all conditions appear to be unchanged.

52
At 60 minutes the condition of the panel and smoke emission appear unchanged.

The test was terminated at this time.

Five minutes after termination of the test, the panel was removed and placed

outdoors, it was noted that the 1/2" refractory felt covering had buckled

quite extensively and the alligatoring was rather deep. It was noted that the

polyisocyanurate foam was still smoking heavily until about 45 minutes after

the test before it subsided. During this period the foam was smoldering or

burning internally. When the half inch refractory felt facing was removed it

was noted that the polyisocyanurate foam had burned completely through and had

broken up into smaller pieces.

Specimen 11

At three minutes into the test no visual change in the material, no smoking.

At six minutes there is no discernible change in the material , no smoking has

occurred.

At six and one-half minutes a slight smoking is discernible at the top of the

panel

.

At seven minutes the butt joints in the specimen opened up as a result of

material shrinkage and the material is cracking. The butt joints in the

center of the panel opened up approximately 3/8".

At nine minutes the cracking of the polyimide material is increasing. The

cracking in the four individual sections of the panel is approximately 1/4 to

3/8 of an inch wide. The cracking has taken on an alligator pattern appearance.

At ten minutes the slight smoking on top of the panel has stopped. It appears

that all four individual pieces making up the panel have cracked extensively.

At twelve minutes the slight smoking re-occurred on top of the panel.

At thirteen minutes the polyimide material appears to be flaming to a slight

degree

.

At thirteen minutes into the test the butt joints between the sections of the

polyimide have opened up to approximately 1 inch wide. The alligatoring

pattern cracks have opened anywhere from 1/4" to 3/4".

At fifteen minutes the smoking has increased slightly on the top of the

panel

.

At 18 minutes the butt joints have opened up to some 1-1/4" wide. With the

opening of the butt joints the overlap of the polyimide joints can now be

readily seen.

At twenty-four minutes the cracks in the alligatoring pattern have opened up

into very wide fissures and the butt joints between the individual panels have

opened to about 1-1/2". The material is still flaming to some extent, and the

smoke emission from the panel has increased somewhat.

At thirty-two minutes there are still flames along the face of the polyimide.

At thirty-three minutes the butt joints between the four panel sections have

opened up beyond the overlap of the individual sections. While not visually

apparent the aluminum plate may be exposed.

53
At thirty-four minutes the aluminum plate has deflected downward approximately 3/8" at the center of the panel.

At thirty-five minutes the panel is flaming quite extensively. At this

particular point it is not known if the polyimide is flaming, or whether it

is the adhesive between the polyimide and the aluminum plate. Visually it

appears that the polyimide itself is flaming.

At thirty-six minutes the smoke emission from the panel is increasing.

At thirty-seven minutes the center of the aluminum panel has now sagged

approximately 1-1/8", indicating excessive heating of the aluminum panel.

At thirty-nine minutes the polyimide is flaming very heavily over the entire

face

.

At 41 minutes the smoke from the panel is still increasing.

At forty-two minutes the entire face of the polyimide is still flaming

heavily and the fissures or cracks in the individual sections of the panel

have opened wide. One crack that is visible is almost 2" wide.

At forty-four minutes the depression at the center of the panel was still

about 1-1/8".

At forty-five minutes the entire face of the polyimide is flaming heavily and

smoke is being emitted quite extensively from the top of the panel.

The test was terminated after a period of 47 minutes when the temperature on

the unexposed side of the aluminum panel had reached above 300 degrees

centigrade.

Approximately 5 minutes after the termination of the test and before the

panel was removed from the furnace, there was still some flaming over the

surface of the polyimide foam and smoke was still being emitted from the top

of the furnace. As the panel was being removed from the furnace two large

pieces of the polyimide broke loose and fell off. Visual inspection of the

sample after the test indicated that the polyimide had burned completely

through. Apparently the adhesive between the polyimide and the panel prevented

the foam from falling loose during the test.

Specimen 12

At 3-1/2 minutes into the test slight smoking occurred at the top of the

panel. This may be from the cloth facing.

At 4-1/2 minutes the smoking has increased noticeably.

At 5 minutes the cloth facing has split and is hanging down.

At 7 minutes the facing is behaving as it did on previous tests, that is, the

cloth is glowing and bits are fraying off and falling into the furnace.

At 8 minutes the smoking condition reported earlier has subsided noticeably.

This would indicate that the initial smoking was coming from the cloth facing.

At 17 minutes into the test the alligatoring pattern on the exposed refractory

felt which has been characteristic of this material in each of the previous

tests, is definitely forming. The smoking has stopped.

At 2 2 minutes conditions unchanged.

54
At 25 minutes slight smoking has re-occurred on top of the panel.

At 31 minutes all visual conditions unchanged.

At 35 minutes into the test the 1/2-inch refractory felt has a slight bow in

it. This is about the same as was experienced on panel No. 10.

At 40 minutes condition of the felt material is unchanged. Slight smoking

continuing on top of the panel.

At 45 minutes into the test all visual conditions unchanged.

At 50 minutes into the test the aluminum panel has deflected downward between

1/4 and 3/8 of an inch. All other visual conditions of the panel are unchanged.

At 60 minutes the furnace test was terminated. There was no additional

change in the specimen.

10 minutes after the panel had been removed from the furnace and placed

outside, flaming still continued around the periphery of the polyimide.

When the refractory felt laminate was removed it was noted that the polyimide

foam had split open with wide cracks . The cracks were in various widths up

to 2". In all cases the cracks and openings were clear through, exposing the

aluminum panel. The polyimide foam had charred through its entire thickness.

Specimen 13

After 6 minutes facing split and was hanging down exposing insulation.

At 16-1/2 minutes conditions unchanged.

At 2 3 minutes there's a slow venting of furnace gases around the area of the

fastener pin. An area of about the size of a 50 cent piece around pin on

unexposed side of the panel is turning dark green in color.

After 28-1/2 minutes the color on much of the unexposed side within the

confines of the furnace opening has turned a dark green. Original color of

panel was pale pink.

33 minutes into the test the dark green color has extended over the entire

panel area within the confines of the furnace opening. A quarter-inch

circle around the fastener pin has become brownish black and is melting.

At 35 minutes conditions unchanged.

At 40 minutes the circle of melting plastic around the fastener has increased to a 5/8-inch circle.

After 43 minutes the refractory felt insulation starting to bow slightly

towards the flames.

At 57 minutes conditions unchanged.

At 6 0 minutes test terminated.

55
Specimen 14

At 5 minutes into the test the panel has started to smoke heavily.

At 9 minutes panel is sweating and there is some dripping into furnace.

At 11 minutes specimen is aflame. Furnace window covered with soot.

After 15 minutes the specimen is blistered and warped throughout. The fire

has almost burned through the panel.

At 21 minutes into the test the plastic panel has shattered and smoke is

rising from over most of its surface.

At 29 minutes the sample is smoking heavily.

At 30 minutes the test is terminated.

Specimen 15

The cloth facing reacts in exactly the same manner as in the test of Panel

No. 3, i.e., it fell off early in the test, exposing the insulation.

At 25-28 minutes the plastic panel has deflected approximately 1/8" in the

center

.

At 38 minutes this depression has increased to 1/2", indicating that the

panel is softening.

Between 40-45 minutes the backside of the plastic panel had discolored

within the area of the furnace opening, which is 22 inches square.

At about 20 minutes into the test the area around the center fastener on the

back side of the panel began to char, indicating a burn-through at the fastener.

However, at 53 minutes the burn-through from the center fastener was still

not sufficient to allow the insulation to fall free. The area of char,

around the fastener is approximately 3/4" in diameter.

At 6 0 minutes test terminated.

Specimen 16

The panel sagged in the middle after 1/2 minute of test, the deflection was

approximately 1/4".

After one minute of test the deflection in the middle of the panel was

approximately 3/8".

After 1-1/2 minutes of test the deflection is still 3/8".

After 4 minutes of test the panel exuded large quantities of smoke.

After 5 minutes of test the deflection is still 3/8".

At six minutes into the test the panel is smoking profusely.

At seven minutes into the test the entire furnace is engulfed in smoke.

At 7-1/2 minutes the center of the panel has sagged 1/2".

56
At 8 minutes the panel is giving off heavy quantity of smoke and the entire

top of the furnace cannot be seen and the deflection in the middle of the

panel could not be measured.

Due to the heavy smoke, personnel cannot get near the panel to take measurements of various gases in the furnace exhaust.

At twelve minutes all rooms in the testing facility are completely engulfed

in smoke. The smoke coming from the furnace stack is of a very dark gray

color.

After 15 minutes into the test the deflection reported earlier in the center

of the panel has now receded; as a matter of fact, the panel is level.

At 18 minutes the unexposed surface of the panel is turning brown and there

appears to be trapped gases resulting in the formation of bubbles throughout

the plastic. This may be due to air entrapment as the panel was manufactured.

The large rings or bubbles, as they are referred to, run anywhere from

two inches to six inches in diameter. The panel is still smoking profusely.

At twenty minutes, the panel is now again bowing, but this time it is bowing

upward instead of downward as it was previously. The bowing is approximately

3/8".

At twenty-two minutes into the test the smoking has decreased slightly,

although still smoking heavily.

After 33 minutes into the test it was noted that the entire face of the panel

exposed to the fire was boiling in flame. While the smoke generation is

still very heavy it is less than that previously reported.

At 36 minutes the panel face exposed to the furnace is still flaming over its

entire surface.

The furnace flame was turned off after 39 minutes of the test.

As the panel was being removed from the furnace it cracked through the

middle. At this crack there was delamination of the layers of resin and

fibrous glass reinforcement. On the fire exposed surface the resin had

burned off exposing the fibrous glass reinforcement.

Specimen 17

Behavior of sample similar to test of specimen 9.

Specimen 18

Behavior of sample similar to test of specimen 10 even though mineral wool

instead of refractory felt was the laminate over the polyisocyanurate foam.

As was in the test of specimen 10, the foam was charred and had cracks which

went all the way through exposing the aluminum plate.

Specimen 19

At 7 minutes nothing unusual occurring.

At 13 minutes some bowing of the insulation towards the fire. Facing still

intact.

57
17-1/2 minutes into the test and conditions are unchanged. Very little smoke

on either side of specimen.

20 minutes into the test and the insulation is sagging more than before.

After 30 minutes the facing, and possibly the insulation too, is sagging

badly except where it is attached with fastener pin. A two-inch hole has

opened up and molten glass is dripping from the periphery of the hole into

the furnace

.

At 32 minutes the hole is roughly circular and about four inches across.

At 33 minutes the fibrous glass insulation has fused into a shell and is

hanging. A large opening is observed, exposing the aluminum plate.

At 34 minutes the plate has sagged about 1/2-inch at the middle.

At 37 minutes there is moderate smoking on the unexposed side of the specimen.

The deflection at the center of the plate is now about 3/4-inch. Small

chunks of insulation are dropping into the furnace.

After 41-1/2 minutes the test was terminated.

Immediate inspection of the sample upon its- removal from the furnace showed

that the glass fibers of the insulation had fused together to form a 1/4- to

3/8-inch thick hard black solid layer, which ballooned away from the plate.

Most of the central portion was gone, exposing almost all of the aluminum

plate

.

Specimen 20

Behavior of sample similar to test of specimen 19.

Specimens 21 to 24

These four samples had only an intumescent paint over the metal substrate.

Behavior of the paint is similar for all four specimens.

At 4 to 5 minutes the paint starts to bubble up.

At 6 to 7 minutes the paint is burning.

At 7 to 9 minutes only a crisp charred layer is left on the panel surface.

58
NBS-1 MA (REV. 7-73)

U.S. DEPT. OF COMM.

Dl D L. 1 uv l\ A r n 1 ^ 1 A

SHEET

1. FUlsLK.Al ION OR RF-.PORTNO.

NBSIR- 76-1012

2. Gov't Acces.sion No.

3. Recipient's Acces.^sion No.

i TITI F AND 'sIlRTITI \-

Fire Performance Testing of Bulkhead Insulation Systems

for High Strength to Weight Ship Structures

5. Publication Date

August 1976

6. Performing Organization Code

7. AUTHOR{S)

B. T. Lee

8. Performing Organ. Report No.

y, HtKr UKMirJLT UKi.j AIN lz,A 1 lUN NAMb AND ADDRESS

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

10. Project/Task/Work Unit No.

492 6677

11. Contract /Grant No.

12i Snonsorinc Orkanization Name and Cnmnlpre AHHrpQ^ fS^tre^e^t C^itw 7'tp\

Ship Damage Prevention and Control

Naval Sea Systems Command

Department of the Navy

Washinaton. D.C. :?0362

13. Type of Report & Period

Covered

Final Report

14. Sponsoring Agency Code

15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

16. ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most si^ificant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here.)

Sixteen insulated aluminum bulkhead specimens were subjected to a material

screening process as well as evaluated for their comparative fire performance with a 2-foot horizontal slab furnace. Two insulated and two unprotected glass-reinforced

plastic specimens were also tested to obtain fire performance data on these structural

materials. In addition, painted aluminum and steel panel specimens were included to

determine the fire protective merits of two types of intumescent paints. Potential

heat release, smoke, and combustion gas generation were also determined for the insulation and coating materials. Specimens insulated with organic base foams released high

levels of combustion gases and could contribute considerable heat to an on-going fire.

Specimens insulated with either refractory fibrous material or with mineral wool gave

the best overall performance. The same thickness of insulation needed to protect an

aluminum panel for over an hour can provide up to 20 minutes of protection for a

glass-reinforced plastic panel of the same thickness. The intumescent paints did

little to protect the specimens during the fire exposure. Parameters of insulation

thickness, heat capacity, density, and thermal conductivity as well as fire duration

on specimen temperature were analytically investigated.

17. KEY WORDS (six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only the first letter of the first key word unless a proper name; separated by semicolons) Aluminum bulkhead; combustion gases; fire endurance;

insulation; intumescent paint; potential heat; reinforced plastic; small furnace test;

smoke

,

18. AVAILABILITY [x] Unlimited 19. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS REPORT)

21. NO. OF PAGES

02 P^or Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

UNCLASSIFIED

63

[

~^ Order From Sup. of Doc, U.S. Government Printing Office

Washineton. D.C. 20402. SD Cat. No. C13

20. SECURITY CLASS

(THIS PAGE)

22. Price

' [X] Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

Springfield, Virginia 22151 UNCLASSIFIED

$4.50

USCOMM-DC 29042-P74
9 05




B<J0K[J|\DN'C

miodletow*j pa, JAN, 7S