IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 5 – Test for surface flammability

Smoke and toxicity testing by IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 2 is performed on surface materials (e.g., deck, ceiling, and wall coverings) to assess their suitability for marine use. The specimen is placed in a horizontal position under a cone radiator in a smoke-density chamber. During the test, the specimen starts to emit smoke, which is collected in the closed chamber. The density of smoke is detected optically. Toxicity measurements are made with FTIR to measure the concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen bromide (HBr), hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), nitrogen oxides NO_x (NO + NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Classification criteria for smoke The average (D_m) of the maximum of D_s of three tests at each test condition should be within the following limits: D_m 200 for materials used as the surface of bulkheads, linings, or ceilings, D_m 400 for materials used as a primary deck covering, D_m 500 for materials used as a floor covering , D_m 400 for plastic pipes and electric cables. Classification criteria for toxicity The gas concentrations measured at each test condition should be within the following limits: CO 1450 ppm, HCl 600 ppm, HBr 600 ppm, HF 600 ppm, HCN 140 ppm , NO_x 350 ppm , SO₂ 120 ppm (200 ppm for flooring).

The IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 8 tests are used to assess the suitability of upholstered furniture for use on ships. The results can be used for type approval (wheel mark). Testing is performed on the actual product, or a small-scale test chair made using the cover and filling components of the product. Materials needed for the test are as follows x 3: Cover: 800 mm x 650 mm, Back-filling: 450 mm x 300 mm x 75 mm , Seat-filling: 450 mm x 150 mm x 75 mm. In the cigarette test, a cigarette is lighted and positioned axially along the junction between the seat and the back. The test assembly is not allowed to smolder after one hour from the beginning of the test. In the burner tube test, a burner tube with a propane flame is allowed to burn for 20 seconds, positioned axially along the junction between the seat and the back. No flaming or progressive smoldering is allowed to continue for more than 120 seconds after the removal of the burner tube.

Vertically supported textiles and films are to be tested by IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 7 to assess their suitability for marine use. Test results can be used for type approval (wheel mark). At least 20 specimens (170 mm x 220 mm) are cut in both directions of the fabric. If the sides of the fabric are different, both sides shall be tested. Products treated with flame retardants are tested before and after ten full cycles of cleaning and drying. The test specimen is fixed to a vertical metal frame that is placed in the testing cabinet. The specimen is then ignited with a propane gas flame (40 ± 2 mm). Preliminary tests are performed for both directions, the worst case of ignition scenario is chosen, and 5 further tests are conducted in both directions. The after-flame time, burn-through, ignition of cotton wool below, average char length, and surface flash are observed.

IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 9 fire testing assesses the suitability of bedding components (mattresses, quilts, blankets, pillows, etc.) for use on ships. Test results can be used for type approval under the EU Marine Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU (wheel mark). Mattresses are placed directly on the steel test rig, while quilts, blankets, pillows, and thin, lightweight mattresses are fixed to a mineral wool board placed on the rig. Two ignition sources are used: a smoldering cigarette covered with a cotton wool pad and a small gas flame. They are applied to the surface of the test specimen, and ignition/burning behavior is observed. The bedding component passes the test if neither ignition source causes progressive smoldering or flaming.

Materials for maritime use are tested in accordance with the IMO 2010 FTP Code (International Maritime Organization Fire Testing Procedures Code). Results can be used for type approval (wheel mark). Part 1 of the code describes the procedure for non-combustibility testing. First, the moisture content of the material is calculated as a percentage of dry weight. Test specimens are heated in a ventilated oven at a temperature of 105 ºC for 24 hours and reweighted after cooling in a desiccator. Specimens shall be further tested and heated in an oven at a temperature of 500 ºC for 2 h and reweighted after cooling in a desiccator. The organic content is calculated as a percentage of the dry weight. For the non-combustibility assessment, the test specimens shall be cylindrical and have a diameter of 43–45 mm and a height of 50±3 mm. The specimen is placed in a vertical tube furnace with a temperature of 750 °C. The furnace and specimen temperatures are measured continuously during the test. Multiple specimens are tested. The material is non-combustible according to IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 1 if all the following criteria are met: The average furnace thermocouple temperature rise does not exceed 30 °C, The average test specimen surface thermocouple temperature rise does not exceed 30 °C, The average duration of sustained flaming does not exceed 10 s, The average mass loss does not exceed 50 %..

The burning rate of horizontally mounted materials designed to be used in vehicles and buses must be tested with the UN/ECE R118 annex 6 test before they can be approved for use. Measurlabs offers this and the other R118 tests with accreditation. In the test method, the exposed side of the test specimen is burned from underneath and the burning rate is measured and expressed in mm/min.

The melting behavior of fusible materials used in certain motor vehicles must be determined according to Annex 7 of UN/ECE Regulation 118. In the test, it is monitored whether the specimen ignites, creates flaming droplets, and if these droplets ignite cotton wool placed under the specimen. For the material to pass the test, there must be no formation of flaming drops that ignite the cotton wool. Measurlabs can offer accredited test reports for the UN/ECE R118 Annex 7 test, as well as the Annex 6 and Annex 8 tests. Non-isotropic materials must be tested from both sides, which means that double the number of samples is required.

ISO 5659-2 outlines the procedure for measuring the optical density of smoke produced by a material placed in a closed test cabinet and exposed to thermal radiation. The standard was originally developed for plastics, but it can be applied to a range of other products and materials. In the test, representative specimens of the material are mounted horizontally in a test chamber, and their upper surface is exposed to a specified level of thermal irradiance (usually 25 kW/m2 or 50 kW/m2), with or without a pilot flame. The resulting smoke is collected, and its optical density is measured using a photometric method. Some of the key parameters measured include the maximum specific optical density (Ds,max), the specific optical densities at specified times (Ds(1,5), Ds(4), Ds(10)), and the cumulative specific optical densities during the first 4 minutes of the test (VOF4). A toxicity measurement can also be included to measure toxic gas emissions. Its results are reported as the conventional index of toxicity (CITG). The ISO 5659-2 smoke production test is often required as part of the EN 45545-2 fire safety evaluation of railway materials.

Reaction-to-fire testing and classification of curtains, drapes, and other vertically oriented textiles in accordance with the EN 13773 standard. Classification is based on the following tests: EN 1101 ignition test, AND, EN 1102 flame spread test with a small flame, OR, EN 13772 flame spread test with a larger ignition source. EN 1101 is performed first. If the specimen ignites, EN 1102 is performed as the follow-up test; if it does not ignite, EN 13772 is used instead. Tests are typically performed after the fabric has been washed or dry-cleaned according to care label instructions, as this gives a more realistic picture of fire-retardant properties over time. Washing and dry-cleaning can be arranged at the laboratory. Based on the results, the fabric is classified into one of five classes, from no ignition or flame spread (Class 1) to significant ignition and flaming debris (Class 5).

This method is used to determine the gross heat of combustion of solid building products at constant volume in a bomb calorimeter. Results are reported in J/kg. If the product is non-homogeneous, meaning that it consists of multiple materials, each material must be tested separately. The result can be used to classify construction products into classes A1, A1fl, A1L, A2, A2fl, and A2L according to the fire classification standard EN 13501-1.