Fire performance is a requirement that is becoming increasingly important on
work sites as catastrophes can occur from the smallest of incidents. Skudo is
aware if this issue and developed the Skudo FR’ Floor system which combats the
potential fire risks some work zones encounter by providing a fire and flame
resistant temporary protective coating. To validate the performance claims,
Skudo has undertaken a number of tests including flammability, heat, and smoke
development.
THE TESTS:
Skudo commissioned two main tests from AWTA – a NATA Accredited facility. The
first being - ASISO 9239.1-2003 Part 1. This relates to ‘reaction to fire for
floorings’ and determines the burning behaviour using a radiant heat source. The
test specimen is placed in a horizontal position below a gas-fired radiant panel
inclined at 30° where it is exposed to a defined heat flux. A pilot flame is
applied to the hotter end of the specimen. Any flame front that develops is
noted and a record is made of the progression of the flame front horizontally
along the length of the specimen in terms of the time it takes to spread to
defined distances. If required, the smoke development during the test is
recorded as the light transmission in the exhaust stack. The results are
expressed in terms of flame-spread distance versus time, the critical heat flux
at extinguishment and smoke density versus time.
The second test related to flammability - BS4790:1987 The test specimens are
positioned in a flat circular frame and a heated (900 °C) stainless steel nut
weighing 30 grams is placed on the surface and then removed after 30 seconds.
The results are then recorded measuring flame extinction time, smoldering time,
or time to reach outer ring. Finally the ‘radius of effects of ignition’ on both
sides of the specimen which is registered as a Classification.
THE RESULTS:
ASISO 9239.1-2003 Part 1
|
Critical Heat Flux
|
>11
|
|
Smoke Value
|
4 min
|
|
Maximum radius of damage
|
5mm
|
BS4790:1987
|
Flame Extinction time
|
0
|
|
Smoulder time
|
N/A
|
|
Radius of affected Area:
- use surface
- under surface
|
|
|
15mm
|
|
N/A
|
|
Classification for Radius of effect of ignition
|
Low
|