ASTM E1354 – Cone Calorimeter
VTEC Laboratories — Your ASTM E1354 Test Lab
Since 1982, VTEC Laboratories has been providing cost-effective commercial testing services like ASTM E1354.
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What is ASTM E1354 Cone Calorimeter Testing?
When the safety of life and property depends on knowing how certain materials respond to heat and fire, the “Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter” (commonly known as ASTM E1354) is a highly useful test to conduct.
This test examines the relationship between the total heat produced during the combustion process and the oxygen consumed during combustion.
You can calculate this relationship based on the fact that about 13,100 kilojoules of heat are produced for every one kilogram of oxygen burned.
Of course, taking precise measurements of factors such as oxygen concentration, weight loss of the test piece and time standards related to smoke production relies on using a fully qualified ASTM E1354 test lab like VTEC Laboratories that has been conducting high-quality commercial testing for well over three decades.
Benefits of ASTM E1354 Testing
The methodology of the cone calorimeter test is useful for determining the heat produced and contributed to a surrounding fire by the test specimen.
It can also calculate the heat needed for combustion, the loss of weight of the test specimen, the time elapsed for flaming to occur and the amount of smoke produced.
The vast amount of data collected during this test means it’s a valuable test for the evaluation of materials, design considerations and modeling purposes, as well as for research and development of new materials.
This helps researchers and manufacturers predict fire behavior by benchmarking against previously tested materials.
ASTM E1354 and the Cone Calorimeter
At VTEC Laboratories, our highly trained staff only uses state-of-the-art testing equipment. It’s why you can always trust the results we deliver.
In the case of this test, our equipment consists of the following components:
Core Cone Calorimeter Unit
- Conical heater
- Specimen holder
- Ignition system
Supporting Systems:
- Gas exhaust measurement system
- A data acquisition system that captures:
- Mass loss of the specimen
- Oxygen levels in the exhaust
- Other important combustion data
The ASTM E1354 standard test exposes the test specimen to radiant heat, either with a source of ignition or without it.
Since radiant heat is a major contributing factor to real-world fires, the cone calorimeter can measure the increase in heat, noting specifically when the peak rate of heat release (PRHR) is reached, as well as the time necessary to reach it.
The measurements are especially useful in the prediction of a material's likelihood to impact the growth rate of an ambient fire.
Recommended Tests to Pair with ASTM E1354:
- ASTM E162 - Surface Flammability Test
- ASTM E662 - Smoke Density Test
- BSS 7239 - Toxicity Test
- ASTM E648 - Critical Radiant Flux Test
- SMP-800C - Toxic Gas Generation Test
Learn More About VTEC Labs Services
VTEC Laboratories contributes its extensive testing capabilities and rapid turnaround times to more than three decades of experience serving a wide range of important industries. For comprehensive services and custom testing that meet your unique standards, needs and objectives, trust our experts at VTEC Labs.
Learn more about our services by contacting us online or calling us at (718) 542-8248.