How to measure thermal radiation?

The Thermal Radiation Flame Spread Tester is designed to evaluate the combustion characteristics of building materials, high-speed train materials, and marine materials. It focuses on critical parameters such as flame spread rate, ignition heat, and total heat release. The device measures flame spread, critical heat flux, and sustained burning heat according to standards such as GB/T 28752-2012 and ISO 5658-2. It is widely applied in building construction, transportation, and shipbuilding for material performance testing under fire conditions.

Applications

The tester is widely used in:

(1) Fire performance testing of construction materials, panels, and insulation boards.

(2) Evaluation of flame spread and heat release for railway vehicle interior materials.

(3) Quality control for industrial safety compliance of rigid and elastic polymeric materials.

(4) R&D of fire-retardant treatments and coatings for building and transport applications.

(5) Certification laboratories assessing compliance with international fire safety standards.

(6) Educational and training institutions teaching material combustion behavior and fire dynamics.

Standards

The instrument complies with domestic and international standards, including:

NF P92-501 – Rate of flame spread for building materials

TB/T 2639.1 – Fire performance testing of railway materials – Radiation test method

ISO 5660 series – Reaction-to-fire tests, heat release rate

ASTM E1354 – Standard test method for heat and visible smoke release rates for materials using oxygen consumption calorimeter

EN 13823 – Reaction to fire tests for building products – Building products excluding floorings exposed to the single burning item

GB/T 28752-2012 – Test Method for Lateral Flame Spread on Vertical Surfaces

ISO 5658-2 – Fire Spread Test for Vertical Surfaces of Building Products

IMO Res.A653(16) – Surface Flammability Test for Bulkhead, Ceiling, and Deck Materials

Instrument Features

(1) Stainless Steel Test Chamber – Interior lined with fire-resistant materials and equipped with transparent observation window.

(2) Air Supply System – Stainless steel tubular inlet with filtration to prevent contamination.

(3) 45° Sample Test Holder – Stainless steel ruler for accurate flame spread distance measurement.

(4) Thermal Radiation Source – Provides adjustable 30 kW/m² heat flux; panel displays real-time power output, eliminating frequent calibration.

(5) Top and Bottom Stainless Steel Burners – Ignites volatile gases; needle valves control flame height with flame height gauges.

(6) Pilot Flame System – Convenient ignition before testing for upper and lower burners; quarter-turn plug valve allows easy flame isolation.

(7) Temperature Monitoring – Thermocouples at top and air inlet display real-time temperature differences.

(8) Software Control – Automated calculation of flame indices: Flame Initiation Index (i), Average Flame Height Index (S), Maximum Flame Height Index (h), and Heat Release Index (C); built-in report generation and print capability.

Technical Specifications

Accessories

(1) 45° stainless steel test holder with measurement scale

(2) Transparent observation window

(3) Air filtration unit for clean airflow

(4) Thermocouples and digital display

(5) Software package with automated calculation and reporting

Test Procedures / Maintenance

(1) Mount the sample on the 45° test holder.

(2) Adjust the thermal radiation source to the required 30 kW/m² heat flux.

(3) Ignite top and bottom burners using pilot flame system.

(4) Observe flame propagation and record data via software.

(5) Software automatically calculates flame indices and generates reports.

(6) After testing, extinguish burners, clean chamber interior, and remove residue.

(7) Regularly calibrate radiation flux, thermocouples, and flame height gauges to ensure accurate results.
 

Advantages of Thermal Radiation Flame Spread Tester

The Thermal Radiation Flame Spread Tester is a precision instrument used to evaluate the combustion performance of materials. Its core advantage lies in its ability to simulate the thermal radiation environment of real fire scenarios, providing highly accurate and standardized data on flame spread rate and critical heat flux.

Key advantages are summarized as follows:

1. Simulation of real fire scenarios:

The system replicates the heat radiation transfer process encountered in actual fire conditions, enabling precise measurement of ignition time and flame spread behavior of materials under different heat flux densities.

2. High accuracy and repeatability:

It adopts advanced PID temperature control technology (e.g., radiation heating panel with temperature accuracy up to ±0.1°C), ensuring a highly stable and reproducible testing environment.

3. Compliance with international standards:

The instrument is designed to meet stringent requirements of international testing standards and is widely used in aerospace and transportation industries. It is particularly suitable for airworthiness certification of thermal insulation materials used in aircraft and railway interiors.

4. Compact structure with safety and environmental protection:

The equipment typically features a fully enclosed design with an integrated exhaust and fume extraction system, ensuring operational safety and compliant treatment of combustion by-products during testing.

In summary, the Thermal Radiation Flame Spread Tester can accurately simulate the thermal radiation conditions of real fire scenarios in a laboratory environment, enabling the evaluation of a material’s flammability, flame-retardant performance, and flame spread rate during the early stage of a fire. It provides critical safety data for the construction, transportation, and materials engineering industries.