What is a smoldering test furnace for thermal insulation materials?

Thermal insulation material smoldering test furnace is a performance test device, using intelligent touch screen control system, convenient and fast, easy to operate, widely used in construction, transportation, light industry, electronics, energy and many other fields, is a very practical industrial test equipment.

Application

The thermal insulation material smoldering test furnace is a performance testing device that utilizes an intelligent touchscreen control system, making it convenient, fast, and easy to operate.  It is widely used in numerous fields such as construction, transportation, light industry, electronics, and energy, and is a very practical industrial testing equipment.

Standards

DB11/381-2016 Appendix D Test method for smoldering performance of thermal insulation materials

Features

1. We have a strong after-sales service team.

2. We can promptly and efficiently handle various issues, relieving customers of any concerns.

3. We have a complete inventory of spare parts, eliminating the hassle of long lead times for ordering parts.

4. We keep up with industry standard updates and provide testing instruments that meet the latest standards in a timely manner.

Parameters

Test Procedures

Sample Preparation: Prepare cubic samples of the insulation material with dimensions of (100 × 100 × 100) mm³. If the material thickness is less than 100 mm, use a stacking method for preparation, ensuring that the temperature-measuring thermocouple is not located at a joint.

Equipment Preheating: Start the test furnace and adjust the heating power to stabilize the average furnace temperature at (750 ± 5) °C for at least 10 minutes. During this period, the temperature drift should not exceed 2 °C, and the maximum deviation from the average temperature should not exceed 10 °C.

Sample Installation: Place the sample in the sample holder, ensuring the central thermocouple is accurately positioned. Then, quickly (within 5 seconds) suspend the sample holder in the designated position inside the furnace.

Test Start: Close the furnace door, start the timer, and record the temperature measured by the thermocouple inside the furnace.  Simultaneously monitor the surface and center temperatures of the sample (if required).

Test Monitoring: Continuously observe the sample's condition, recording temperature changes and any abnormal phenomena during the test.

Test Termination: The test duration is 24 hours, or the test can be terminated early when the furnace temperature reaches final equilibrium (temperature drift not exceeding 2 °C within 10 minutes). If equilibrium is not reached after 60 minutes, the test should also be terminated.

Result Judgment: Within the 24-hour test period, if the sample's center temperature does not exceed 600 °C, it is judged as qualified; if it exceeds 600 °C, it is judged as unqualified.

Equipment Cleaning: After the test, remove the sample holder, clean any residue from the furnace, and turn off the equipment power.

Functions of the Thermal Insulation Material Smoldering Test Furnace

The Thermal Insulation Material Smoldering Test Furnace is designed to simulate a smoldering (flameless combustion) environment and evaluate the resistance of thermal insulation materials to smoldering when exposed to heat or small ignition sources, such as cigarettes. It is used to assess the material’s tendency for sustained smoldering, as well as the propagation speed of smoldering combustion.

This equipment plays a critical role in fire safety verification for the construction and industrial sectors. Its main functions include:

1. Testing Smoldering Propagation Characteristics

The furnace can evaluate whether insulation materials continue to smolder after being exposed to specific heating conditions or ignition sources. It measures important parameters such as the smoldering propagation distance and propagation rate, providing quantitative data for assessing the material’s smoldering behavior.

2. Evaluating Fire Development Risks

The equipment helps determine whether the smoldering process may result in high-temperature carbonization or generate combustible pyrolysis gases that could trigger secondary combustion (flaming ignition). This allows researchers and engineers to better understand potential fire hazards during the early stages of combustion.

3. Supporting Fire Safety Classification and Compliance Evaluation

The test results provide essential data for evaluating the fire performance of building products and verifying compliance with relevant fire safety standards. This supports the classification of insulation materials according to their reaction-to-fire performance requirements.

4. Supporting Material Development and Formula Optimization

The Thermal Insulation Material Smoldering Test Furnace assists manufacturers in evaluating the smoldering characteristics of different insulation materials, including environmentally friendly materials and materials modified with flame-retardant additives. By comparing test results, manufacturers can optimize material formulations, improve fire resistance performance, and develop safer insulation products.

FAQ

1. What is this product?

It is a smoldering performance test furnace for thermal insulation materials, designed to evaluate material behavior under high-temperature conditions over extended periods.

2. What is this product used for?

It is used to determine whether thermal insulation materials meet safety standards by monitoring their temperature response and smoldering behavior during controlled tests.

3. What is the working principle of this product?

The furnace heats the insulation sample while continuously monitoring its center and surface temperatures with thermocouples. Data is collected in real time to evaluate smoldering performance according to established criteria.

4. Why is this product important?

It ensures that insulation materials are safe for use in construction, energy, electronics, and transportation by preventing fire hazards and verifying compliance with industry standards.

5. What industries is this product suitable for?

Construction, energy, electronics, transportation, light industry, thermal insulation R&D, and quality control laboratories.