NFPA 130-2023 Main Test Standards (ASTM E162, E662)

NFPA 130-2023 Main Test Standards (ASTM E162, E662)

The main test standards of the American standard NFPA130-2023 are ASTM E162 surface flame propagation performance test, ASTM E662 smoke density test, and BSS7239 post-combustion toxicity test.

NFPA 130 American Standard Fire Test

      NFPA 130 standard includes fire protection requirements for all subways, rail transit, and railway systems. The purpose of establishing the NFPA130 standard is to establish unified minimum fire protection and hazard requirements for rail trains and railway passenger transportation systems.

      NFPA 130:2023 Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems

ASTM E162 standard: 

      ASTM E162 is a test standard used to test flame propagation on the surface of products, and evaluates fire performance based on the radiant heat index Is value. The American standard NFPA130 refers to the ASTM E162 standard for fire performance testing, requiring test data Is≤25 or Is≤35.

      ASTM E162 Standard test method for surface flammability of materials using a radiant heat energy source.

ASTM E162 test method

      The surface flammability test is carried out according to the ASTM E162 standard using the radiant heat source method. The radiant heat source plate is 12*18 feet, and the sample is placed on the front end of the radiant heat source plate, 6*18 feet, (152mm*457mm). The sample is close to the upper edge of the ignition source. Calculate the radiant panel index: Is, the sample flame spread factor Fs, the heat change factor Q, as follows

      Is=Fs*Q and Q = CT/ ß

      Is represents the radiant heat index, Fs is the flame propagation speed, and Q is the heat release amount.

      Fs flame propagation speed is calculated by the following formula

      Fs＝1+1/(t3-t0) +1/(t6-t3)+1/(t9-t6)+1/(t12-t9)+1/(t15-t12)

       Among them, t0, t3, t6, t9, t12, and t15 respectively correspond to the time it takes for the sample to burn to 0in, 3in, 6in, 9in, 12in, and 15in (unit: minutes)

      C is a constant 5.7

      T is the temperature rise of the sample compared to the curve of similar fiber reinforced cement

      ß is the heat output when the sample temperature rises °C/kW

ASTM E162/NFPA130 test data requirements

      Is≤25 or Is≤35

ASTM E662 test method

      The smoke density (Ds) test method is carried out in accordance with ASTM E 662. The samples were tested in a sealed furnace with a radiant heat source of 25kW/m2. Beam attenuation tests conducted under open flame and non-flame conditions. The entire test lasts for 20 minutes, and the maximum smoke density data at the 1.5th minute, the 4th minute and the entire test process are recorded.

ASTM E662/NFPA130 Smoke Density Test Requirements

      Open flame mode: Ds(1.5)≤100 and Ds(4.0)≤200

      No open flame mode: Ds(1.5)≤100 and Ds(4.0)≤200