NFPA 287-2001 Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Flammability of Materials in Cleanrooms Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA)

NFPA 287-2001 Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Flammability of Materials in Cleanrooms Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA). 1.2.3* The test methods are part of a quantitative methodol- ogy for assessing the propensity of materials and products used in cleanrooms to support upward fire propagation and to generate effluent, such as smoke. This methodology consists of the correlation of flammability indices resulting from the test methods with corresponding characteristics measured during real-scale fire propagation experiments. Indices result- ing from the test methods include critical heat flux (CHF), thermal response parameter (TRP), fire propagation index (FPI), effective heat of combustion (EHC), and smoke yield (y s ). The TRP and CHF indices are obtained from the ignition test, the EHC and y s indices are obtained from the combustion test, and the FPI is derived from a fire propagation test in air containing 40 percent oxygen. 1.2.4 Summary of Test Methods. This standard is composed of three separate test methods that shall be used in conjunc- tion with a fire propagation apparatus. The ignition and com- bustion test methods shall involve the use of horizontal specimens, in normal air, subjected to a controlled external radiant heat flux that shall be set from 0 up to 65 kW/m 2 . The ignition test method shall be conducted under ambient condi- tions, whereas the combustion and fire propagation test meth- ods shall be conducted with a prescribed airflow within a quartz pipe. The fire propagation test method shall involve the use of vertical specimens, in air having a 40 percent (by volume) oxygen concentration, subjected to ignition near the base of the specimen from an external radiant heat flux of 50 kW/m 2 and a pilot flame. 1.2.4.1* The ignition test method shall be used to determine the TRP and CHF of horizontal specimens. The TRP shall be determined from changes in the time required for sustained ignition by a pilot flame as a function of the magnitude of a constant, externally applied radiant heat flux. The CHF shall be determined from the magnitude of externally applied radi- ant heat flux below which there is no sustained ignition. Mea- surements also shall be made of the time to initial fuel vaporization. The surface of the specimens shall be coated with a thin layer of black paint. 1.2.4.2 The combustion test method shall be used to deter- mine the EHC and y s...