Quantitative measurements and visual observations were obtained from a series of 66 full-scale fire growth experiments conducted on 18 unique combustible solids including: natural and synthetic polymers, copolymers, fiberglass-reinforced composite materials, porous polymer foams, and electrical cables. Some of these materials were selected because they can be found in electrical cabinets and circuit boards. Others were selected in order to provide a wide range of material compositions and burning behaviors: physical deformation, soot formation, and varied ignitability and fire growth rate. In a typical electrical enclosure, combustible solids (e.g., wiring or circuit boards) are most often found attached to the inside walls of the enclosure. A test setup was designed to represent this configuration: two parallel panels were assembled such that they could support combustible solids of varying thicknesses, which were then ignited at their base. By maintaining this simplified configuration across each test: (1) a large-scale burning scenario representative of typical fuel loading in an electrical enclosure was produced and (2) experiments could be repeated to highlight the impact of material composition on observed burning behavior while minimizing test sensitivity to variations in other factors such as fuel loading, configuration, or orientation.
Experiment Name | Plot of Heat Release Rate | Ignition Photo | Date/Time Sort descending | Specimen | Fuel Type | Test Duration (min) | Total Heat Released (MJ) | Peak HRR (kW) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test1_PMMA_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of cast Black PMMA | Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) | 27.02
|
506
|
2,540
|
|||
Test2_PMMA_R2 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of cast Black PMMA | Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) | 18.55
|
506
|
2,882
|
|||
Test3_PMMA_R3 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of cast Black PMMA | Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) | 17.17
|
506
|
3,197
|
|||
NGQC_6m_20kgs_3MW | tube gas burner | Natural Gas | 23.23
|
2,127
|
3,022
|
|||
Test4_PMMA_R4 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of cast Black PMMA | Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) | 19.22
|
504
|
3,140
|
|||
Test5_PMMA_R5 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of cast Black PMMA | Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) | 24.10
|
504
|
3,166
|
|||
Test6_Redboard_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of GPO-3 | Polyester resin (GPO-3, Redboard) | 25.27
|
43.0
|
134.3
|
|||
Test7_PMMA_R6 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of cast Black PMMA | Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) | 15.48
|
503
|
3,579
|
|||
Test8_Redboard_R2 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of GPO-3 | Polyester resin (GPO-3, Redboard) | 24.80
|
37.8
|
114.9
|
|||
Test9_SIS_wire_R1 | 90 vertically oriented strands of SIS wire | XLPE (SIS Wire) | 16.20
|
16.0
|
132.8
|
|||
Test10_SIS_wire_R2 | 96 vertically oriented strands of SIS wire attached to 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96"tall panels of GPO-3 | XLPE (SIS Wire) and (GPO-3) | 27.05
|
47
|
142
|
|||
Test11_PVC_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of PVC | Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | 35.40
|
61.9
|
163.2
|
|||
Test12_PBT_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of PBT | Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) | 31.17
|
375
|
2,821
|
|||
Test13_PVC_R2 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of PVC | Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) | 32.95
|
84.0
|
236
|
|||
Test14_Redboard_R3 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 48" tall panels of GPO-3 | Glass-reinforced polyester resin (GPO-3, 'Redboard') | 21.48
|
36.2
|
109.6
|
|||
BurnerShakedownO1 | sand burner box | Propane | 10.17
|
37.7
|
71.2
|
|||
Test15_RedCedar_R1 | 7/8" thick, 22.5" wide, 96" tall planks of Western Red Cedar | Western Red Cedar | 32.90
|
139
|
307
|
|||
Test16_HDPE_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of HDPE | High Density Polyethelyne (HDPE) | 9.47
|
284
|
2,817
|
|||
Test17_GPO1_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of GPO-1 | Polyester resin (GPO-1) | 23.18
|
235
|
498
|
|||
Test18_XLPE2_R1 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of XLPE Foam (2lb/ft3 density) | Cross-linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) | 8.85
|
101.4
|
3,992
|
|||
Test19_XLPE6_R1 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of XLPE Foam (6lb/ft3 density) | Cross-linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) | 12.30
|
278
|
3,500
|
|||
Test20_OSB_R1 | 7/16" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of OSB | Oriented Strand Board (OSB) | 15.28
|
243
|
622
|
|||
Test21_Polyiso_R1 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Polyisocyanurate Foam | Polyisocyanurate Foam (foil-backed) | 7.20
|
28.6
|
949
|
|||
Test22_RedCedar_R2 | 7/8" thick, 22.5" wide, 96" tall planks of Western Red Cedar | Western Red Cedar | 9.70
|
44.4
|
322
|
|||
Test23_XLPE2_R2 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of XLPE Foam (2lb/ft3 density) | Cross-linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) | 11.90
|
104.9
|
4,186
|
|||
Test24_Polyiso_R2 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Polyisocyanurate Foam | Polyisocyanurate Foam (foil-backed) | 5.08
|
32.0
|
974
|
|||
Test25_Polyiso_R3 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Polyisocyanurate Foam | Polyisocyanurate Foam (foil-backed) | 5.05
|
31.0
|
954
|
|||
Test26_Polyiso2_R1 | 2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Polyisocyanurate Foam | Polyisocyanurate Foam (foil-backed) | 9.45
|
37.6
|
784
|
|||
Test27_Polyiso2_R2 | 2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Polyisocyanurate Foam | Polyisocyanurate Foam (foil-backed) | 9.12
|
38.8
|
801
|
|||
Test28_POMGF_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of POM-GF | Polyoxymethylene (POM-GF) | 63.10
|
387
|
503
|
|||
Test29_Kydex_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Kydex | Kydex (PVC-acrylic copolymer) | 34.53
|
111
|
1,060
|
|||
Test30_Kydex_R2 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Kydex | Kydex (PVC-acrylic copolymer) | 46.10
|
182
|
1,070
|
|||
Test31_Polyiso05_R1 | 1/2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Polyisocyanurate Foam | Polyisocyanurate Foam (foil-backed) | 1.70
|
18.6
|
1,056
|
|||
Test32_Polyiso05_R2 | 1/2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Polyisocyanurate Foam | Polyisocyanurate Foam (foil-backed) | 1.52
|
18.2
|
997
|
|||
Test33_XPSpink1_R1 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Pink XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 12.67
|
50.4
|
812
|
|||
Test34_XPSgreen1_R1 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Green XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 13.73
|
54.9
|
1,255
|
|||
Test35_XPSpink1_R2 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Pink XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 13.17
|
47.1
|
1,080
|
|||
Test36_XPSgreen1_R2 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Green XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 13.25
|
49.1
|
628
|
|||
Test37_OSB_R2 | 7/16" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of OSB | Oriented Strand Board (OSB) | 16.37
|
243
|
894
|
|||
Test38_XLPE6_R2 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of XLPE Foam (6lb/ft3 density) | Cross-linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) | 10.22
|
280
|
3,459
|
|||
Test39_XLPE6_R3 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of XLPE Foam (6lb/ft3 density) | Cross-linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) | 10.20
|
301
|
3,427
|
|||
Test40_GPO1_R2 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of GPO-1 | Glass-reinforced polyester resin (GPO-1) | 24.80
|
246
|
469
|
|||
Test41_XPSPink2_R1 | 2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Pink XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 13.28
|
100.6
|
1,687
|
|||
Test42_XPSGreen2_R1 | 2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Green XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 14.75
|
105
|
1,946
|
|||
Test43_RedCedar_R3 | 7/8" thick, 22.5" wide, 96" tall planks of Western Red Cedar | Western Red Cedar | 5.35
|
38.8
|
398
|
|||
Test44_Polyiso05_R3 | 1/2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Polyisocyanurate Foam | Polyisocyanurate Foam (foil-backed) | 1.72
|
17.9
|
1,022
|
|||
Test45_HIPS_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of HIPS | High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) | 33.82
|
509
|
2,955
|
|||
Test46_HIPS_R2 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of HIPS | High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) | 33.22
|
504
|
3,228
|
|||
Test47_ABS_R1 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of ABS | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) | 35.22
|
547
|
3,821
|
|||
Test48_XPSpink1_R3 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Pink XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 13.08
|
55.3
|
1,332
|
|||
Test49_GPO1_R3 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of GPO-1 | Polyester resin (GPO-1) | 19.67
|
232
|
522
|
|||
Test50_POMGF_R2 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of POM-GF | Polyoxymethylene (POM-GF) | 50.42
|
367
|
540
|
|||
Test51_ABS_R2 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of ABS | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) | 35.23
|
566
|
3,538
|
|||
Test52_HIPS_R3 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of HIPS | High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) | 34.98
|
535
|
3,094
|
|||
BurnerShakedown21 | Sand Burner | Propane | 6.50
|
22.9
|
71.0
|
|||
Test53_ABS_R3 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of ABS | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) | 36.98
|
550
|
3,541
|
|||
Test54_XPSpink2_R2 | 2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Pink XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 22.77
|
84.5
|
1,510
|
|||
Test55_XPSgreen2_R2 | 2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Green XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 25.32
|
110
|
1,839
|
|||
Test56_HIPS_R4 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of HIPS | High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) | 66.20
|
513
|
3,173
|
|||
Test57_OSB_R3 | 7/16" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of OSB | Oriented Strand Board (OSB) | 22.27
|
262
|
526
|
|||
Test58_XLPE4_R1 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of XLPE foam (4lb/ft3 density) | Cross-linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) | 7.70
|
211
|
3,169
|
|||
Test59_XLPE4_R2 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of XLPE foam (4lb/ft3 density) | Cross-linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) | 9.95
|
149.1
|
2,876
|
|||
Test60_XLPE4_R3 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of XLPE foam (4lb/ft3 density) | Cross-linked polyethylene foam (XLPE) | 8.15
|
174.4
|
2,830
|
|||
Test61_POMGF_R3 | 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of POM-GF | Polyoxymethylene (POM-GF) | 81.63
|
452
|
536
|
|||
Test62_XPSgreen1_R3 | 1" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Green XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 15.67
|
22.9
|
174
|
|||
Test63_XPSpink2_R3 | 2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Pink XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 17.75
|
93.2
|
1,580
|
|||
Test64_XPSgreen2_R3 | 2" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panels of Green XPS Foam | Extruded Polystyrene Foam (XPS) | 24.92
|
97.8
|
1,426
|
|||
BurnerShakedown27 | Sand Burner | Propane | 6.65
|
22.7
|
70.7
|
|||
Test65_RedCedar_R4 | 7/8" thick, 22.5" wide, 96" tall planks of Western Red Cedar | Western Red Cedar | 10.23
|
65.1
|
378
|
|||
Test66_HIPS1panel_R1 | one 1/4" thick, 24" wide, 96" tall panel of HIPS | High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) | 42.50
|
274
|
1,465
|
Bryant, R. and Bundy, M. The NIST 20 MW Calorimetry Measurement System for Large-Fire Research, Technical Note (NIST TN) 2077, 2019
https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.TN.2077
NIST Fire Calorimetry Database (FCD)
https://doi.org/10.18434/mds2-2314