Development of a Screening Method for the SBI and Room Corner using the Cone Calorimeter

With the implementation of the classes of reaction to fire performance for construction products, the so-called "Euroclasses", a new test method has been introduced, namely the SBI test method (EN 13823). This method is an intermediate scale test and it has been developed to allow harmonization of the reaction to fire classification in Europe. As the test is new and needs rather large samples there will be a need from the industry to have an easy and cost effective tool for product development and quality control with respect to this method. In the near future also the possibility of using an appeal procedure by running the reference scenario test, ISO 9705, will be possible. Also for this test it would be an advantage to have a screening method. In this project such a tool has been developed by using cone calorimeter data according to ISO 5660. The tool allows prediction of the major classification parameters for HRR and SPR in the SBI and room corner. Within the project a software tool has also been developed. The results of the project show that the predictions are satisfactory and that the tool will be powerful for the product development by industry. This project can be extended for other building products (e.g. cables, pipe insulation) once an European classification system is in place for these products