4 Flame-resistant tests
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.1006 – Guidelines on Fire Test Procedures for Acceptance of Fire-Retardant Materials for the Construction of Lifeboats – (Adopted on 8 June 2001) - Annex - Fire Test Procedures for Acceptance of Fire-Retardant Materials for the Construction of Lifeboats - 4 Flame-resistant tests

4 Flame-resistant tests

  4.1 Test procedure

GRP laminates representing the lay-up of a prototype boat, which should be based upon the minimum hull and/or canopy thickness to be used for the boat under consideration, should be tested to determine their resistance to the effects of flame impingement and strength. The test specimen should be cut from a one metre square panel of the above minimum thickness, which has been allowed to cure for not less than 21 days and then stored for 30 days at ambient temperature as stated below. The test should be carried out using the following methods:

  • .1 the heat source to conduct the fire test should be provided by a gas torch fitted with a Sievert burner type No. 2944 or equivalent, giving a maximum flame temperature of approximately 1,600°C and burning propane at the rate of 4,110 grams per hour with a pressure of 0.2 MPa. During this procedure the rate of burning should be carefully controlled, with the length of blue flame being approximately 200 mm to the point of the greatest heat; and

  • .2 the centre of a 450 mm by 450 mm test sample, cut from the one metre square panel (which should not be cut from the edges) should be exposed in the vertical plane perpendicular to the gel-coat surface to the tip of the blue flame of the propane gas torch for an initial period of one minute. This test specimen should be contained in a suitable steel frame to prevent the spread of flame igniting the sample's edges. During this time, observations of the heat effects on the specimen should be recorded.

  4.2 Acceptance criteria

At the end of the one minute period, the burner should be removed and the area of flame impingement should not support combustion more than 30 s after being removed from the burner.

  4.3 Additional information

After completing the test specified in paragraph 4.1, the specimen should then be immediately re-exposed, on the impingement point, by the heat source to establish the total burn-through time of the respective lay-up. Total burn-through time is taken as flaming to appear on the unexposed surface.

Parent topic: Annex - Fire Test Procedures for Acceptance of Fire-Retardant Materials for the Construction of Lifeboats
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