Developments in the fire testing and certification of composites used in transport applications. Dr Janet Murrell Warrington Certification Ltd

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1 Developments in the fire testing and certification of composites used in transport applications Dr Janet Murrell Warrington Certification Ltd Arch Timber 3 rd Castleford June 2011

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3 A Greener World The transport industry runs on fossil fuels a diminishing resource To become more efficient in every area of transport there is a drive to reduce the weight of the vehicles which will reduce fuel consumption To do this there is a move towards replacing the metal boxes that form our vehicles by Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) composites. The big issue is FIRE PERFORMANCE

4 Fire Performance Requirements In transport the stringency of the test methods and the required level of performance relates specifically to means of escape and in particular evacuation times The fire performance requirements for aircraft are the highest and mostly relate to protection of the cabin from external fires (engines, fuel) The lowest level of performance are for motor vehicles and relate only to the trim and for coaches also the curtians and blinds For railways the means of escape is normally into the next carriage and then evacuation at a station For ships, they want people to remain of the ship and so compartmentation is essential.

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6 Aircraft Burn through test highest level of performance

7 Bus and Coaches Limited controls due to lack of legislation

8 Railways Pan European Legislation 2009/107/EC Directive Test Methodology based on extensive research programme - TRANSFEU Set of 5 tests for all products, depending on their application Flame spread Ignitability Rate of heat release Smoke opacity Toxicity of smoke

9 Railways cont: Test method for ignitability and flame spread: ISO spread of flame test (radiant panel) Criteria based on CFE Test method for heat release rate: ISO cone calorimeter test, incident irradiance 50 kw/m² Criteria based on MARHE Test method for smoke and toxicity ISO smoke chamber + FTIR gas analysis (ISO 19702), incident irradiance 50 kw/m² Criteria based on smoke density at 4 minutes Criteria based on CIT for toxicity

10 ISO ISO ISO

11 ISO at 50 kw/m 2 Cone calorimeter. R1 requirement for European HL3 trains is maximum MARHE value of 60 kw/m 2 MA GRP is Modified acrylic GRP pultruded cable conduit PF SW is Phenolic GRP honeycomb sandwich panel PF GRP is Phenolic GRP cladding PE GRP is FR Polyester GRP cladding

12 ISO at 50 kw/m 2 with no pilot flame. R1 requirement for smoke density on HL2 class trains:- Ds4 < 3OO MA GRP PF SW PF GRP PE GRP MA GRP is Modified acrylic GRP pultruded cable conduit PF SW is Phenolic GRP honeycomb sandwich panel PF GRP is Phenolic GRP cladding PE GRP is GRP cladding

13 Shipping Global Legislation - SOLAS 1974 Ship is primary lifeboat The hull, superstructures, structural bulkheads, decks and deckhouses shall be constructed of steel or other equivalent material Steel or other equivalent material means any noncombustible material which, by itself or due to insulation provided, has structural and integrity properties equivalent to steel at the end of the applicable exposure to the standard fire test (e.g. aluminium alloy with appropriate insulation).

14 High Speed Craft Code Traditional shipping uses heavy metallic structures Need for fast craft, to be built light weight Constructed from GRP or Aluminum etc Structural elements are on longer Non Combustible Constructed from Fire Restricting Materials and Divisions

15 Tests for High-Speed Craft 1. Materials ie surface linings 2. Bulkheads and Decks

16 SOLAS II-2 Part F - Alternative design arrangements The purpose of this regulation is to provide a methodology for alternative design and arrangements for fire safety Fire safety design and arrangements may deviate from the prescriptive requirements., provided that the design and arrangements meet the fire safety objectives and the functional requirements When fire safety design or arrangements deviate from the prescriptive requirements, fire engineering analysis, evaluation and approval of the alternative design and arrangements is carried out in accordance with this regulation

17 SOLAS II-2 Part F - Alternative design arrangements Fire safety objectives prevent the occurrence of fire and explosion; reduce the risk to life caused by fire; reduce the risk of damage caused by fire to the ship, its cargo and the environment; contain, control and suppress fire and explosion in the compartment of origin; and provide adequate and readily accessible means of escape for passengers and crew.

18 SOLAS II-2 Part F - Alternative design arrangements Functional requirements division of the ship into main vertical and horizontal zones by thermal and structural boundaries; separation of accommodation spaces from the remainder of the ship by thermal and structural boundaries; restricted use of combustible materials; detection of any fire in the zone of origin; containment and extinction of any fire in the space of origin; protection of means of escape and access for fire-fighting; ready availability of fire-extinguishing appliances; and

19 Future Developments in Marine IMO have long recognised the need to allow innovation and have provided for the use of alternative materials in vessels under Section F of SOLAS and Regulation 17. The use of Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRPs) is being widely discussed. The SAFEDOR project (EU project for the design, operation and regulation for safety) has investigated the use of FRPs.

20 Benefits: Future Developments in Marine - cont. - Reduced weight make ships more energy efficient and more environmentally friendly and if mandated Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) will be a big driver to this change - Cost reduction based on the lifecycle on the ship due to the corrosion resistant properties of FRPs - The Navys of the world are leading the way in FRPs and the commercial world could benefit from developments in this area. Drawbacks FRPs are organic in nature and therefore combustible requiring the fire performance aspect to be addressed before the marine industry will become comfortable with their use. IMO have discussed issuing guidelines on the use of FRPs in superstructures and this will be an agenda item at its next meeting in January.

21 Thank you