Fire Science Laboratory

Cone Calorimeter

ASTM E 1354: Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
ASTM E 1474: Test method for determining the heat release rate of upholstered furniture and mattress components using a bench-scale oxygen consumption calorimeter
ISO 5660-1: Rate of heat release from building products

Fire Propagation Apparatus

ASTM E 2058: Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Synthetic Polymer Material Flammability Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA)

Room Calorimeter

ASTM E 603: Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments
ASTM E 1537: Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Real-Scale Upholstered furniture items
UL 1056: Fire Test of Upholstered furniture
California Technical Bulletin 133: Flammability test procedure for seating furniture for use in public occupancies.
ASTM E 1590: Test method for fire testing of real-scale mattresses
California Technical Bulletin 129: Flammability test procedure for mattresses
ISO 9705: Full-scale room tests for surface products
UBC 8-2: Test method for textile wall coverings

Differential Scanning Calorimeter

Additional Information:

Modern Analytical equipment is available for measuring temperatures, thermal radiation, rate of heat release and mass loss rates, as well as products of combustion such as CO, CO₂, and smoke. The Fire Science Laboratory also offers small and medium-scale research and testing capabilities in fire detection and alarm, water based and special hazard suppression systems. The wet lab area supports water-based fire suppression and demonstration projects. A Laser Doppler Anemometer (LDA), Phase Doppler Particle Analyzer (PDPA) and a 6.7 liter explosion sphere are also available.

Serving as both a teaching and a research facility, the laboratory accommodates undergraduate projects as well as thesis and dissertation research in fire protection engineering and related disciplines.

The combined talents of WPI faculty and students in fire protection engineering and related disciplines, extensive fire modeling capabilities, and the Fire Science Laboratory itself provide a unique resource for business, government and industry. The Center for Firesafety Studies is eager to establish collaborative relationships with colleagues in a host of disciplines and provide contract support where appropriate and compatible with the mission of the university.