Fire testing according to ISO 5660-1 for products in trains

Purpose

Fire testing according to ISO 5660-1 evaluates a number of different parameters such as heat release rate, smoke production rate, ignition properties, etc. The method is used to classify materials for trains and is referred to by EN 45545-2 - Railway applications - Requirements for fire behaviour of materials and Components.

When we take the railway, we assume that the journey will be comfortable and safe. Fire safety is important in order to save lives in the event of an accident. Therefore, all materials and products installed in trains and subways must be fire tested according to EN 45545-2. The system has been developed by Technical Committee CEN/TC 256 ”Railway applications” at the request of the European Commission. The system is based on requirements from EU Directive 2016/797.  All contradictory national standards are revoked.

Method

When testing a product according to ISO 5660-1, a sample with the dimension 100 mm x 100 mm is subjected to an irradiance level of either 25 kW/m² or 50 kW/m². The surface of the sample is heated and starts to emit pyrolysis gases that ignite by an electric spark igniter. The emitted gases are collected in a hood and transported away through a ventilation system. The heat release is measured using the data on measured oxygen concentration in the emitted smoke.

The following parameters are either measured: Time to ignition, heat release rate (kW/m²), ARHE (Average Rate of Heat Emission (kW/m²) and MARHE (Maximum Rate of Heat Emission) (kW/m²).

Deliveries

A test report, in Swedish or English, is delivered with the test results after testing.