Heat and Visible Smoke Visible Release Rates (NASA Test 2)

The purpose of this test is to provide supplemental information on the flammability of materials. The information obtained for this test includes effective heat of combustion, time to ignition, rate of heat released, smoke obscuration, and total heat released. This test method consists of exposing specimens in flowing ambient air or oxygen-enriched environments, while subjecting them to a predetermined external heat flux.  Burning may be either with or without spark ignition.  The measurements include oxygen concentrations, exhaust gas flow rate, mass-loss rate of the specimen, length of time to sustained flaming, and smoke obscuration.  The rate of heat release is determined by measurement of the oxygen consumption; the effective heat of combustion is determined from a simultaneous measurement of specimen mass-loss rate in combination with the heat release rate; and smoke development is measured by obscuration of light caused by the combustion product stream…Learn more