BS 476-6 Building Materials Flame Spread Testing Equipment With Stainless Steel Support Frame

Building Materials Flame Spread Testing Equipment

Deliver precise, repeatable fire propagation indices for BS 476‑6 compliance — with automated power control, real‑time data acquisition, and a rugged stainless‑steel build that takes the guesswork out of wall and ceiling lining certification.

Product Overview

The SL‑FL81 Fire Propagation Index Tester is a reaction-to-fire test system designed to measure the fire propagation properties of flat materials, composites, and assemblies in accordance with BS 476-6. The result is expressed as a fire propagation index (FPI), providing a comparative measure of a material’s contribution to fire growth. It is primarily intended for the assessment of internal wall and ceiling linings, and is widely used for UK building regulation compliance, BS 6853 railway applications, and Class 0 material classification. The test runs for 20 minutes under controlled radiant heat and an open flame source, with thermocouples continuously recording flue gas temperature rise against time.

Specification

Features

1. Stainless steel support frame and Calcium silicate board combustion chamber.

2. Three kinds of sample holders for different thickness of the specimens.

3. Low reflective black finished mild steel Chimney and Cowl assembly complete

with thermocouple mounting points.

4. Compliant stainless steel gas burner.

5. Two K type mineral insulated thermocouples complete with ceramic insulators.

6. Two pencil type heaters with 1000w installed in combustion chamber.

7. Control gas instrumentation including electronic gas on/off valve, flow regulating valve, flow meter and manometer.

8. Intelligent single phase power controller with feedback loop for accurate control

of electric heating elements

9. DAQ record automatically the mV output from the thermocouples of the flue

gases throughout the duration of the test.

10. According to the test time, automatically adjust the output power.

Data Acquisition system

1. Prompted software interface

2. Data recording and display of cowl temperature against time

3. Data recording and display of ambient temperature against time

4. Display of power value in kW

5. Calibration routine

6. Calculation of output rise and calibration value

Standards

BS 476‑6: Fire tests on building materials and structures – Method of test for fire propagation for products

BS 6853: Railway applications – Fire performance of materials (referenced FPI requirements)

Application

Internal wall and ceiling linings

Wallboards, decorative panels, and ceiling tiles

Composite materials and assemblies used as exposed surfaces

Thermal insulation linings for walls and ceilings

Building materials requiring UK fire compliance

Railway interior materials per BS 6853

Class 0 material classification (i ≤ 6, I ≤ 12)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What standard does the SL‑FL81 comply with, and what does it measure?

A1: It complies with BS 476‑6. It measures the fire propagation index (FPI) – a comparative value that shows how much a flat material, composite, or assembly contributes to fire growth. Results are used for UK building regulation compliance and Class 0 classification.

Q2: Which materials can be tested?

A2: Internal wall and ceiling linings – wallboards, decorative panels, ceiling tiles, composites, and insulation linings. Also suitable for railway interior materials per BS 6853.

Q3: How accurate and repeatable are the results?

A3: Very. The feedback‑loop power controller maintains precise heater output, K‑type thermocouples deliver stable temperature readings, and the DAQ system records data continuously. The built‑in calibration procedure against a reference board ensures consistent, repeatable results test after test.

Q4: Is the operation easy?

A4: Yes. Load your specimen into one of three interchangeable holders, set the parameters on the PC software, and start the test. The system automatically adjusts power output at the prescribed time points, records all data, and generates a test report – minimal hands‑on intervention required.

Q5: What are the installation requirements?

A5: Install in a draft‑free room at 10–35 °C. Power: 230 V, 10 A. Gas: standard test gas G112 per BS 4947, flow adjustable 0–5 nl/min at 1 kPa. The apparatus measures 400 mm (W) × 600 mm (H) × 300 mm (D) and weighs approximately 50 kg.

Q6: How does the classification system work?

A6: The total fire propagation index (I) is the sum of three sub‑indices calculated over 0–3 min, 4–10 min, and 11–20 min. Class 0 requires i ≤ 6 and I ≤ 12. BS 6853 railway applications require I ≤ 12 and i ≤ 6.

Aftersales service and technical support

Oneyear aftersales support, lifetime technical assistance

Equipment installation and calibration

Calibration services

Support for the development of testing methods

Technical training

Contact information

To obtain the complete technical specifications, a quote, or to schedule a demonstration, please contact our sales team or authorized dealers. We will provide you with professional and prompt technical support and services.