Method of fire resistance test of firestops
1988 Edition

Scope and Size Details as per IS 12458

1.1 Size Coverage (Clause 4.1.1)

• Specimens sized 450 x 560 mm cover all openings up to this dimension (area ≤ 0.25 m²).
• Specimens sized 800 x 1250 mm cover openings up to this size (area ≤ 1 m²).
• Smaller components must not be smaller than the specified minimum for these sizes.

1.2 Hose Stream Test Parameters (Clause 5.1.2 & Table 2)

• Nozzle positioned 6 meters from specimen center.
• Water jet slowly directed over entire exposed surface.

1.3 Furnace Temperature Progression (Clause 3.1.1 & Table 1)

• At least five thermocouples are required to measure temperature accurately.

This section summarizes the critical size parameters, hose stream test conditions, and furnace temperature profile as stipulated in IS 12458.

Equipment and Testing Setup per IS 12458

Testing Environment (Clause 3.3)

• Ambient temperature at test commencement must be between 20°C and 40°C.
• Equipment and specimens must be shielded from adverse weather conditions such as wind.

Furnace Temperature Profile (Clause 3.1.1 & Table 1)

• A minimum of five thermocouples must be used for temperature monitoring.

Hose Stream Apparatus (Clause 2.4)

• Hose stream must be applied immediately following fire exposure as per Clause 5.1.2.

Test Report Essentials (Clause 6.1)

• Detailed description of assembly and installation with drawings.
• Fire resistance rating of the firestop.
• Manufacturer’s identity and product trade name.
• Observations recorded during and post-fire exposure.

flowchart TD
    A[Specimen Preparation] --> B[Controlled Testing Conditions]
    B --> C{Ambient Temp 20-40°C}
    C --> D[Furnace Heating per Standard Curve]
    D --> E[Temperature Monitoring (≥5 Thermocouples)]
    E --> F[Fire Exposure]
    F --> G[Post-fire Hose Stream Application]
    G --> H[Observation and Reporting]

Summary: Ensure controlled environment, adhere to furnace temperature-time profile, utilize sufficient thermocouples, apply hose stream promptly post-fire, and document test findings comprehensively.

Standardized Heating and Pressure Conditions (IS 12458)

3.1 Furnace Temperature-Time Relationship (Clause 3.1.1)

• The temperature rise within the furnace follows the formula:

[ T - T_0 = 345 \log_{10}(8t + 1) ]

where:

• (T) is the furnace temperature at time (t) in °C,
• (T_0) is the initial furnace temperature in °C,
• (t) is the elapsed time in minutes.

This defines the standard temperature-time curve simulating fire conditions.

3.2 Pressure Control During Testing (Clause 3.2)

• Pressure conditions are maintained to replicate realistic fire scenarios in accordance with hose stream test requirements (Clause 5.1.2).

3.3 Hose Stream Equipment (Clause 2.4)

• Hose stream application occurs immediately after fire exposure to evaluate the specimen’s structural resistance under thermal shock.

3.4 Sample Temperature Rise Example (Table 1)

graph LR
A[Start at T0] --> B[Temperature Increase per Formula]
B --> C[Apply Hose Stream Immediately After Fire Exposure]

Use the specified temperature-time curve and pressure settings for the design and evaluation of fire resistance as prescribed by IS 12458.

Guidelines for Test Specimens as per IS 12458

• Conditioning (Clause 4.2): Specimens must undergo a conditioning period of 7 days to reach moisture and thermal equilibrium prior to testing.

• Testing Environment (Clause 3.3):

  • Protect specimens and apparatus from abnormal weather conditions.
  • Ambient test temperature must range from 20°C to 40°C.

• Pressure Measurement (Clause 3.2.2):

  • For horizontal specimens, pressure is to be recorded 100 mm beneath the specimen's lower surface.
  • For vertical specimens, pressure measurement should be at approximately three-quarters of the specimen’s height.

• Temperature Measurement (Clause 3.1.4):

  • Thermocouples used must have wire diameters not exceeding 0.7 mm for surface temperature readings.

Summary Table

flowchart LR
    A[Specimen Preparation] --> B[7-Day Conditioning]
    B --> C[Testing Environment at 20-40°C]
    C --> D{Orientation of Specimen}
    D -->|Horizontal| E[Pressure Measurement 100 mm Below]
    D -->|Vertical| F[Pressure Measurement at 3/4 Height]
    E --> G[Temperature Monitoring]
    F --> G
    G --> H[Thermocouples ≤ 0.7 mm Diameter]

Adhering to these criteria ensures consistency and reliability in fire resistance testing.

Firestop Testing Procedure and Hose Stream Rating (IS 12458)

Procedure Details (Clause 5.1.2 & Table 2)

• Hose Diameter: 63 mm
• Nozzle Distance from Specimen: 6 meters
• Nozzle Type: Standpipe conforming to IS: 903-1984
• Application: Water jet is directed slowly, beginning at the specimen center and covering the entire exposed surface.

Hose Stream Parameters

Additional Requirements

• Specimens must be dried to temperatures not exceeding 60°C before testing (Clause 4.2.1).
• Hose stream equipment should be ready for immediate application after fire exposure (Clause 2.4).
• Heating and pressure conditions must comply with Clause 3.1.

flowchart LR
    A[Fire Exposure Completed] --> B[Specimen Dried (≤ 60°C)]
    B --> C[Hose Stream Applied]
    C --> D{Water Pressure & Duration Based on Fire Time}
    D -->|>240 to ≤480 min| E[310 kPa, 32 s/m²]
    D -->|>120 to ≤240 min| F[210 kPa, 16 s/m²]
    D -->|>90 to ≤120 min| G[210 kPa, 9.7 s/m²]
    D -->|≤90 min| H[210 kPa, 6.5 s/m²]
    E & F & G & H --> I[Test Completion]

This ensures a uniform approach to hose stream testing for evaluating the fire resistance of firestop systems.

Mandatory Elements of Test Reports (Clause 6.1) per IS 12458

The firestop assembly test report should include:

• a) Assembly Details:

  • Description of the firestop fixing and installation method.
  • Drawings illustrating exact component dimensions and firestop placement.

• b) Fire Resistance Rating:

  • Measured duration or classification of fire resistance.

• c) Manufacturer Information:

  • Name of the manufacturer.
  • Trade name of the tested product.

• d) Observations:

  • Notes recorded during the fire test.
  • Condition of the specimen after extinguishing the furnace fire.

Related Specifications

• Ambient temperature at test start must be between 20 and 40°C (Clause 3.3).
• Drying temperature limit for specimens is 60°C (Clause 4.2.1).
• Minimum of five thermocouples are mandated for temperature measurements (Clause 3.1.1).

This ensures standardized, thorough firestop testing and reporting in accordance with IS 12458.