A Study of Certain Operating and Material Variables of the 25-Foot Tunnel Flamespread Test

Six operating and one material variable of the 25-foot tunnel furnace test method (ASTM E-84) were studied using 3/4 inch particleboard. The variables of draft velocity, intake gate height, material weight, gas usage, brick temperature, visual operators, and joints between sections of samples in loading were studied at two levels. Changes in gas usage, brick temperature, and material weight were found to have the greatest effect on flamespread, all at a probability level of 99 percent. For the fuel contribution property, gas usage and brick temperature, each at a probability level of 99 percent and gate height at 95 percent, were found to be most important, For the smoke developed property, gas usage at the 99 percent probability level and gate height and brick temperature at the 95 percent level were most important under the conditions of change for each variable. Measurement of flamespread by visual observation was found to be as repeatable as flamespread measured by a thermal response of 950?F. determined by a thermocouple located at 24 feet, 1 inch beneath the sample being tested. In a special matched specimen test series on 3/16 inch unfinished lauan wall paneling plywood, tunnel flamespread results for standard 24 foot specimens were compared with results for 12-foot specimens. The similarity of the results suggests that tunnel flamespread results reflect the behavior of the first half of the 24 sample.

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