BS EN 13823 Single Burning Item (SBI) Fire Performance Test Apparatus
Introduction
The Single Burning Item (SBI) is a test method for determining the reaction to fire behavior of building products (excluding floorings) when exposed to thermal attack by a single burning item (a sand-box burner supplied with propane). The specimen is mounted on a trolley positioned in a frame beneath an exhaust system. The specimen's reaction to the burner is monitored instrumentally and visually, with heat and smoke release rates measured instrumentally and physical characteristics assessed by observation.
Application
The Single Burning Item Test Apparatus is suitable for evaluating the fire performance of flat building products. This single combustion test method (SBI) is used for walls and roofing products.
Standards Compliance
- GBT20284
- EN 13823: Reaction to fire tests for building products - Building products excluding floorings exposed to the thermal attack by a single burning item
- BS EN 13823: Reaction to fire tests for building products - Building products excluding floorings exposed to the thermal attack by a single burning item
Key Features
- Consists of trolley, fixed frame, gas collecting hood, collector, J type exhaust pipe, centrifugal fan, wind speed control device, comprehensive measurement section, gas analysis cabinet, and data acquisition system
- Trolley installs two vertical sample specimens with sand box burner at bottom vertical angle, using surface ignition method with flame detection system as flameout protection
- Fixed frame supports gas collecting hood with auxiliary burner and flame detecting system
- Stainless steel gas collector located at top of fixed frame for collecting combustion gases
- Stainless steel J type smoke exhaust pipe with 315±5mm inner diameter and 50mm high temperature resistant mineral cotton insulation
- Smoke exhaust system continuously exhausts smoke at 0.50-0.65 m³/s, regulated by frequency conversion
- Mass flow controller with 0-2.5g/s measuring range and ≥1.5% reading accuracy
- Automatic gas supply control for 647mg/s and 2000mg/s flow rates with ≤5mg/s variation, ensuring 30.7±2kW heat output
- Flue gas sampling system with ash filter, cold trap, two drying columns, sampling pump, and peristaltic pump for clean, dry sample gas
- Paramagnetic oxygen analyzer (0-25% range, T90<12 seconds) and non-dispersive infrared CO2 analyzer (0-10% range)
- 2155mm pipeline with pressure probe, three thermocouples, gas sampling probe, and white light system
- Two-way probe with ≥0-100Pa range and 2Pa accuracy pressure sensor (90% output response ≤1s)
- Incandescent light system with 2900±100K color temperature and flexible joint on exhaust pipe side
- Silicon photodiode detector with 0.1% linear stability
- Compressed air system for optical device cleanliness maintenance
Operating Principle
The sample consists of two vertically erected specimens intersecting at right angles and exposed to the flame of the main burner below the bottom corner. The flame, obtained by propane gas combustion through a sandbox, has a heat output of 30.7±2.0 kW.
Sample performance is evaluated within 20 minutes after ignition, measuring heat, smoke, horizontal flame spread, and burning drip/particles. Before main burner ignition, heat output is measured briefly using an identical auxiliary burner away from the sample.
Measurements include ambient temperature, flue gas temperature, humidity (observed), and automated measurements of pressure differentials, exhaust pipe temperature, gas flow, and light attenuation. These values are automatically recorded to calculate FIGRA, THR600, SMOGRA, and TSP600 parameters.
Operating Conditions
| Parameter |
Specification |
| Power Supply |
AC 220V 50HZ |
| Power |
8.5KW |
| Ambient Temperature |
5-35°C |
| Relative Humidity |
20-80% |
| Atmospheric Pressure |
0-250KPa |
