Lead by Dr Maryam Ghodrat, Pyrometric lab is UNSWs’ fire testing laboratory offering state of the art facilities and expertise to evaluate the fire performance of materials, products and systems under direct and indirect flame and radiative heat fluxes.
The Pyrometric Lab is currently being used to investigate various fire phenomena such as ignition, heat release rate, and compartment fire based on actual testing. Multiple small- and intermediate-scale experimental apparatus are housed in this lab.
Latest research activities include, but not limited to:
- Performance of fire retardants and suppression agents,
- Suppression of cotton seed fires, and
- Heat release rate (HRR) measurements of various exterior wall and flooring components and
- Crack initiation mechanism of various tempered glass façades exposed to fire with different frame insulation arrangements.
- Assessment of ignitability and tendency to flame propagation, tendency to release smoke and heat and heat release rate of building materials and components according to AS 1530-3
- Non combustibility tests according to AS 1530.1
Other testing-based research activities are also available in this lab.
The Pyrometric lab at School of Engineering and Technology, UNSW Canberra also provides the "Higher Degree Research students" with hands-on knowledge of Fire Dynamics and behavior of materials under elevated temperature.
About Pyrometric Lab
“Pyrometric Lab” was established by Dr Maryam Ghodrat at UNSW in 2021. Dr Ghodrats' team uses laboratory-scale experiments to unravel the fundamental behavior of materials exposed to direct and indirect flame as well as radiative heat fluxes.
Using state of the art dedicated facility, Dr Ghodrat and her team have been able to measure mass loss rate, smoke production rates, and CO/CO2 production rates of flame-retardant materials for various applications including maritime and naval applications, flame-resistant clothing such as firefighters’ protective clothing, and flame-retardancy of nanocomposites.
The Lab is equipped with a modular subsonic combustion wind tunnel for convective heat flow visualization of propagating flame under variable forced flow.
@PYROMETRIC LAB
We are committed to developing cutting-edge sustainable technologies and solutions that safeguard Australia's critical infrastructures and assets from fire.
Fire Safety Engineering involves the application of scientific and engineering principles rooted in a comprehensive understanding of fire's effects and the measures necessary to safeguard people, property, and the environment.
A fundamental method for evaluating fire safety is through fire resistance testing, which requires the resources of a highly equipped fire testing laboratory. Within the realm of fire safety engineering, the domain of building fire safety holds significant importance and is rapidly evolving.
With ongoing advancements in building design, construction techniques, and the introduction of innovative materials, the meticulous application of fire safety principles becomes increasingly imperative.
Most notably, there is a substantial demand for conducting applicable fire resistance tests on new construction materials and industrial products to ensure compliance with local and/or national, as well as international building codes. This is where Pyrometric Lab excels, offering a range of essential research projects and services, including:
- The measurement of flame propagation away from the source of ignition across the material or assembly surface, assessing the potential for flame spreading during a fire incident.
- Engineering consultancy services that encompass mandatory fire resistance testing and computer modeling.
- The development of testing protocols for evaluating the fire resistance of non-standardized products.
- Expert technical guidance on materials' compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Conformity assessment services to demonstrate adherence to national and international codes and standards applicable to fire safety applications.
Combustibility Test for Materials - AS 1530.1
Combustibility Test for Materials (AS 1530.1) now available at Pyrometric Lab
At Pyrometric lab, we are pleased to announce our recent non combustibility test device has been commissioned that is compliant to “AS 1530 Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures, Part 1: Combustibility test for materials.”
The addition of this test to our scope enhances our testing suite for elements of building and construction.
Non-combustibility is tested for compliance through the requirements of Australian Standard AS 1530.1. The test procedure requires several cylindrical material samples which are inserted into a test crucible set at 750°C for at least 30 minutes or whenever equilibrium occurs.
The test monitors flaming of the sample as well as the temperature of the furnace, sample surface and the centre of the sample. The Building Code of Australia (BCA) through Clause A1.1 defines non-combustibility as a material not deemed combustible as determined by AS 1530.1 - Combustibility tests for Materials.
AS/NZS 1530.3 for Material Fire Hazard Properties (Radiant Heat Testing)
AS1530.3 testing machine is now available @ Pyrometric lab.
The radiant panel test outlined in AS/NZS 1530.3 entails gradually positioning a sample closer to a radiant heat panel until ignition takes place. The process is stopped at the point of ignition.
This Standard sets out a test method for the assessment of building materials and components according to– (a) their tendencies to ignite; (b) their tendencies to propagate flame; (c) the heat they release once ignition has occurred; and (d) their tendencies to release smoke.
Current Research Projects:
- Ignition of exterior building details in bushfire
- Smouldering combustion in loose-fill fiber thermal insulation
- Experimental measurement of the tendency of wooden openings to smouldering ignition by embers
- Self-sustaining smouldering destruction of wooden faces
- Experimental Investigation of the factors affecting the performance of firefighters' protective clothing.
- Experimental study on smouldering of soft furnishings component materials at multiple scales
- Ignition and charring of PVC-Based Electric Cables
- New approach for evaluating non-inflammable Fabrics.
- Flow visualization of flammability and combustion characteristics of live and dead Australian grasslands fuel
Available Fire Testing Services
From construction materials and products to textiles and furniture, testing for fire resistance, flammability, and flame spread is often required before these products can be accepted for public use.
With our ability to conduct a range of tests, our researchers can offer consultancy services to industry clients in the field of structural fire engineering.
The following is a list of some of the main services that can be offered by Pyrometric Lab:
- Evaluation of fire resistance of construction materials, products, or assemblies.
- Measure the propagation of a flame away from the source of ignition across the surface of a material or assembly and evaluate the potential for spreading flames.
- Development of testing protocols to assess the fire resistance of non-standardized products.
- Technical advice on the compliance of materials with regulatory requirements
Research capabilities
- Fire Resistance
- Flame Spread
- Heat Release
- Heat Transfer
- Ignitability
- Reaction to Fire
Research capabilities
- Apparel
- Aviation
- Cables
- Construction
- Fire Barriers
- Marine
- Motor Vehicle
- Plastics
- Defence
Defence capabilities/projects
The Pyrometric Lab at UNSW is dedicated to developing cost-effective, environmentally friendly fire retardants for cleaner polymer composites in the aviation industry. Extensive testing has revealed that the simultaneous use of a few fire-retardant materials with an optimised ratio improves the thermal resistance of fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. It also reduces the heat-release rate by more than 55% and reduces the toxic smoke and gas emissions released under thermal exposure
Key capabilities
- Developing fire retardant epoxy-based laminates for aeronautical applications
- Fire protection in armoured vehicles
- Customised fire suppression for the military
Differentiators
- Expertise in developing environmentally friendly polymer-based composites for maritime infrastructure
- Expertise in developing flame-retardant reinforced epoxy resin composites for aviation, focusing on reducing smoke toxicity
Key customers
- Defence
- Aviation industry
Contact
For more information, contact Dr Maryam Ghodrat