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REVISION NOTE
HISTORICAL RECORD
Record of Amendments
10
NAVAL ENGINEERING STANDARD 711
ISSUE 2 (REFORMATTED)
ECROWN COPYRIGHT
Published by:
SCOPE
1. This NES gives details of one of a series of test methods for determining the combustion
characteristics of materials. The test explores the smoke production potential of a small
sample of material under specified conditions of pyrolysis and combustion. It does not
necessarily indicate the smoke production under other thermal exposure conditions.
2. The test is useful for the quality control of materials and for research and development. It may
be used to compare the combustion characteristic of a series of materials. Combustion
characteristics tests alone are not suitable for assessing the total fire hazard of products but
may be used to specify a quality of a raw material or product.
3. The method is based on that developed by the American National Bureau of Standards and
described by Gross D, Loftus J J and Robertson A F in ASTM Special Technical Publication
No 422, 166−204(1967), but modifications have been incorporated as a result of work carried
out at AMTE (Dockyard Laboratory), Portsmouth.
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FOREWORD
Sponsorship
3. If this Standard is found to be technically unsuitable for any particular requirement the
sponsor is to be informed of the circumstances with a copy to Ship Department Section D 191a.
4. Any user of this Standard either within MOD or in outside industry may propose a change to
an NES. Proposals for changes which are:
a. not directly applicable to a particular contract are to be made to the sponsor or the NES
6. Unless otherwise stated, reference in this Standard to approval, approved, authorized and
similar terms means by the Procurement Executive, Ministry of Defence, Director General
Ships.
Conditions of Release
General
7. This Naval Engineering Standard (NES) has been prepared for the use of the Crown and of
its contractors in the execution of contracts for the Crown. The Crown hereby excludes all
liability (other than liability for death or personal injury) whatsoever and howsoever arising
(including but without limitation, negligence on the part of the Crown, its servants or agents)
for any loss or damage however caused where the NES is used for any other purpose.
8. This document is Crown Copyright and the information herein may be subject to Crown or
third party rights. It is not to be released, reproduced or published without written permission
of the MOD.
9. The Crown reserves the right to amend or modify the contents of this NES without consulting
or informing any holder.
MOD Tender or Contract Process
10. This NES is the property of the Crown and unless otherwise authorized in writing by the MOD
must be returned on completion of the contract, or submission of the tender, in connection
with which it is issued.
11. When this NES is used in connection with a MOD tender or contract, the user is to ensure that
he is in possession of the appropriate version of each document, including related documents,
relevant to each particular tender or contract. Enquiries in this connection may be made of
the local MOD(PE) Quality Assurance Representative or the Authority named in the tender
or contract.
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12. When NES are incorporated into MOD contracts, users are responsible for their correct
application and for complying with contracts and any other statutory requirements.
Compliance with an NES does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.
Related Documents
13. In the tender and procurement processes the related documents listed in each section and
Annex A can be obtained as follows:
14. All applications to Ministry Establishments for related documents are to quote the relevant
MOD Invitation to Tender or Contract Number and date, together with the sponsoring
Directorate and the Tender or Contract Sponsor.
15. Prime Contractors are responsible for supplying their subcontractors with relevant
documentation, including specifications, standards and drawings.
16. This NES may call for the use of processes, substances and/or procedures that may be injurious
to health if adequate precautions are not taken. It refers only to technical suitability and in
no way absolves either the supplier or the user from statutory obligations relating to health
and safety at any stage of manufacture or use. Where attention is drawn to hazards, those
quoted may not necessarily be exhaustive.
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CONTENTS
Page No
TITLE PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Sponsorship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Conditions of Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
MOD Tender or Contract Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Health and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
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1. APPLICATION
a. The method has been found suitable for testing materials in the form of sheet
(up to 25mm thick) or film, and as wire and cable insulation and sheathing
extruded on electrical conductors. It should not be used alone for the description
or appraisal of the fire hazard of a material or product under actual fire
conditions.
1.1
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1.2
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2. PRINCIPLE
a. A material is exposed to specified standard thermal conditions of pyrolysis and
combustion in a continuous procedure. The change in optical density of the
smoke produced when dispersed within a fixed volume of air is recorded
throughout the period of the test. The resulting density/time curve is used to
calculate the Smoke Index.
2.1
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2.2
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3. APPARATUS
3.1 Test Chamber
a. The apparatus required is known as the National Bureau of Standards (NBS)
smoke density test chamber and is briefly described as a closed chamber
approximately 900mm high, 900mm wide and 600mm deep in which a specimen
75mm ¢ 5mm ¢ thickness as supplied (up to 25mm maximum) is supported
in a frame, with a face in a vertical plane, and exposed to heat and then flame.
In setting up the smoke chamber the exhaust blower outlet must be connected
by hose to an exhaust hood or vent to ensure that on completion of a test the
products of combustion formed do not contaminate the laboratory atmosphere.
These gases can be toxic to personnel.
b. The heat source is an electric furnace adjusted to give a heat flux of 2.5 watts
per square centimetre at the specimen surface. A vertical collimated light beam
is employed through the full height of the chamber with a photo multiplier
micro photometer system to measure the transmittance of light.
c. A full description of the apparatus is given in ASTM STP No 422 but differs in
this method in the following respects:
(1) Mixing Fan. A small fan shall be positioned centrally near the top of the
chamber to ensure complete dispersion of the smoke homogeneously
throughout the chamber.
3.2 Timer
a. A timing device measuring intervals up to at least 20 minutes and accurate to
within ±1s shall be used.
3.1
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3.2
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4. TEST SPECIMENS
4.1 Sheet or Film Materials
a. At least 3 specimens shall be cut from the material under test. The dimensions
shall be 75mm ¢ 75mm utilizing the natural thickness of the material except
where it exceeds 25mm, in which case the material shall be reduced in thickness
to 25mm by cutting away the face not required to be tested.
c. If the diameter of the wire is greater than 5mm, then less than 15 lengths will
be used and due account taken of the shorter total length.
4.4 Conditioning
a. Unless otherwise agreed, all test specimens shall be conditioned at 23° C ± 2° C
and 50 ± 5% RH for at least 24h prior to testing.
4.1
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4.2
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5. SAFETY OF OPERATORS
a. When the following test is being carried out, there is a risk that flammable
and/or toxic fumes will be given off from the specimen under test. Operators are
to take adequate precautions to avoid exposure to the evolved fumes.
5.1
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5.2
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6. PROCEDURE
a. These instructions relate specifically to the NBS Smoke Density Test Chamber
as modified in accordance with Clauses 3.1c.
b. Switch on the power to the chamber, chart recorder, internal fan and auxiliary
heater.
c. Ensure that the ‘FLAME GAS’, ‘RADIOMETER AIR’ and ‘FLAME AIR’ toggle
valves are shut. Turn on gas and air supplies.
e. Ensure optical shutter on the photomultiplier box is in the OUT position, turn
on ‘LINE’ and ‘LAMP’.
f. Set the photomultiplier photometer to ON.
g. Switch on ‘HEATER’ and set ‘HEATER VOLTS ADJUST’ control to 30%. After
about five minutes reset to 60%, then to 90% after a further five minutes.
h. When a chamber wall temperature of 35° C is attained, shown on the
‘CHAMBER TEMPERATURE’ meter, switch the auxiliary heater OFF.
(1) Clean the lower and upper optical windows with soft tissue moistened
with alcohol.
(6) Adjust the ‘BLANK ADJUST FINE’ control until meter indicates 0%
relative intensity (transmittance). Set the chart recorder pen to zero.
(8) Open photomultiplier tube shutter by depressing the black rod on the
photomultiplier box to the IN position.
(9) Depress ‘FINE ADJUST’ control and rotate until meter indicates 100%
transmittance. Set the chart recorder pen to 100.
m. Open the ‘INLET VENT’ and the chamber is ready for use.
n. After half a minute, to allow the furnace to reach the correct output, place the
loaded sample holder on the support rods directly in front of the furnace.
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o. Immediately start the chart recorder drive, shut door of chamber and close the
‘INLET VENT’ (a convenient chart speed is 10mm/minute).
p. After five minutes open the ‘FLAME GAS’ and ‘RADIOMETER AIR’ toggle
valves. Adjust the auxiliary flowmeter to give a gas flow of 500ml per minute.
Adjust the air input to 18 on the ‘RADIOMETER AIR’ flowmeter.
q. Operate the remote ignition device switch until the flame ignites.
s. If at any time the transmittance value falls below 10% change the multiplier
switch to 10; if the transmittance again falls below 10% of full scale, change the
multiplier switch to 1. A further drop to below 10% of full scale will require the
multiplier switch to be changed to 0.1. On completion of the test the switch must
be reset to 100 before the maximum clear beam transmittance value Tc can be
obtained.
t. After the total time of 20 minutes close the ‘FLAME GAS’ and ‘RADIOMETER
AIR’ toggle valves, slide the sample away from the front of the radiant panel and
reduce the ‘HEATER VOLTS ADJUST’ control to 50%.
u. Evacuate the chamber by opening the ‘VENT’ and ‘INLET VENT’. (Note
Laboratory ventilation fan should also be run.)
v. After complete evacuation of the chamber obtain a new maximum clear beam
transmittance value on the chart recorder, this reading being designated as the
value Tc.
w. For testing of replicates or fresh materials on the same day restart at Clause 6.k.
6.2
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7. CALCULATION
a. Because of the progressive build-up of deposits on the optical windows during
a test run, the recorded transmittance values are artificially depressed. It is
therefore necessary to apply a correction to the results before calculating the
Smoke Index. This is carried out by constructing a new plot of the
transmittance/time relationship as described below.
Convert Tc and Tmin to equivalent specific optical Density, DSc and DSmax.
b. The conversion of % transmittance to specific optical density for the NBS smoke
density chamber is given by:
Specific Optical Density (Ds) = 132 log 100
T
where T = % transmittance
c. Subtract DSC from DSmax to obtain corrected maximum specific optical density
DSmax C. Convert DSmax C to % transmittance and plot this value on the pen
recorder chart as the corrected minimum transmittance at the same time
interval as Tmin.
d. If DSC is 3% or less of DSmax no further correction to pen recorder trace need be
made; if more than 370, correct remainder of trace in the following manner
when transmittances less than 70% have been recorded:
20 − D SC
D Smax
× 20 ; convert this value back to % transittance and plot
e. If transmittances less than 40% have been recorded, correct the 40%
transmittance (53 specific optical density) by the formula:
53 − D SC
D Smax
× 53 ; convert this value back to % transmittance and
f. If transmittances less than 10% have been recorded, correct in the same manner
as for 70% and 40% transmittances shown above.
7.1
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D s at T min
Smoke Index =
t min
D s at T (X–Tmin)
D s at T 70 D s at T 40 D s at T 10 min (x–y)
Smoke Index = + + +
t 70 t 40 t 10 t min
Where:
i. The Smoke Index for a material shall be the mean of the calculated smoke
indices for at least 3 replicates.
7.2
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8. REPORT
a. The report shall include the following:
(4) Description of any unusual behaviour during the test eg melting and
dripping.
‘This test result alone does not assess the fire hazard of the material or a product
made from this material under actual fire conditions. Consequently the results
of this test alone shall not be quoted in support of claims with respect to the fire
hazard of the material or product under actual fire conditions. The results when
used alone should only be used for research and development, quality control
and material specifications.’
8.1
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8.2
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ANNEX A.
RELATED DOCUMENTS
A.1 Reference is made to:
Referred to in
Clause
American Society for Testing Materials Special Technical Scope 3., 3.c.
Publication 422 166−204 (1967)
Do. E662 :1979 Scope 3.
ISO 3261—Fire tests, Vocabulary Annex B.
A.1 ANNEX A
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ANNEX A A.2
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ANNEX B.
DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
B.1 For the purpose of this Standard the following definitions apply:
Combustion See ISO 3261
Pyrolysis See ISO 3261
Smoke Index The numerical summation of the rates of
change in specific optical density of the
smoke produced from the start of the test to
70% 40% 10% and minimum light
transmittance values.
B.1 ANNEX B
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ANNEX B B.2
NES 711
Issue 2 (Reformatted)
ALPHABETICAL INDEX
A
Air volume, 2.1
Auxiliary heater, 3.1
B
Block—insulating, 4.1
Burner, 3.1
C
Calculations, 7.1
Chart recorder, 3.1, 6.2, 7.1
Collimated light beam, 3.1
Combustion—characteristics tests, iii
Combustion—definition, 2.1, B.1
Conditioning, 4.1
Correction of results, 7.1
D
Density of smoke, 2.1
E
Exhaust blower outlet, 3.1
F
Fire hazard, 1.1
Flammable/toxic fumes, 5.1
Foil—aluminium, 4.1
Furnace—electric, 3.1
G
Gases—toxicity, 3.1
H
Heat—flux, 3.1
INDEX.1 INDEX
NES 711
Issue 2 (Reformatted)
M
Materials—sheet/film, 4.1
Method, iii
Mixing fan, 3.1
Mounting of specimen, 4.1
O
Optical density, 2.1
P
Photo multiplier, 3.1
Pin—locking, 4.1
Precautions, 5.1
Pyrolysis, iii, B.1
Q
Quality control, iii
R
Report content, 8.1
Rotometers, 3.1
S
Sample holder, 4.1
Smoke chamber, 3.1
Smoke density test chamber, 3.1, 6.1
Smoke index, 2.1, 7.1, 7.2, B.1
Specimens—number and sizes, 4.1
Spring tension, 4.1
T
Test chamber, 3.1
Test materials, 1.1
Timer, 3.1
W
Wire diameter, 4.1
wires insulated, 4.1
INDEX INDEX.2
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Contract Requirements
When Defence Standards are incorporated into contracts users are responsible for their correct
application and for complying with contractual and statutory requirements. Compliance with
a Defence Standard does not in itself confer immunity from legal obligations.