Effect of Heat Transfer on Weighing Devices in Cone Calorimeter

Abstract

A cone calorimeter for measuring fire properties is an equipment that radiates a constant radiant heat flux rate to the specimen and calculates the heat release rate by measuring oxygen consumption. It has been used mainly for the pyrolysis phenomenon of specimen-sized solid materials. However, in contrast to other measurement devices, the test methods of the relevant standards do not mention in detail the calibration methods or precautions for the effects of heat transfer on the weighing devices in a high-temperature fire environment with a conical heater. In this study, the heat transfer blockage confirmed improvement of the effective heat of 70%, combustion rate of 76%, heat release rate of 50%, smoke production rate of 34%, and other items. Improvements are proposed to produce more-accurate test results.