Fire Resistance Testing | Resolute Testing Laboratories

Overview

Resolute Testing Laboratories offers fire resistance testing at its brand new, Brisbane based, state of the art testing facility. With its new furnace, the fire resistance properties of building elements can be tested in accordance with AS1530.4 (and equivalent International Standards) and performance evaluated against relevant product Standards. Resolute’s Fire Resistance testing is now N.A.T.A. Accredited – see below for details & scope.

Our facility

Furnace

The facility boasts a test furnace capable of operating in both vertical and horizontal orientations, designed to take walls, floor or floor/ceiling systems with over all dimensions of 1.8m x 1.8m. This gives a furnace-exposed area of 1.65m x 1.65m and so in keeping with the Standard clearance requirements can accommodate specimens in up to a 1.2m x 1.2m aperture.

The Furnace also is equipped with an expansion chamber capable of increasing the vertical test wall to 3.0m high x 2.4m wide.

The software operating the furnace is configured to meet the heating requirements of standard time/temperature curve and is constantly monitored and developed to increase the accuracy and repeatability of tests.

Non-standard configurations and other fire curves can be accommodated on request.

The Standards

Resolute conducts indicative fire resistance testing and reporting in accordance with various recognised testing standards, including:

Australian Standards – AS 1530.4, AS/NZS 1668.1, AS 1682.1, AS 1682.2 AS 1905.1, AS 4072.1.
British Standards – BS 476.20, BS 476.22

N.A.T.A. Accredited Testing Scope

AS 1530.4 (excluding Section 9)

Section 2 – General Requirements
Section 3 – Walls, vertical separating elements
– Access panels and insulated glazing, GPO’s and other small features.
Section 4 – Floors, Roofs and Ceilings, horizontal separating elements
– Limited due to furnace size to the testing of access panels, insulated
glazing elements, lights and penetrations.
Section 5 – Columns
– To determine the effectiveness of different thicknesses of protective materials.
Section 6 – Beams, girders and trusses
– To determine the effectiveness of different thicknesses of protective materials.

Section 7 – Doorsets and shutter assemblies
Section 8 – Uninsulated glazing
Section 10 – Service penetrations and control joints
Section 11 – Fire damper and air transfer grille assemblies in ducts
Section 12 – Critical Services
Appendix B – Alternative and additional test procedures for elements of construction
– Particularly B11 – Pilot fire test for fire doors

Product Evaluation

The furnace is ideal for evaluating the fire performance of products/systems including (but not limited to):

Doorsets (composite, timber, steel, etc)
Door hardware
Fire dampers
Ventilation ducts
Walls and partition systems
Ceiling systems
Floor structures
Glazing systems
Steelwork protection
Penetration seals
Critical services

The Resolute Difference

At Resolute, we aim to be your Research and Development partner. Our small-scale furnace offers you more than just a standard ‘pilot scale’ aperture, accommodating specimens up to a maximum 1200mm x 1200mm, operating in both vertical and horizontal applications. We offer independent, third party testing, providing the strictest confidentiality through appropriate quality management processes and systems all in accordance with ISO 17025.

We aim to provide same-day feedback on testing results, you can have raw furnace data typically before you leave the building and our turnaround for draft reporting is two weeks. Priority turnaround for reporting can be as soon as next day.

Experience the difference today – get in-touch.