UL94 Horizontal Vertical Flame Chamber

UL94 Horizontal & Vertical Burning Test Equipment China Manufacturer

UL94 Horizontal & Vertical Flame Chamber is an essential flammability test equipment intended to determine the burning rating of plastic materials used for parts in devices and appliances under specified conditions. It can help users grasp the tendency of materials to extinguish or spread after being ignited, and the results can be used as a strong basis for evaluating the flame retardancy of materials.

The plastic sample of specified shape and size is clamped and fixed in the fixture matching the test item according to the specified posture and angle. The built-in burner with given power can automatically traverse to the preset flame application position under the sample under control to apply flame to the sample for a specified time. After the applied flame is removed, the burning state of the sample needs to be continuously observed. If the sample continues to burn, the afterflame time, afterglow time, or the time spent on the specified flame combustion stroke can be displayed and recorded for corresponding comparison and subsequent calculations.

Fume Chamber

AmadeTech UL94 Horizontal & Vertical Flame Chamber features an enclosed space of at least 0.5 m3 to provide a test environment that is not disturbed by the wind while the specimen is burning. An exhaust fan is built in the chamber to extract fume or toxic gas after the test. To allow you to observe the combustion situation of the sample conveniently, a heat-resistant glass is equipped in the door. In addition, we have painted the inner wall of the chamber black to facilitate better observation. In order to ensure the safety of the test, we have equipped a gas leakage detection and alarm device in the inner box. Once a leak is detected, the device will sound an audible warning and automatically cut off the gas supply.

Bunsen Burner

The Bunsen burner of UL94 burning tester’s power from AmadeTech is available in 50 W or 500 W to fit different test items. The burner is originally from America and consists of a tube with a length of (100±10) mm and an inside diameter of (9.5±0.3) mm.

When the burner tube is in a vertical state, it can be manually tilted 20° or 45° to the direction of the fixture assembly and locked with the aid of a special limit device. The burner has one-key ignition and an automatic ignition function. According to different test needs, you can adjust the flame state and height by turning the corresponding adjustment devices of the equipment.

When given a forward command, the burner can automatically move horizontally to the ignition position of the sample to apply the flame. When the specified flame application time is reached, the burner will automatically return to the starting position.

fixture and burner of UL94 flame chamber 3

Fixture Assemblies

With the help of ingenious design, this flame test chamber is compatible with different fixture types to realize the multi-purpose function of one machine. We can flexibly configure the fixture assembly inside the chamber to perform horizontal or vertical flame tests according to your testing needs. The clamped sample can realize the movement in the up, down, front, back, left, and right directions to meet the diversified needs of sample positioning.

Specifically, the UL94 test items that this machine is compatible with include Horizontal Burning Test: HB, 20 mm Vertical Burning Test: V-0, V-1 or V-2, Thin material vertical burning test: VTM-0, VTM- 1 or VTM-2, and 500 W (125 MM) vertical burning test: 5VA or 5VB (requiring high-power burner and larger chamber).

If you are want to conduct the Radiant Panel Flame Spread Test or Horizontal Burning Foamed Material Test: HBF, HF-1, or HF-2, Please consult us individually for the corresponding equipment, and we will give you a quotation.

Control Panel

The control panel of our conventional UL94 flammability test equipment consists of physical buttons and LED displays. Each key has its specific purpose. You can efficiently operate this device with the text description below the buttons. It should be noted that when doing a horizontal or vertical combustion test, you need to manually press the “Afterflame out” button and “Afterglow out” button at the specified time point to record the corresponding elapsed time, and the corresponding data will be displayed on the displays.

In addition, AmadeTech can also supply UL94 test equipment with a touchscreen controller. It can realize data input and calculation, store multiple sets of historical test data, and also supports on-site printing of test results.

In addition, AmadeTech can also provide more flame retardant testing equipment for plastic materials, such as:

Oxygen Index Tester

Glow Wire Tester

Needle Flame Tester

Compliant Test Standards

  • UL94 (Horizontal Burning test: HB)
  • UL94 (50 W (20 mm) Vertical Burning Test: V-0, V-1 or V-2)
  • UL94 [500 W (125 mm) Vertical Burning Test: 5VA or 5VB] (Changing the chamber size and burner required)
  • UL94 (Thin Material Vertical Burning Test: VTM-0, VTM-1 or VTM-2)
  • ISO 1210, ASTM D 635, D4804, ASTM D 3801, ASTM D 4804, ISO 9773, IEC 707, IEC60695-11-10, etc.

Main Technical Specifications

Model AT-P6002
Volume of chamber More than 0.5 m³, black interior
Test flame 50W or 500W
Burner tube Internal diameter: φ(9.5 +/- 0.3) mm, length: (100+/-10) mm
Burning angle 0°, 20°, 45° adjustable
Height of flame 20 mm ~ 175 mm adjustable
Flame application time 0 ~ 99 m and 99 s settable
Afterflame time 0 ~ 99 m and 99 s settable
Afterglow time 0 ~ 99 m and 99 s settable
Timer accuracy ± 0.1 s
Gas source Methane / LPG / natural gas with purity above 98% (prepared by users)
Power supply 220 V, 50 Hz or 110 V, 60 Hz selectable
Dimensions 1150 mm (L) × 650 mm (D) × 1250 mm (H)

UL94 Horizontal/Vertical Flame Chamber Features

  • Made of rugged steel to ensure structural strength and durability.
  • Compact size takes up less space.
  • Built-in a lamp inside the chamber to facilitate the specimen mounting.
  • Equipped with an exhaust fan to remove the products of combustion.
  • Fitted with a door consisting of a piece of transparent glass to guarantee that specimens can be seen throughout the test.
  • The burner used is the brand designated by UL, with angle adjustment (0°, 20°, 45°) and a precise gas control system consisting of a gas flowmeter, pressure regulator, and pressure gauge.
  • Compatible with different fixture kits to complete different test items in UL94.
  • Provided with flame application timer, afterflame timer, afterglow timer, etc., to record the required test parameters.
  • Chamber size and configurations are customizable as per requirements.

FAQs

UL94 horizontal (HB) and vertical burning (V-0, V-1, V-2, 5VA or 5VB) tests are suitable for all solid plastic materials used for parts in devices and appliances. Furthermore, the VTM-0, VTM-1, or VTM-2 vertical flame test can also be applied to plastic film materials.

The primary purpose of performing UL94 horizontal and vertical combustion tests is to test the flammability of plastics used to manufacture equipment and appliances so that the results will be used as the most basic indicators to evaluate whether there is a fire risk during use. Secondly, this test can help researchers to master the burning characteristics of materials. By comparing the relative flammability of different materials or analyzing the differences in the burning characteristics of materials with different formulations, it can help people find the most suitable material to achieve the expected flame-retardant effect.

1)  Mark two reference lines on each prepared bar sample: One is 25 mm away from the free end of the sample, and the other is 100 mm away from the free end.

2)  Mount the securing end of the specimen in the corresponding clamping device, ensuring its longitudinal axis is horizontal.

3)  Plug in power and turn on the test machine, then set the flame application time to 30 s.

4)  Adjust the gas flow meter to a defined value, then turn on the gas switch and ignite.

5)  Deliver the burner to the specified flame application position to preset the flame height to (20±1) mm with the supplied metal gauge and adjust it to be without the yellow tip by turning the gas flow switch and mixing tube, then adjust its posture to allow an inclination of 45 degrees towards the sample.

Note: The above step 5 should be completed within 30 s. If you can’t make it, suggest first changing the flame application time from 30 seconds to 30 minutes before the operation, then changing the time unit back before the official start of the test.

6)  Press the “Forward” switch to start moving the burner to apply flame to the sample for 30 s.

7)  If present, manually press the corresponding button to record the time it takes to burn for a distance between 25 mm and 100 mm of the reference line during burning.

Note: Tips on the operation after removing the ignition source:

  • If the sample flame doesn’t spread to the 25 mm mark before it is extinguished, you don’t need to take any action.
  • If the sample flame passes the 25 mm mark, you need to immediately press the “Afterflame out” button when the combustion front reaches this line. Then the flame will continue to spread horizontally forward. If the flame is extinguished before reaching the 100 mm mark, you need to press the “Afterglow out” button when the combustion front reaches this line. (If the flame passes the 100 mm mark, you need to press the “Afterglow out” button immediately when the combustion front reaches this line)

8)  Record the elapsed time (t) in seconds and damaged length (L) in millimeters resulting from burning

9)  Calculate the linear burning rate, (V), in millimeters per minute using the below equation:

V = 60 * L / t 

1)  Mount the bar specimen from the upper 6 mm in the corresponding holding device, with the longitudinal axis vertical.

2)  Cut a piece of cotton from the supplied cotton roll to get one dimensioning approximately 50 mm in length, 50 mm in width, and not more than 6 mm in thickness, controlling its total weight within 0.8 g, then put it on the attached iron plate directly under the specimen.

3)  Plug in power and turn on the test machine, then set the flame application time to 10 s.

4)  Adjust the gas flow meter to a defined value, then turn on the gas switch and ignite.

5)  Deliver the burner to the specified flame application position to preset the flame height to (20±1) mm with the supplied metal gauge and adjust it to be without the yellow tip by turning the gas flow switch and mixing tube, then adjust its posture to tilt by 45 degrees towards the sample. Then adjust the sample position with the aid of the gauge to ensure the top of the burner is 10 mm below the middle point of the bottom edge of the specimen.

Note: To leave enough time to complete the setup for the burner, suggest first changing the flame application time from 10 seconds to 10 minutes before the operation, then changing the time unit back before the official start of the test.

6)  Press the “Forward” switch to start moving the burner to apply flame to the specimen for 10 seconds.

7)  After withdrawing the burner automatically, visually inspect the specimen for the combustion state: Once the afterflame goes out, immediately press the “Afterflame out” button to get the afterflame time, expressed with “t1”.

8)  Then, immediately press the “Forward” button again to replace the burner to apply flame for another 10 seconds. Once the afterflame goes out, immediately press the “Afterflame out” button to get the afterflame time, expressed with “t2”. Once the afterglow of the specimen goes out, immediately press the “Afterglow out” button to get the afterflow time, expressed with “t3”.

9)  Repeat the above steps to test other specimens, then calculate the required data according to standard methods.

(1) Ignition and flammability: that is, the difficulty of being ignited.
(2) Flame propagation speed: that is, the speed at which the flame spreads along the surface of the material.
(3) Fire resistance: the speed at which fire penetrates a material component.
(4) Release rate (HRR): that is, the heat released and the speed released when the material burns.
(5) Difficulty of self-extinguishing.
(6) Smoke generation: including the amount of smoke produced, the release speed of smoke, and the composition of smoke.
(7) Generation of toxic gas: including gas volume, release rate, and composition.

The flammability characteristics of a plastic material determined by the UL94 burning test are only used as a preliminary indication of its acceptability for a particular application. It should not be assumed to correlate with its performance in end-use applications.

  • Among the combustion test methods of flame retardant materials, the most representative and widely used ones are the oxygen index and UL94 flame retardant tests. Although both can test the burning characteristics of materials, their testing principles and methods are different.
  • The former oxygen index (OI) test is to determine the lowest oxygen concentration required for the flaming combustion of materials in an oxygen-nitrogen mixed flow under specified conditions. It is expressed as the numerical value of the volume percentage of oxygen. Generally speaking, the higher the oxygen index of a material, the higher the oxygen concentration required to catch fire, and the less likely it is to be ignited. On the contrary, the material has a low oxygen index, and it is easy to reach the ignition point under low oxygen concentration, so it is easy to be ignited.
  • The latter UL94 test is to directly expose the sample in the specified posture to the standard atmospheric environment to perform the ignition action for a specified time. After removing the source of ignition, the state of combustion of the material itself is observed. The flame (afterflow) duration of the material with better flame retardancy is shorter, and conversely, the flame duration of the material with poorer flame retardancy is longer.

One UL94 testing deivce cannot be compatible with all test items. Our regular 50W horizontal and vertical burning tester can be used for horizontal burning test, 20 mm vertical burning test and thin material vertical burning test. If required, we can build a 500W burner into the device, but the volume of the box needs to be increased to at least 0.75m3.

Radiant panel flame spread test and Horizontal burning foamed material test need to use two separate equipment to complete. If necessary, please consult us for a quotation.

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