SR170 Study of fire test methods applicable to flexible fabrics, duct materials and cables (2007)

This study has shown that the present fire test requirements for the reaction to fire properties for flexible fabrics based on flammability testing do not adequately evaluate the actual fire performance where initial burning is difficult to establish but the material has a high heat content that is not recorded by the existing test method and thus may present a significant risk in an actual fire. This hypothesis should be tested in an experimental programme comprising both small-scale and full-scale testing.

For duct materials as applied to HVAC systems, it has been recommended that the reaction to fire of the surface materials be included in the same provisions applying to surface linings. No further experimental work is justified based on the lack of evidence that duct materials feature significantly in the fire incident statistics and therefore do not pose sufficient risk to warrant being treated differently to wall/ceiling linings.

For electrical cables, a substantial collaborative project involving European countries has been completed and is in the process of being implemented. At present, there are limited requirements relating to cables in C/AS1 for New Zealand conditions, and the fire incident statistics do not identify cables as a significant fire risk. Given the extensive work completed internationally that was sponsored by specific electrical industry participants (where the security of electrical supply or reticulation is of prime importance to the business rather than the building sector imperatives such as life safety and property protection), a project where the New Zealand building industry is the beneficiary cannot be justified.