Fire Testing

We provide Systems Fire Protection testing using our oil burner. Materials testing for Seat Cushions, Cargo liners and insulation and Flammability testing for all your material needs.

Fire Performance & Compliance Assurance

Fire testing for safety and reliability

At Resonate Testing we offer a sophisticated, custom-built fire testing facility in addition with the in-depth technical and professional knowledge to fully understand your specific fire or flammability test requirements with precision. When it comes to ensuring the integrity of your products or components under fire conditions, demonstrating compliance with customer and international regulations becomes paramount.

An equally critical consideration is the impact of over-designed components, leading to increased costs, weight, or even non-compliance. Our fire testing services enable you to simulate the performance of your products during exposure to real-life fire scenarios. You will have the ability to evaluate your product’s capacity to continue to function, self-extinguish promptly, and prevent re-ignition.

Explore the full potential of fire testing for your products across diverse industries with Resonate Testing. Our services cater to various sectors, including construction, rail, automotive, energy, marine, and more, offering you a comprehensive solution for your fire testing needs.

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Fire Performance & Compliance Assurance

At Resonate Testing we offer a sophisticated, custom-built fire testing facility in addition with the in-depth technical and professional knowledge to fully understand your specific fire or flammability test requirements with precision. When it comes to ensuring the integrity of your products or components under fire conditions, demonstrating compliance with customer and international regulations becomes paramount.

An equally critical consideration is the impact of over-designed components, leading to increased costs, weight, or even non-compliance. Our fire testing services enable you to simulate the performance of your products during exposure to real-life fire scenarios. You will have the ability to evaluate your product’s capacity to continue to function, self-extinguish promptly, and prevent re-ignition.

In aerospace fire and flammability testing, our skills extend to certification of interior cabin cargo compartment and insulation materials to fire testing of powerplant systems and fire walls. Operating a fire test facility with the ability to expose parts to a complete range on environmental and operational conditions applied for both flight and on-ground conditions.

Our particular forte is fire penetration testing for aircraft powerplant certification (AC20-135, ISO 2865, AS1055), where a range of operational conditions, from additional loading and vibration to airflows or internal fluids/oils at temperature and pressure can be included within the test.

We can also carry out material fire testing for Seat Cushions, Cargo Liners and Insulation and Flammability testing (vertical, horizontal and 45 degrees) in accordance with FAA Fire Test Handbook.

Our capabilities can be extended to other industries including construction, rail, automotive, energy, marine etc. and we are open to diversification into other sectors. Fire testing to other industry standards or your own bespoke testing requirements can all be catered for.

Why Fire test At Resonate testing?

Our unique and purpose-built facilities boasts the following attributes

  • Carlin kerosene (oil) burner that is carriage mounted and controlled remotely from the control room
  • Separate areas for burner warm up, heat flux calibration, temperature calibration, and main test areas
  • Data acquisition giving real time display of heat flux and temperature distribution during calibration stages as well as operational conditions during the test
  • Flexible orientation – burner can be angled between horizontal and vertical as required
  • Test witnessing from control cabin either through the window or via multiple video displays. All video is recorded and made available to clients. Live streaming for remote witnessing is also possible
  • In-house fabrication for new test set ups as well as rig development to give air flows and pressure drops representative of installed environments and to include vibration, loads, fluid flows
  • Extensive R&D in collaboration with regulators including comparative testing for Carlin and Sonic burners

Aerospace fire testing

In aerospace fire and flammability testing, our skills extend to certification of interior cabin cargo compartment and insulation materials to fire testing of powerplant systems and fire walls. Operating a fire test facility with the ability to expose parts to a complete range on environmental and operational conditions applied for both flight and on-ground conditions.

Our particular forte is fire penetration testing for aircraft powerplant certification (AC20-135, ISO 2865, AS1055), where a range of operational conditions, from additional loading and vibration to airflows or internal fluids/oils at temperature and pressure can be included within the test.

We can also carry out material fire testing for Seat Cushions, Cargo Liners and Insulation and Flammability testing (vertical, horizontal and 45 degrees) in accordance with FAA Fire Test Handbook.

Our capabilities can be extended to other industries including construction, rail, automotive, energy, marine etc. and we are open to diversification into other sectors. Fire testing to other industry standards or your own bespoke testing requirements can all be catered for.

Advantage for Certification Ready Fire Testing

Propulsion Level fire testing : Powerplant fire testing

Resonate Testing provide a complete range of AC20-135 ISO2685 compliant propulsion level fire testing for large airplanes (FAR25, CS25, CAR525) Aircraft engines (FAR 33, CS-E, CAR 533), Helicopter (FAR27, CS27, CAR527 / FAR29, CS29, CAR529), small airplanes (FAR23, CS23, CAR523) etc.

Testing includes propulsion systems and externals including structures, seals, TRU’s and a wide range of fluid and electrical systems.

Using both approved Kerosene burners and Sonic Burners we support a range of R&D, product development, and validation including certification level testing. We are happy to work to customer Qualification Test Procedures (QTP’s), although increasing clients realise significant benefits from discussing their requirements and compliance means with our engineers.

Your Custom Quote is Just a Click Away

We’ll give you a fast, straightforward estimate and engineering support to guide you through the process.

Aerospace fire testing - Regulations

In the aviation industry’s early days, fire safety and related testing took a backseat to passenger convenience, but the landscape has since evolved significantly. The adoption of the first flammability regulations between 1940 and 1960 marked a turning point, initially applying to larger aircraft with 50-150 seats. However, the scope of fire testing was limited, prompting widespread advocacy within the fire testing industry for a more comprehensive approach to ensure the prevention of fatalities.

Aircraft regulation now revolves around two equivalent sets of specifications:

  1. The FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation), an integral part of Title 14 of the CFR (Code of Federal Regulations), issued by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).
  2. The CS (Certification Specifications) or the JAR (an equivalent to FAR established in Europe), issued by EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency).

Section/part “25” within both regulations comprehensively covers large commercial aircraft, while similar requirements extend to other aircraft types as well.

The different tests are described in the Appendix F of FAR/CS 25.

It is worth noting that many other countries have put equivalent regulations and airworthiness requirements into effect, supported by their respective aviation agencies—Transport Canada, JCAB, ENAC, to name a few.

Airplane powerplant and systems Fire testing for Civil Aircraft Certification

Fire Testing for Civil Aircraft Certification

Various test methods, advisories and guides are used to provide criteria used in determining the flame characteristics required to test various components used in aircraft engines, their nacelles and their other supporting structures.

 

Primary documents for propulsion-grade fire testing

ISO2685

Environmental Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment – Resistance to Fire in Designated Fire Zones, International Standards Organisation

AC 20-135

Powerplant Installation and Propulsion System Component Fire Protection Test Methods, Standards and Criteria, Revised 1990 – NOTE AC 20-135:Change 1

FAA Power Plant Engineering Report No. 3A

Standard Fire Test Apparatus and Procedure (For Flexible Hose Assemblies), Revised March 1978

Guidance Documentation

FAA Aircraft Material Fire Test Handbook

Chapter 11 Powerplant Hose Assemblies Test and Chapter 12 Powerplant Fire Penetration Test – used to determine the fire resistance components used in designated fire zones to damage due to flame and vibration for showing compliance with TSO C42, C53A, and C75. April 2000.

SAE AIR 1377A

Fire Test Equipment for Flexible Hose and Tube Assemblies, Revised January 1980.

SAE AS 1055

Fire Testing of Flexible Hose, Tube Assemblies, Coils, Fittings and Similar System Components, Revised 1978.

AS4273

Fire Testing of Fluid Handling Components for Aircraft Engines and Aircraft Engine Installations

RTCA DO -160G

Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment Section 26.0 Fire, Flammability.

SAE ARP5757

Fire Guidelines for Engine Component Tests Section 5.24.

AC 33.17-1 33.17-1 – Fire Prevention (Cancelled)

Aircraft interiors fire testing - Flammability Testing

The requirements for use of materials in aircraft, and especially in aircraft interiors are quite similar all over the world, and are clearly described by various regulatory agencies. Materials and composites used in the construction of transport category aircraft must comply with national and international regulations with most countries having adopted the U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR). These regulations consider that limiting flammability and smoke density will adequately control the toxic fume production. Aircraft Interiors are covered by section “853” of the regulations.  

Aircraft interior materials designated for use in an aircraft cabin environment must meet certain flammability requirements. 
All the materials have to pass the vertical burn test. Some aircraft interior components such as interior ceiling, wall panels, partitions, galley structure, large cabinets or cabin stowage compartments must pass as well smoke emission and toxicity tests, as well as a heat release test. 

This expertise and knowledge in the aerospace sector has been easily extended to various industries and other unique test applications, including electrical and mechanical product testing, packaging testing, many transportation and lifecycles tests for the MedTech industry to name but a few NSC’s experience in aerospace engineering provides a key foundation for our capabilities in test specification and certification with the result that customers can be confident of a highly professional and knowledgeable service.

Resonate Testing is part of a wider diversification and growth strategy founded upon the practical application of our engineering knowledge and experience. we have the unique position of unfettered access to the EU, UK and global markets.

With a 7500sqft facility of purpose-built test space, Resonate Testing can meet testing needs in various industries by offering locally or geographically diverse customers impressive capabilities coupled with a fast turnaround model. The facility includes a combined vibration and environmental laboratory (the only commercial facility on the Island of Ireland that can perform combined temperature and vibration testing up to 54kN), a fire test laboratory and a general mechanical test facility. Resonate Testing is UKAS accredited to ISO17025, ISTA and, as part of The Nacelle Group, certified to ISO9001:2015.

Maintaining a strong engineering team, we differentiate ourselves by demonstrating our ability to support clients fully, as a complete Test Service Facilitator.