Test method for actuating and safety devices of portable fire extinguishers: Nordtest Project No. 1435-99

Tauno Andstén, Hemmo Juutilainen, Jukka Vaari, Henry Weckman

    Research output: Book/ReportReport

    Abstract

    The procedures included in the standard EN 3-5 for measuring the force required to activate the operating devices and to release the safety devices of portable fire extinguishers are described only briefly and at a quite general level. As a consequence, the measurements may be carried out in different ways in different testing laboratories which may lead to entirely different results. In this study, a test procedure which has been in use for more than ten years at VTT BUILDING TECHNOLOGY has been further refined. The report includes sections on theoretical considerations of the measurements as well as a description of the test equipment and results of several test series which were carried out. Based on the findings, a proposal for a new Nordtest method is prepared. The method, which is intended to be used in conjunction with EN 3-5, focuses on controlling the factors which have the greatest influence on the measurements and which may distort the results. As the designs of extinguishers and their actuating and safety devices in practice are very variable and require individual mounting and fixing in the test device, the mechanical design of the test device itself is not specified in any greater detail.
    Original languageEnglish
    Place of PublicationEspoo
    PublisherVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
    Number of pages66
    ISBN (Electronic)951-38-5616-X
    ISBN (Print)951-38-5615-1
    Publication statusPublished - 1999
    MoE publication typeD4 Published development or research report or study

    Publication series

    SeriesVTT Tiedotteita - Meddelanden - Research Notes
    Number2002
    ISSN1235-0605

    Keywords

    • portable fire extinguishers
    • test methods
    • testing, safety devices
    • operation
    • measurements
    • actuating devices
    • test equipment
    • Nordtest

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