FIRE PERFORMANCE TESTING OF BULKHEAD INSULATION SYSTEMS FOR HIGH STRENGTH TO WEIGHT SHIP STRUCTURES

Sixteen insulated aluminum bulkhead specimens were subjected to a material screening process as well as evaluated for their comparative fire performance with a 2-foot horizontal slab furnace. Two insulated and two unprotected glass-reinforced plastic specimens were also tested to obtain fire performance data on these structural materials. In addition, painted aluminum and steel panel specimens were included to determine the fire protective merits of two types of intumescent paints. Potential heat release, smoke, and combustion gas generation were also determined for the insulation and coating materials. Specimens insulated with organic base foams released high levels of combustion gases and could contribute considerable heat to an on-going fire. Specimens insulated with either refractory fibrous material or with mineral wool gave the best overall performance. The same thickness of insulation needed to protect an aluminum panel for over an hour can provide up to 20 minutes of protection for a glass-reinforced plastic panel of the same thickness. The intumescent paints did little to protect the specimens during the fire exposure. Parameters of insulation thickness, heat capacity, density, and thermal conductivity as well as fire duration on specimen temperature were analytically investigated.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored in part by Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C.
• Corporate Authors:

  National Bureau of Standards

  Center for Fire Research
  Washington, DC  United States  20234

  Naval Sea Systems Command

  , ZZ N/A   
• Authors:
  • Lee, B T
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 64 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Composite materials; Electric insulating materials; Fire resistance; Fire resistant coatings; Fire resistant materials; Flammability tests; Glass beads; Hulls; Insulating materials; Protective coatings; Ship structural components; Shipbuilding; Steel
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aluminum ships
• Old TRIS Terms: Bulkheads; Fire testing; Glass particle composites
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00146279
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NBSIR-76-1012 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 16 1977 12:00AM