ISO 5658-2: Lateral Flame Spread on Building and Transport Products

The LIFT (Lateral Ignition and Flame Spread Test) / IMO Spread of Flame Apparatus, in accordance with ISO 5658-2, consists of the following main components:

• Radiant panel framework — Fabricated from 40 mm × 40 mm square steel tube, painted with a white anti-corrosion coating, providing structural support for the radiant panel and specimen holder.

• Gas-fired radiant panel — Measuring 480 mm × 280 mm, incorporating a porous ceramic refractory panel mounted in a stainless-steel plenum chamber. Produces a stable, luminous flame–free radiant source.

• Gas–air supply system — Propane gas and air are premixed through a venturi mixer. The propane feed is controlled by a mass flow controller (accuracy ±1%). A blower supplies clean air for combustion, with volume adjustment via inverter.

• Safety devices — Non-return valve and pressure regulator in the gas supply; electrically actuated shut-off valve to stop gas flow automatically if radiant panel combustion fails.

• Ignition system — Spark ignitor for the radiant panel and a ceramic pilot flame burner (twin-bore, 1.5 mm bore diameter, 200 mm length).

• Specimen holder — Constructed from stainless steel for durability and heat resistance.

• Heat-flux measurement — Schmidt–Boelter type heat-flux meter (range 0–50 kW/m²) with integrated water-cooling unit (no external water supply or maintenance required).

• Calibration system — Methane gas mass flow controller (accuracy ±1%) for system calibration. Includes non-combustible calibration board (density 950 ± 100 kg/m³) and non-combustible dummy specimen (density 950 ± 100 kg/m³).

• Control and monitoring — Industrial 15" touch-screen computer with dedicated software to monitor the entire combustion test process. Software functions include heat flux calibration, methane calibration, standard test procedure execution, and test report management.