Large-scale fire research
Alternative building designs can pose challenges when it comes to complying with existing fire codes. In these situations, sprinkler manufacturers, commercial property owners, warehouse operators and insurers need to conduct efficient, cost-effective, large-scale fire tests to demonstrate performance acceptance and substantiate code change proposals.
With state-of-the-art large-scale fire testing and research facility, UL provides a wide range of testing capabilities to meet customers' demands for custom fire safety solutions.
Comprehensive testing services
By leveraging expertise in large-scale warehouse simulations, UL develops custom solutions to help customers demonstrate performance acceptance in situations that are not covered by current fire codes. With UL's performance-based fire testing, customers can present reports to authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) to demonstrate that their facilities meet the performance requirements of applicable codes. For international clients, UL also performs tests that conform to European sprinkler and storage scenarios.
Along with evaluating alternative designs, UL is one of only a handful of certification organizations that conducts fire tests involving flammable liquids and aqueous film-forming foams.
Test facility features
- 120-by-120-by-55-foot high primary test cell - Simulates most warehouse arrangements
- 100-by-100-foot movable ceiling - Large-scale movable ceiling adjusts in height from 6 to 48 feet to simulate the ceiling height under investigation. This helps determine the effects of sprinkler clearance, from the sprinkler to the burning product. Bringing the ceiling down to 6 feet simplifies sprinkler spacing modification.
- Central exhaust above movable ceiling - Using the exhaust system centrally located above the movable ceiling, the heat and smoke layer can be removed consistently, simulating a significantly larger warehouse.
- Ceiling designed to accommodate smoke and heat vent testing - Versatile design of the large-scale ceiling structure can be adapted to many different investigations.
- Adjustable sprinkler pipe spacings and configurations - Provides a quick way to evaluate a specific sprinkler system. Both the branch line spacing and the sprinkler spacing can be modified in 2-foot increments to achieve the desired sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing.
- State-of-the-art instrumentation - Includes infrared telemetry and a centralized main control room that can collect more than 300 channels of data. This information can be used for computational fluid dynamics modeling efforts currently underway for many applications.
- 200,000-gallon test water reservoir connected to the water treatment facility - UL's environmentally friendly water treatment equipment processes the sprinkler water discharge that has flowed through the burning product.
- State-of-the-art smoke abatement systems with a capacity of 60,000 cubic feet per minute - UL captures all the smoke products from a given test to prevent a negative impact on the environment.
- Symmetrically positioned combustion air inlets - Provides uniform air movement during large-scale fire, calorimeter and ADD tests.
- Twin conference rooms - Observation windows and balconies overlooking the large-scale test area allow sponsors to witness their tests.
- Convenience - Easily accessible truck-loading docks, warehouse for sample storage and commodity conditioning room.
- Knowledgeable staff - A wide range of experience.
Test Standards
- UL 199, Standard for Automatic Sprinklers for Fire-Protection Service
- UL 1767, Standard for Early-Suppression Fast-Response Sprinklers
- UL 2335, Standard for Fire Tests of Storage Pallets
The UL advantage
Along with comprehensive testing capabilities, UL provides the highest level of expertise that comes from more than 100 years of experience in fire safety. UL staff members serve on various National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) committees. Our tests cover all NFPA criteria, and our data reports include all the critical information sought by code authorities. And through our dedication to large-scale fire research, UL often leads efforts in the development of new standards by delivering critical information on new products and building designs to standards-making bodies.
Our flexibility of scheduling and competitive turnaround times mean you can get the results when you need them. As an independent organization, UL provides the objective analysis that risk managers and insurers need to make informed decisions.
