SwRI Fire Testing Services for the Transportation Industries

A motor vehicle fuel tank is evaluated in accordance with Department of Transportation 49 CFR 393.67, "Liquid Fuel Tanks."

For more than 40 years, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has led the fire research industry in full-scale customized fire performance evaluation in support of the automotive and rail industries.

Over 12,000 square feet of laboratory space is used by scientists and engineers to evaluate vehicles and their major components under controlled environmental conditions. Extensive outdoor areas are well equipped for testing under potentially explosive fire scenarios.

SwRI conducts performance evaluations in accordance with ECE R 34, Annex 5, "Testing of Fuel Tanks Made of Plastic Materials." This test evaluates a plastic fuel tank under direct fire exposure.

Permeability Facility

The SwRI Permeability Facility is one of only a few independent facilities in the country providing complete services for hydrocarbon vapor emission measurements of vehicle fuel systems. The capabilities of the facility are:

Instrumentation

• Programmable Diurnal Temperature Profiles in Sample Chambers
• Hydrocarbon Analyzers
• Gas Chromatography for Full Speciation

Durability

• Slosh Table
• Pressure-Vacuum Cycling Fixture
• Vibration Fixture

Chambers

• Stable Thermal Conditioning Room
• Sampling Chambers for Components
• Sampling Chambers for Total Fuel Systems
• Full-Scale Emission Chamber

A rapid rail mass transit system is evaluated for fire resistance in accordance with NFPA 130, "Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit Systems." Fire performance characteristics such as temperature transmission, flame spread, smoke development, and structural integrity are investigated.

The SwRI Permeability Facility provides complete services for hydrocarbon vapor emission measurements of vehicle fuel systems. The facility is equipped to perform both component and full-scale testing.

Current Research Programs

Current research endeavors include:

• Assessment of alternative fuels in plastic tanks for private and commercial vehicles
• Evaluation of burning characteristics of new composite and plastic materials proposed for vehicle components
• Fire performance evaluations and qualification of airport shuttle and rapid rail mass transit systems
• Evaluation of large, collision-induced pool fires
• Full-scale rate of heat release calorimetry

These programs are routinely conducted for national and international clients, the Department of Transportation and other government agencies, and major automobile and rail manufacturers.

Clients are encouraged to arrange a tour of our test facilities and discuss their needs for engineering and testing services with our highly qualified staff.

Recognitions/Accreditations

The SwRI Department of Fire Technology is accredited by the National Evaluation Service, Inc. (NES) which encompasses the three U.S. model building codes. SwRI is a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and a third-party quality assurance and inspection agency under NES Report Nos. NER-TL351 and NER-QA409, respectively. The Department of Fire Technology has been designated an NRTL by OSHA and has been accredited by GSA, FAA, HUD, DISC, and NRC as a provider of fire testing and certification services. All major state and local jurisdictions throughout the U.S. recognize SwRI's fire testing and quality assurance services. Internationally, the Department of Fire Technology is recognized by Lloyd's Register, Det Norske Veritas (DNV), and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

The SwRI Department of Fire Technology is one of the world's largest organizations devoted to fire research and testing.

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