SwRI adds new large-scale vertical furnace for fire testing services

San Antonio -- February 20, 2004 -- A third generation, large-scale vertical furnace is now operational at Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®) for fire testing services. The new furnace can test specimens as large as 12.5 ft. square.

The large-scale vertical furnace is used to help determine the fire resistance of wall and bulkhead assemblies. Systems to protect openings in walls and bulkheads, such as doors, windows and fire stops, are also tested in the wall furnace.

"This furnace has enhanced controls and state-of-the-art instrumentation for evaluating the fire resistance of fire-rated doors, dampers, and wall assemblies for the construction and maritime industry," said Jim Griffith, a manager in the SwRI Fire Technology Department. "Using a thermally protected furnace camera designed and fabricated by SwRI, clients can view a complete fire test as their specimen is exposed to temperatures in excess of 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit. The test video can be broadcast over the Internet via a secure web site, eliminating the necessity for the client to travel to SwRI to witness the test firsthand."

The new furnace, which is 14 ft. wide by 18 ft. tall and 4 ft. deep, replaces a smaller, 20-year-old vertical furnace. Nine, premixed air and natural gas flat flame burners are symmetrically spaced on the back wall of the furnace. The furnace is equipped with a camera installed on the back wall, so that clients can view the exposed side of the specimen during testing.

The Institute performs fire resistance tests according to a wide range of domestic and international test standards. Load-bearing elements such as walls, floors, ceilings and beams are also tested. Tests on pipes, hoses and equipment can be performed under various pressure and flow conditions.

For more than 56 years, the Institute has studied fire dynamics and developed unique engineering and scientific resources for the resolution of fire and explosion safety issues, serving both government and commercial clients in the construction, transportation, chemical and petrochemical, nuclear, and telecommunications industries.

The SwRI Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division is certified to ISO 9001:2000, an internationally recognized quality standard. The SwRI Fire Technology Department is also certified to ISO 17025. All SwRI furnaces in the Fire Technology Department have also been calibrated and accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and many international code bodies and classification societies.

For more information, visit the fire technology web site at fire.swri.org.

For more information, contact Tracey M.S. Whelan, Communications Department, (210) 522-2256, PO Drawer 28510, San Antonio, TX 78228-0510.

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