IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 1 - Flammability Test

The “IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 1 - Flammability test” standard published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) describes a test method for materials that must be non-flammable, such as mineral wools and plasterboards.

This fire test was developed to identify products that produce only a very limited amount of heat and flame when exposed to temperatures of approximately 750 degrees. The primary purpose of this test is to determine the fireproofing of products for marine use.

Products and materials intended for marine use are subjected to fire testing in accordance with this standard. The results from these tests can be used as a basis for type approval (also called wheel marking).

Type approval is regulated in accordance with the European Parliament directive 2014/90/EU. Advanced laboratories can perform the fire tests, issue certificates and perform production control necessary to obtain the wheel mark.

When applying this test method, the organic content of the product is first determined. The potential combustion of the test sample is recorded as a temperature increase or visible flames. The mass loss of the test sample is calculated after the test. These parameters are used to decide whether the product is fireproof or not.

In these tests, the moisture content of the material is calculated as a percentage of dry weight. Test samples are heated in a ventilated oven at 105 degrees for 24 hours, cooled in a desiccator and then reweighed. The samples are subjected to further testing and heated in an oven at 500 degrees for two hours, then cooled in a desiccator and reweighed. The organic content is calculated as a percentage of dry weight.

For flammability evaluation, test specimens shall be cylindrical and shall be 43 - 45 mm in diameter and 50 mm plus/minus 3 mm in height. The test specimen is then placed inside a cylindrical, vertical furnace tube at 750 degrees. Furnace and specimen temperatures are measured continuously during the test. Multiple specimens are tested.

A material is considered non-flammable according to the IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 1 standard if all the following criteria are met:

• If the average furnace thermocouple temperature increase exceeds 30 degrees
• If the average test sample surface thermocouple temperature increase does not exceed 30 degrees
• If the average duration of continuous flame does not exceed 10 seconds
• If the average mass loss does not exceed 50 percent

While designing this standard, the "ISO 1182 Reaction to fire tests for products - Flame retardancy test" standard developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO) was taken as a basis. This standard describes a test method to determine the flame retardancy performance of homogeneous products and basic components of non-homogeneous products under specified conditions. Information on the sensitivity of the test method is given in the standard annex (Annex A).

For the purposes of this standard, the following definitions apply:

• Product is the material, element or component for which information is requested.
• A material is a single basic substance or a uniformly dispersed mixture of substances, such as metal, timber, mineral wool, uniformly dispersed binders and polymers.
• Loose fill material is material that does not have any physical form.
• A homogeneous product is a product consisting of a single material and having a uniform density and composition throughout.
• A non-homogeneous product is one that consists of more than one component, whether significant or insignificant, and does not have uniform density and composition throughout.
• A significant component is a material that forms a significant part of a non-homogeneous product and has a mass/unit area of ​​1,0 kg/m2 or more or a layer with a thickness of 1,0 mm or more.
• An insignificant component is a material that does not constitute a significant part of a non-homogeneous product and has a mass/unit area of ​​less than 1,0 kg/m2 and a layer thickness of less than 1,0 mm.
• Sustained flaming is the continuation of flame in any visible part of the sample for 5 seconds or more. Gas regions with a steady blue glow are not considered to be flaming.

Among the numerous testing, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies carried out for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services defined in the “IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 1 - Flammability test” standard with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.