Roof Coverings Fire Spread Test Machine 

Product introduce

Our photovoltaic combustion tester is designed to meet UL 1703 (Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1703: Standard for Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels) and related international standards to evaluate the fire performance of flat-plate photovoltaic modules and panels. The equipment accurately simulates the flame spread test, burning brand test and system fire rating test of UL 790 (Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings) to ensure that the product meets Class A, B, and C fire ratings. The tester supports IEC 61730-1 (Photovoltaic Module Safety Qualification – Part 1: Requirements for Construction) and IEC 61730-2 (Part 2: Requirements for Testing), and is compatible with global market certification requirements, covering crystalline silicon, thin-film photovoltaic modules and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Combined with NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) and IBC (International Building Code) requirements, the equipment ensures that the test environment truly simulates rooftop fire scenarios and is applicable to rooftop and ground-mounted photovoltaic products, but does not include inverters or concentrators. Our testers are efficient and reliable, helping manufacturers verify product fire safety in compliance with North American and international standards.

Standard

UL 1730

Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1703: Standard for Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules and Panels

UL 790

Underwriters Laboratories Standard 790: Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings

IEC 61730-1

International Electrotechnical Commission 61730-1: Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification – Part 1: Requirements for Construction

IEC 61730-2

Test product range

Photovoltaic Modules
Definition: The smallest environmentally protected unit consisting of solar cells and related components (such as interconnects, terminals, packaging materials), designed to generate direct current under non-concentrated light conditions.
Types:
Crystalline silicon modules: monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon.
Thin-film modules: amorphous silicon (a-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), etc.
Application scenarios: rooftop installation, ground installation, pole installation or building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).
Photovoltaic Panels
Definition: A field-installable unit consisting of multiple photovoltaic modules that are mechanically fixed and electrically connected.
Application scenarios: Large photovoltaic systems, such as commercial or industrial rooftop projects, must meet the same fire, electrical and mechanical safety requirements as modules.

Technical parameters

1.Metal fan-shaped adjustment plate, adjustable testing angle, size: 1440 (L) x 940 (H) mm, adjustable height for test sample placement bracket, convenient for user use.

2.The sample table can be pushed forward and backward to meet different testing standards.

3. Non combustible test board, installed at the end of the test board, can prevent the occurrence of tempering under the test board.

4.The main frame is used to support the testing bracket, a corrosion-resistant steel structure, with dimensions of 1020 (L) x 1000 (D) x 1473 (H) mm.

5. Non combustible board components, cast with refractory materials, installed at the front end of the frame, simulating eaves and eaves, extending flames from the burner to the specimen, with dimensions of: 330 (W) x 2130 (D) x 584 (H) mm.

Technical parameters and configuration list of combustion air supply system:

1.metal air duct device with a wall thickness of 2mm, dimensions: 2130 (W) x 762 (H) x 3000 (L) mm

2. A honeycomb filter is installed in the air duct, and guide vanes are installed at the gas inlet. The angle of the guide vanes can be manually changed to adjust the air duct speed, and a device is equipped to record the rotation angle of the guide vanes.

3. Adjustable turbulence blades in the air duct, used to regulate wind speed and reduce turbulence, made of metal, will not change position with changes in wind pressure, with dimensions of 750 x 300 x 2 mm, totaling 7 pieces

4.Air duct bracket device: 970 (W) x 2184 (H) x 1950 (D) mm.

5. The material of the air duct is stainless steel, corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant, with dimensions of 2200 (W) x 846 (H) x 1350 (D) mm; The honeycomb grille at the exit measures 2100 (W) x 750 (H) x 300 (D) mm.

6.The rear tilting single suction belt fan is a 380V, 50HZ, three-phase electric fan with an air volume of 55000CMH, static pressure of 800PA, motor of 40HP4P, equipped with a common base and spring shock absorber, and uses Siemens horizontal motor.

7.One high-voltage control box, placed inside the combustion chamber, containing a frequency converter for adjusting the wind speed of the centrifugal fan.

8.The fan is connected to the air duct, and an internal airflow stabilization system is installed to reduce the turbulence caused by the centrifugal fan. A soft connection method is used to avoid resonance.

9. The air duct is installed with a metal staircase, and a thick metal stepping device is installed at the top for testing personnel to adjust and observe at the top.

Technical parameters and configuration list of combustion control system:

10. The AGF UL790 gas burner from the United States (used for intermittent ignition, flame propagation, and flame flying tests) is 1.12m long, with a diameter of 60.3mm, and has a 12.7mm wide and 0.91m long slit facing the test plate. The burner is located 27.3cm (10.75in) away from the air outlet.

11.The burner can be freely reversed for easy switching between different tests

12.The gas burner can provide 22000Btu/min (387kWh) and can automatically adjust the gas flow rate according to three combustion levels: A, B, and C. The flame temperature can reach (760 ± 28) ℃ or (704 ± 28) ℃ through adjustment.

13.The combustion system includes control components such as mass flow meters and pneumatic gas shut-off valves. The solenoid valve is normally closed and can withstand a maximum pressure of 20000mmAq, 220V, 50/60HZ

14.Pressure gauge: range 0-3kg/cm2, operating temperature -20-80 degrees, accuracy of 1.5% full range

15.The automatic ignition system ensures the safety performance of the test, with a minimum high voltage of 1.8kVp for the ignition electrode 

16.Gas busbar device, capable of connecting 4 propane steel cylinders simultaneously, and equipped with manual cut-off ball valves and stabilizing valves. Equipped with a gasifier device to convert "liquid phase" into "gas phase", with a gasification capacity of 50kg/h and a hydraulic test pressure of 3.3MPa (33kg/cm2); Airtight test pressure: 2.7MPa (27kg/cm2); Safety valve opening pressure: 1.76MPa (17.6kg/cm2); The explosion-proof grade of the gasifier is DIIBt4;

17.One set of cylindrical gas burner required by UL in the United States

18.standard requires one set of gas burner

Data collection, monitoring and calibration system:

19.Written in VB programming language, data acquisition board provided by Advantech Taiwan
20.The collection system includes the following parts:
21 .16 channel temperature input module
22 .16 Bit Analog Input Module
23. digital input and output module
24 .12 Bit Analog Output Module
25. computer systems, 2 sets including 1 printer
26.One set of video surveillance system at the bottom of sample
27.One set of video surveillance system for the upper left corner of sample
28.One reflective observation mirror on the upper right corner of sample
29.According to the standard requirements, the air flow rate of the test bench panel is: the average value at three points is between 1012 ft/min and 1100 ft/min (5.19m/s and 5.65m/s), and the wind speed at each point is between 961 ft/min and 1155 ft/min (4.93m/s and 5.93m/s), equipped with a FLUKE anemometer from the United States.
30 .thermocouples (14 gauge K type, including calibration certificate) are used for vertical measurement and equipped with fixed installation devices
31. It is necessary to record the temperature of the thermocouple at any time point t seconds and the average temperature from 0 seconds to t seconds
Click on the corresponding distance on the software interface based on the visual distance of flame spread, and record the time it takes to reach that distance
33 software can automatically calculate gas flow rate and calculate the total gas consumption for the entire combustion test

Consumable materials for combustion testing:

34. 100 Class A wooden stacks, 300 square millimeter grid, approximately 57 millimeters thick, made of kiln dried knotless and scar free Douglas fir wood
35. 50 Class B wooden stacks, 150 square millimeters, approximately 57 millimeters thick, made of kiln dried knotless and scar free Douglas fir wood
36.50 Class  C wooden stacks, made of kiln dried knotless and scar free white pine wood, with dimensions of 38.1 × 38.1 × 19.8 millimeters
37. 10 pieces of plywood for combustion testing calibration

Auxiliary items for combustion testing (to be provided by the user):

38. One weighing balance device with a range of 5KG and an accuracy of 0.01g
39. One constant temperature oven
40. One set of smoke exhaust hood and smoke exhaust pipeline