What Is Fire Testing?
Marine fire test is a group of tests in which the materials and compartments to be used on the ship are evaluated in terms of non-flammability, flame spread, smoke and toxicity and compartment fire resistance according to the annexes defined in the IMO Fire Test Procedures (FTP) Code.
Purpose of Fire Testing
The aim is to verify that materials and compartments meet SOLAS fire safety requirements and to form the basis for ship equipment approval.
Which Products Is Fire Testing Applied To?
- Ship interior coating and flooring materials
- Class A and B partitions, doors and windows
- Insulation materials
- Pipe penetrations and cable penetrations
In Which Sectors Is Fire Testing Used?
Standards Related to Fire Testing
- IMO FTP Kodu (2010 FTP Code)
- SOLAS Chapter II-2
- IMO A.653(16) surface flame spread
- ISO 834 (fire resistance temperature curve)
- IEC 60945maritime navigational and radio communications equipment test
- Marine Equipment DirectiveEU ship equipment directive test
- IMO RequirementsInternational Maritime Organization requirements test
- SOLAS EquipmentEquipment covered by the safety of life at sea convention test
Fire Testing Conditions
- Flammability
- Fireproof material test according to FTP Code Annex 1 Part 1
- Surface flame spread
- FTP Code Annex 1 Chapter 5
- smoke and toxicity
- FTP Code Annex 1 Part 2
- Partition fire resistance
- FTP Code Annex 1 Section 3; Class A or B time with standard temperature–time curve
Equipment for Fire Testing
- Fire resistance furnace (vertical and horizontal)
- fireproof furnace
- Surface flame spread test setup
- Smoke chamber and gas analysis system
Sample Requirements for Fire Testing
- The sample must represent actual construction detail and thickness
- In the split test, the sample must be of actual size
- Conditioning is defined in FTP Code
- Notified body testimony must be planned for approval
Duration of Fire Testing
Typically 6–12 weeks depending on the type of experiment.
Fire Testing Procedure
- 1The place of use of the material and the required FTP section are determined.
- 2Samples are prepared and conditioned according to the actual structure detail.
- 3Relevant FTP experiments are applied.
- 4Temperature and integrity criteria are monitored in partition experiments.
- 5Results are compared to FTP Code benchmarks.
- 6The approval file is prepared.
Fire Testing Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance criteria are the criteria defined for each section in the FTP Code; Integrity and insulation times (such as A-60, B-15) are decisive in compartment tests.
Evaluation of Results
EN 13501 classification for land structures cannot be used for ship approval; The FTP Code defines different experiments and different criteria. Additionally, split approval depends on the structural detail of the sample; If the detail changes, the approval becomes invalid.
Fire Testing Report
- Applied FTP Code sections
- Sample structure detail and thicknesses
- Experimental conditions and measurement records
- Classification result (e.g. A-60)
- Scope of approval and restrictions
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- SOLAS Chapter II-2
- Ship Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU (MED)
Denizcilik Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the Fire Testing test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Marine testing shows that equipment used on board withstands the marine environment and shipboard operating conditions. The character of the environment is decisive: continuous salt-laden humidity, rolling and pitching, engine-borne vibration, limited opportunity for maintenance and the difficulty of evacuation in the event of a failure.
The most distinctive aspect of the field is the CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE. A device that fails ashore is replaced; a navigation device that fails at sea means the ship does not know its position. Durability expectations and the certification burden for marine equipment are therefore markedly higher than for comparable equipment ashore.
Navigation and communication equipment is assessed under IEC 60945; this standard carries environmental durability, EMC and functional requirements together and distinguishes categories according to where the equipment will be mounted on board: protected, exposed deck and submerged categories are subject to different requirements.
On the digital interface side the IEC 61162 series is used. This is the body of protocols enabling devices on the bridge to talk to one another; in integrated bridge systems it must be shown that data exchange between devices works correctly.
On the shipboard electrical installation side the IEC 60092 series applies: cable types, installation rules, protection coordination and fire behaviour. Flame spread and halogen-free construction carry particular weight for cables on board, because smoke in an enclosed space directly obstructs evacuation.
On the shock side, naval vessels carry their own regime: the MIL-S-901 high-impact shock test simulates the effect of an underwater explosion. Testing at this scale is not required for civil ships, but vibration and inclination/roll tests are standard.
On the regulatory side the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) is decisive: equipment within scope carries the "wheelmark" and this is a regime SEPARATE from CE. Behind the requirements stand the SOLAS convention and International Maritime Organization resolutions; the scope list is updated regularly.
Classification societies add a second layer. DNV, Lloyd's Register, ABS, Bureau Veritas and similar bodies issue their own type approvals; a shipyard usually requires both the wheelmark and the relevant class approval. The two processes do not substitute for one another.
Method groups in this field
Environmental durability
Temperature, humidity, salt fog, vibration, rain and immersion under IEC 60945; levels according to the mounting category.
Electromagnetic compatibility
The EMC sections of IEC 60945; emission and immunity requirements specific to the shipboard environment.
Mechanical
Vibration, shock, inclination and roll tests; MIL-S-901 high-impact shock for naval vessels.
Electrical installation
Cable and installation requirements under the IEC 60092 series; cable fire behaviour and halogen-free construction.
Digital interface
Data interface conformity under the IEC 61162 series and integrated bridge system compatibility.
Fire safety
Reaction to fire, smoke and toxicity for shipboard interior materials; fire resistance for hoses and penetrations.
Commonly confused in this field
- The wheelmark is not the CE marking; it is a different regulatory regime with its own scope list.
- MED approval and classification society type approval do not substitute for one another; a shipyard usually requires both.
- The IEC 60945 category selection depends on the mounting location; an approval obtained for a protected area is not valid for an exposed deck.
- An approval obtained for a civil ship does not satisfy naval shock requirements.
- An onshore EMC report is not sufficient for marine use; IEC 60945 defines its own limits and set-ups.
- Scope lists are updated; equipment once outside the scope may later fall within it.
Which decisions these results support
- Marine equipment type approval and the wheelmark
- Classification society type approval
- Compliance with shipbuilding and shipyard procurement specifications
- Shock qualification in naval programmes
- Verification of integrated bridge system compatibility
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Testing
Is EN 13501 class valid for ship?
No. Ship materials are evaluated according to the IMO FTP Code. Euroclass classification given for land structures is not accepted in marine approval.