Part 4 - Test for Fire Door Control Systems

  1.1 Fire door control systems which are intended to be used for fire doors capable of operating in case of fire shall be tested in accordance with the fire test procedure described in this appendix independent of its power supply (pneumatical, hydraulic or electrical).

  1.2 The fire tests shall be a prototype test and be carried out with the complete control system in a furnace dimensioned according to resolution A.754(18).

  1.3 The construction to be tested shall be, as far as practicable, representative of that to be used on board ships, including the materials and method of assembly.

  1.4 The functions of the control system including its closing mechanism shall be tested, i.e. normal functions of and, if required, emergency function, including switchover functions, if this is a basis of the manufacturer's design. The required kind of installation and functions shall be evident from a detailed function description.

  2.1 The installation of the prototype control system shall fully comply with the manufacturer's installation manual.

  2.2 The prototype control system shall include a typical door arrangement connected to the closing mechanism. For the purpose of the test a door model shall be used. In case of sliding doors, the model door shall run in original door tracks with original supporting and guide rollers. The model door shall have the weight of the largest door to be actuated by this control system.

  2.3 In case of pneumatic or hydraulic systems, the actuator (cylinder) shall have the maximum length allowed by the furnace.

  4.1 Conditioning of the prototype control system (except insulation) is not necessary.

  4.2 If insulation material is used in the construction, the prototype control system shall not be tested until the insulation has reached an air dry condition. This condition is designed as an equilibrium (constant weight) with an ambient atmosphere of 50% relative humidity at 23°C.

 Accelerated conditioning is permissible provided the method does not alter the properties of component materials. High temperature conditioning shall be below temperatures critical for the materials.

  5.1 The prototype fire door control system and the insulation, if used for protection of the system or parts of it, shall be mounted at the bulkhead plate as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1 Structural core for fitting the prototype fire door control system

  5.2 The structural core shall be mounted at the furnace in accordance with the principles for 'A' class divisions in paragraph 5 of resolution A.754(18).

  5.3 The door model shall be arranged within the furnace. The structural core to which the system and the door model are fitted shall have no door opening. However, small openings for the release mechanism of the control systems are allowed.

 The furnace and the instrumentation of the furnace shall be in accordance with section 7 of the Annex to resolution A.754(18).

  9.1 During the first 60 min of the test, a prototype fire door control system shall not fail.

  9.2 During the period from the end of the first 60 min until the end of the test, the door shall remain closed.

 The test report shall include all important information relevant to the prototype control system and the fire test, including the following specific items:

• .1 the name of the testing laboratory and the test date;

• .2 the name of the applicant for the test;

• .3 the name of the manufacturer of the prototype control system and of the products and components used in the construction, together with identification marks and trade names;

• .4 the constructional details of the prototype control system, including description and drawings and principal details of components. All the details requested in section 2 shall be given. The description and the drawings which are included in the test report shall, as far as practicable, be based on information derived from a survey of the prototype control system. When full and detailed drawings are not included in the report, then the applicant's drawing(s) of the prototype control system shall be authenticated by the laboratory and at least one copy of the authenticated drawing(s) shall be retained by the laboratory; in this case reference to the applicant's drawing(s) shall be given in the report together with a statement indicating the method of endorsing the drawings;

• .5 all the properties of materials used that have a bearing on the fire performance of the prototype control system together with measurements of thickness and density of the insulation material(s);

• .6 a statement that the test has been conducted in accordance with the requirements of this Appendix and if any deviations have been made to the prescribed procedures (including any special requirements of the Administration), a clear statement of the deviations;

• .7 the name of the representative of the Administration present at the test. When the test is not witnessed by a representative of the Administration, a note to this effect shall be made in the report in the following form:

  • "The ..... (name of the Administration) ... was notified of the intention to conduct the test detailed in this report and did not consider it necessary to send a representative to witness it.";

• .8 information concerning the location of the pressure gauges or other devices together with tabulated data obtained during the test;

• .9 observations of significant behaviour of the prototype control system during test and photographs, if any; and

• .10 a statement that the prototype fire door control system has passed the test and complies with the classification criteria.