Glossary of Terms and Definitions

afterflame
flame which persists after the ignition source has been removed

afterflame time
length of time for which an afterflame persists under specified conditions

afterglow
persistence of glowing combustion after both removal of the ignition source and the cessation of any flaming

afterglow time
length of time for which an afterglow persists under specified conditions

air inlet
device connected to outside air to allow the inlet of air from outside the construction work

area burning rate
area burned per unit time under specified conditions

ash
ashes mineral residue resulting from complete combustion

assembly
unit or structure composed of a combination of materials or products, or both

BS EN 12101-1 2005
Smoke and heat control systems. Specifications for smoke curtains

BS 7346 Part 3 1990
Smoke and heat control systems. Specifications for smoke curtains

BS 476 Part 6 1989
Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods of test for fire propagation for products

BS 476 Part 7 1997
Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods of test to determine the classification of the surface spread of flame of products

BS 476 Part 22 1987
Determination of the fire resistance of uninsulated doorsets and shutter assemblies

BS EN1634-1:2000
Fire resistance tests for door and shutter assemblies. Fire doors and shutters

BS EN1363-1:1999
Fire resistance tests. General requirements

BS EN1363-2:1999
Fire resistance tests. Alternative and additional procedures

BS EN1364-1:1999
Fire resistance tests for non-load bearing elements for Walls

BS EN1364-2:1999
Fire resistance tests for non-load bearing elements for Ceilings

BS476-20:1987
Fire tests on building materials and structures. Methods for determination of the fire resistance of elements of construction (general principles)

burn
intransitive verb to undergo combustion

burned area
that part of the damaged area of a material that has been destroyed by combustion or pyrolysis under specified conditions cf. damaged area

burned length
maximum extent in a specified direction of the burned area cf. damaged length

burning behaviour
all the physical and/or chemical changes that take place when an item is exposed to a specified ignition source

calorific value
cf. heat of combustion.

char, noun.
carbonaceous residue resulting from pyrolysis or incomplete combustion

char, verb.
to form carbonaceous residue during pyrolysis or combustion

char length
length of carbonaceous residue cf. burned length

chimney effect
upward movement of hot fire effluent caused by convection currents confined within an essentially vertical enclosure

clinker
solid agglomerate of residues formed by either complete or incomplete combustion and which may result from complete or partial melting

combustible, adj.
capable of being combusted

combustible, noun.
item capable of combustion

combustion
exothermic reaction of a substance with an oxidizer

commissioning
the act of ensuring that all components and the system are installed and operating in accordance with this standard

composite material
structured combination of two or more discrete materials

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Glossary of Terms and Definitions