Glossary of Terms and Definitions

large-scale test
test, which cannot be carried out in a typical laboratory chamber, performed on an item of large dimensions

linear burning rate
length of material burned per unit time under specified conditions specified actions during the relevant fire resistance test is assessed cf. fire resistance

mass burning rate
mass of material burned per unit time under specified conditions

mass loss rate
mass of material lost per unit time under specified conditions

minimum ignition time
duration of exposure of a material to a defined ignition source required for the initiation of combustion under specified conditions. cf. ease of ignition and exposure time

multi compartment fire resisting smoke control system ducts
fire resisting ducts for use in multi compartment application and that have been tested and met the requirements of prEN 1366-8

natural smoke and heat control system
a smoke and heat ventilation system which uses natural ventilation. Natural ventilation is caused by buoyancy forces due to differences in density of the gases because of temperature differences

numerical fire model
mathematical representation of one or more of different interconnected phenomena governing the development of a fire

non-combustible
not capable of undergoing combustion under specified conditions

non-flammable
not capable of burning with a flame under specified conditions

opacity of smoke
measure of the attenuation of a light beam passing through smoke expressed as the ratio of incident luminous flux to transmitted luminous flux through smoke under specified conditions

optical density of smoke
measure of the attenuation of a light beam passing through smoke expressed as the common logarithm (i.e. logarithm to the base Ig of the opacity of smoke)

oxygen index
OI minimum concentration of oxygen in a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen that will just support flaming combustion of a material under specified conditions

PAS 121:2007
Publicly Available Specification for active fire curtain barrier assembly’s and active fire curtain barrier assembly’s with smoke rating

penetration seal
the product used between the smoke control system duct and the fire compartment structure to maintain the fire resistance, when tested and having met the requirements of prEN 1366-8, at the position where a smoke control system duct passes through the element

physical fire model
laboratory process, including the apparatus, the environment and the test procedure intended to represent a certain phase of a fire

pilot[ed] ignition
ignition of combustible gases or vapours by a secondary source of energy, as by, for example, a flame, spark, electrical arc or glowing wire

powered smoke and heat exhaust system
a smoke and heat ventilation system which utilises a number of hot gas fans that are suitable for handling hot gases for a limited period of time which causes the positive displacement of gases

pressure differential systems
a system of fans, ducts, vents and other features provided for the purposes of creating a lower pressure in the fire zone than in the protected space - see prEN 12101-6

products of combustion
solid, liquid and gaseous materials resulting from combustion cf. fire effluent

pyrolysis
that part of the irreversible chemical decomposition caused solely by a rise in temperature

pyrophoric material
material capable of igniting spontaneously when brought into contact with air

"R" criterion
cf. load-bearing criterion "R"

rate of burning
burning rate Deprecated terms. cf. area burning rate , linear burning rate , mass burning rate , flame spread rate, heat-release rate , as appropriate

rate of heat release
cf. heat release rate

reaction to fire
response of a material in contributing by its own decomposition to a fire to which it is exposed, under specified conditions

real-scale test
test which simulates a given application, taking into account the real scale, the real way of working or installation and the environment

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Glossary of Terms and Definitions