Solutions / Construction material testing services

Construction material testing services

Measurlabs offers a wide range of laboratory testing options for assessing the properties of construction materials. Popular services include standardized fire classification and weathering tests.
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Fire classification of construction materials

European standard EN 13501-1 is used as the basis for construction material fire classification. This “parent standard“ specifies other EN and EN ISO standards for the testing of specific types of construction elements, such as flooring, pipes, and panels. The applicable standard also depends on the desired fire class, with more stringent testing requirements for higher performance classes.

Some of the construction material fire tests outlined in EN 13501-1 include the following: 

  • EN 13823 test for classifying non-floorings into classes A2, B, C, and D with the single burning item (SBI) method

  • EN ISO 9239-1 test for classifying floorings into classes A2fl, Bfl, Cfl, and Dfl

  • EN ISO 11925-2 ignitability test for classifying various types of construction materials into classes B, Bfl, BL, C, Cfl, CL, D, Dfl, DL, E, and Ef

  • EN ISO 1182 non-combustibility test for classifying various types of construction materials into classes A1, A2, A1fl, A2fl, A1L, and A2L

  • EN ISO 1716 test for classifying several material types into classes A1, A2, A1fl, A2fl, A1L, and A2L

If construction elements are used on buses, their burning and melting behavior is assessed using the UN/ECE R118 regulation as a safety reference. For building elements used on ships, the appropriate safety reference is the IMO 2010 FTP Code, and for railway components, the EN 45545-2 standard.

Horizontal flame propagation according to UN/ECE Regulation No. 118, Annex 6

ECE R118 annex 6
The burning rate of horizontally mounted materials designed to be used in vehicles and buses must be tested with the UN/ECE R118 annex 6 test before they can be approved for use. Measurlabs offers this and the other R118 tests with accreditation. In the test method, the exposed side of the test specimen is burned from underneath and the burning rate is measured and expressed in mm/min.
824–1,229 €
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Melting behavior of fusible materials according to UN/ECE Regulation No. 118, Annex 7

ECE R118 annex 7
The melting behavior of fusible materials used in certain motor vehicles must be determined according to Annex 7 of UN/ECE Regulation 118. In the test, it is monitored whether the specimen ignites, creates flaming droplets, and if these droplets ignite cotton wool placed under the specimen. For the material to pass the test, there must be no formation of flaming drops that ignite the cotton wool. Measurlabs can offer accredited test reports for the UN/ECE R118 Annex 7 test, as well as the Annex 6 and Annex 8 tests. Non-isotropic materials must be tested from both sides, which means that double the number of samples is required.
1,229–1,634 €
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Vertical flame spread according to UN/ECE Regulation No. 118, Annex 8

ECE R118
The burning rate of vertically mounted materials designed for vehicles and buses must be tested with the UN/ECE R118 Annex 8 test before approval for use. Measurlabs offers this and other accredited R118 fire tests. Upon meeting the requirements outlined in Annex 8, the requirements for horizontal flame spread (annex 6) are also met. In the test method, the exposed side of the vertically mounted test specimen is burned from underneath and the burning rate is measured in mm/min.
1,229–1,634 €
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IMO 2010 FTPC Part 1 – Non-combustibility test

Materials for maritime use are tested according to the IMO 2010 FTP Code (International Maritime Organization Fire Testing Procedures Code). Results can be used for type approval (wheel mark). Part 1 of the code describes the procedure for non-combustibility testing of maritime materials. First, the moisture content of the material is calculated as a percentage of the dry weight. Test specimens are heated in a ventilated oven at a temperature of 105 ºC for 24 hours and reweighted after cooling in a desiccator. Specimens shall be further tested and heated in an oven at a temperature of 500 ºC for 2 h and reweighted after cooling in a desiccator. The organic content is calculated as a percentage of the dry weight. For the non-combustibility assessment, the test specimens shall be cylindrical and have a diameter of 43 - 45 mm and a height of 50 ± 3 mm. The specimen is placed in a vertical tube furnace with a temperature of 750 °C. The furnace and specimen temperatures are measured continuously during the test. Multiple specimens are tested. The material is non-combustible according to IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 1 if all the following criteria are satisfied: The average furnace thermocouple temperature rise does not exceed 30 °C, The average test specimen surface thermocouple temperature rise does not exceed 30 °C, The average duration of sustained flaming does not exceed 10 s, The average mass loss does not exceed 50 %..
1,541 €
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IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 2 – Smoke and toxicity test

Smoke and toxicity testing by IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 2 is performed on surface materials to assess their suitability for marine use. The specimen is placed in a horizontal position under a cone radiator inside a smoke-density chamber. During the test, the specimen starts to emit smoke, which is collected in the closed chamber. The density of smoke is detected optically. When making toxicity measurements with FTIR, the concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen bromide (HBr), hydrogen fluoride (HF), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), nitrogen oxides NOx (NO + NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) are measured. Classification criteria for smoke An average (Dm) of the maximum of Ds of three tests at each test condition should be within the following limits: Dm 200 for materials used as the surface of bulkheads, linings, or ceilings, Dm 400 for materials used as a primary deck covering, Dm 500 for materials used as a floor covering , Dm 400 for plastic pipes and electric cables. Classification criteria for toxicity The gas concentrations measured at each test condition should be within the following limits: CO 1450 ppm, HCl 600 ppm, HBr 600 ppm, HF 600 ppm, HCN 140 ppm , NOx 350 ppm , SO2 120 ppm (200 ppm for flooring).
3,417 €
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IMO 2010 FTPC Part 5 – Test for surface flammability

Surface flammability testing by IMO 2010 FTP Code Part 5 is to be performed on surface materials to assess their suitability for use in shipbuilding. The specimen is inserted in the specimen holder together with a substrate. It is vertically positioned during the test and is exposed to a heat radiation panel. The test is conducted with a pilot flame. The time of ignition, the spread of flame, extinguishment of flame, and burning droplets are observed and noted. Also, the following parameters are measured: CFE = critical flux at extinguishment (kW/m2), Qsb = heat for sustained burning (MJ/m2), Qt = total heat release (MJ), Qp = peak heat release rate (kW).
1,108 €
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Prices excluding VAT.

Construction material weathering testing

Weathering testing

The durability of construction materials can be assessed through accelerated aging and weathering testing. In these tests, the material is exposed to fluorescent light or artificial daylight to evaluate how well it retains its characteristics under conditions that mimic exposure to the elements. Measurlabs offers weathering testing for coated panels by the ASTM G154 and ASTM G155 standards.

Hazardous substance screening

Construction materials can be screened for several types of hazardous substances that may be released into the environment during construction or into indoor air once the building is finished. These include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), volatile organic compounds (VOC), and heavy metals.

The following are just a few examples of Measurlabs' most popular analysis services for hazardous substance screening of construction materials:

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  • What type of construction material do you need to have tested?

  • Which types of tests do you need? What are the requirements regarding testing methods and standards?

  • Do you have a recurring need for these tests? If yes, how often?

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