Cone Calorimeter
Cone Calorimeter — ToronFT™ CC
ToronFT™ CC Cone Calorimeter is a state-of-the-art fire science instrument that measures heat release rate, mass loss rate, smoke production amount, smoke production rate, and other critical combustion properties of fireproof, fire-retardant, and all solid materials under precisely controlled preset conditions. Designed on the oxygen consumption principle (in which the heat release rate of a material is calculated from the oxygen concentration in the combustion product gas stream) the ToronFT™ CC delivers the most accurate, comprehensive picture of a material's combustion performance available in a laboratory instrument.
The cone calorimeter is widely recognized as the most important instrument for predicting fire hazards and evaluating the effectiveness of flame retardant prevention and treatment strategies. Its data can be directly imported into mathematical fire models to predict real-scale combustion behavior, making the ToronFT™ CC an essential resource for fire safety engineers, materials scientists, fire protection researchers, and quality inspection institutions worldwide.
Cone Calorimeter — ToronFT™ CC Applications
- Fire retardant material manufacturers: comprehensive combustion performance characterization of coatings, treated substrates, and composite materials
- Building and construction product manufacturers: heat release and smoke production qualification for construction material fire classification
- Research institutions and universities: fundamental fire science research, mathematical fire model development, and material combustion database generation
- Third-party fire testing and certification laboratories: heat release rate testing per ISO 5660-1 and ASTM E1354
- Quality inspection departments: detection and quantification of heat release properties for regulatory compliance and product approval
- Flame retardant chemical and additive manufacturers: evaluation of flame retardant treatment effectiveness across material types
Standards
The ToronFT™ CC supports cone calorimeter testing in compliance with internationally recognized fire science and material testing standards, including:
- ISO 5660-1: Reaction to fire tests — Heat release, smoke production, and mass loss rate — Heat release rate (cone calorimeter method)
- ASTM E1354: Standard test method for heat and visible smoke release rates for materials and products using an oxygen consumption calorimeter
- EN 13823: Reaction to fire tests for building products — Building products excluding floorings exposed to the thermal attack by a single burning item (data input reference)
- ASTM E1474: Standard test method for determining the heat release rate of upholstered furniture and mattress components or composites using a bench scale oxygen consumption calorimeter
- ISO 5660-2: Reaction to fire tests — Smoke production rate (dynamic measurement)
Cone Calorimeter — ToronFT™ CC Key Features
- Measures all critical combustion parameters: heat release amount, heat release rate, mass loss rate, smoke production amount, smoke production rate — comprehensive combustion performance characterization in one test
- Based on the oxygen consumption principle: the most accurate method for heat release rate determination across all fireproof and fire-retardant solid materials
- Data suitable for import into mathematical fire models for real-scale combustion behavior prediction: essential for fire safety engineering applications
- Radiation cone device: high-temperature-resistant stainless steel outer shell, high-temperature-resistant conical heating tube plate, and accurate temperature measurement thermocouple
- Non-reflective shielding layer with connecting rod transmission and positioning mechanism: precise cone heater positioning and irradiance control
- Ignition device with safety cut-off mechanism: safe, reliable specimen ignition with automatic safety protection
- Compliant with ISO 5660-1 and ASTM E1354: the two primary international cone calorimeter test standards
- Beautiful appearance, convenient, and accurate testing: designed for sustained laboratory operation with minimal operator effort
Theory and Method
The cone calorimeter measures heat release rate using the oxygen consumption principle: for most organic materials, a nearly constant amount of heat (approximately 13.1 MJ per kg of oxygen consumed) is released per unit mass of oxygen consumed during combustion. By continuously measuring the oxygen concentration and flow rate in the combustion product gas stream exiting the test chamber exhaust, the instrument calculates the instantaneous heat release rate with high accuracy throughout the entire combustion event.
The ToronFT™ CC radiation cone device and control system consist of a high-temperature-resistant stainless steel outer shell, a high-temperature-resistant conical heating tube plate, and an accurate temperature measurement thermocouple. The cone heater is composed of a non-reflective shielding layer using a connecting rod transmission and positioning mechanism, along with an ignition device equipped with a safety cut-off device. The specimen is exposed beneath the cone heater at a defined irradiance level, and the resulting combustion gases are captured by the exhaust hood and analyzed for oxygen, CO, and CO₂ content. Simultaneously, smoke optical density is measured and mass loss is recorded by the load cell throughout the test event.
Cone Calorimeter — ToronFT™ CC Technical Specifications
| Component / Parameter | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Model | ToronFT™ CC |
| Measurement Principle | Oxygen consumption calorimetry |
| Standard Compliance | ISO 5660-1; ASTM E1354 |
| Applicable Materials | All fireproof, fire-retardant, and solid materials |
| Measured Parameters | • Heat release amount & rate • Mass loss rate • Smoke production amount & rate • CO and CO₂ concentration |
| Key Features | • Comprehensive multi-parameter measurement • High-precision automatic data acquisition and real-time monitoring |
| Enclosure & Construction | |
| Enclosure Structure | Integrated design combining the analysis cabinet and experimental operation cabinet |
| Observation Window | Tempered glass equipped with a pressure relief function |
| Radiation Cone System | |
| Cone Construction | High-temperature stainless steel shell with a conical heating tube plate |
| Power & Intensity | Rated 5000W; Radiation intensity up to 100 kW/m² |
| Temperature Control | Computer + PID + SSR control for precise regulation |
| Radiation Shielding | • Material: 6 mm stainless steel (non-reflective) • Mechanism: Connecting rod transmission and positioning • Control: Automatic control system |
| Sensors & Heat Measurement | |
| Radiant Heat Flux Measurement | K-type stainless steel armored thermocouple |
| Heat Flow Meter System | Thermopile-type heat flow meter • Range: 0–100 kW/m² |
| Sample Handling & Ignition | |
| Sample Mounting Rack | Stainless steel; adaptable to different material mounting requirements |
| Weighing Equipment | G&G load cell • Range: 0–6200g • Accuracy: 0.01g |
| Ignition Device & Circuit | • Equipped with a safety cut-off device • High-voltage spark generator (10KV transformer) • Safe, fast-response automatic ignition |
| Exhaust & Gas Acquisition | |
| Fume Exhaust System | • Fan: Adjustable wind speed (exhaust volume 0–50 g/s) • Hood: Conical design for optimized airflow collection • Flow Meter: Orifice plate flow meter with high-precision digital output |
| Gas Acquisition & Pretreatment | • Filtration: Three-stage (high-temp, acid/alkali resistant, ≥0.45μm accuracy) • Vacuum Pump: Flow rate 36 L/min; max outlet pressure 7 KG |
| Gas Analysis System | |
| Oxygen (O₂) Analyzer | Siemens (Germany) • Range: 0–25% • Accuracy: ±0.1% O₂ • Response Time: <5 seconds |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Sensor | AGM Sensors (Germany) • Range: 0–10% • Accuracy: ±2% FS • Response Time: ≤6 seconds |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) Sensor | AGM Sensors (Germany) — Optional • Range: 0–1% • Accuracy: 0.1 ppm |
| Smoke Density Measurement | • Light Source: Helium-Neon laser (wavelength 632.8 nm, accuracy ±5%) • Photodetector: Hamamatsu monocrystalline silicon (Japan) |
| Calibration & Gas Supply | |
| Calibration Burner | Equipped with an adjustable gas expansion device |
| Gas Supply System | Includes pressure regulating valve, pressure gauge, and Mass Flow Controller (MFC) for a stable gas source |
| Data & Control System | |
| Control Interface | Computer-based with dedicated LabelView software for real-time viewing, calculation, and processing |
| Data Output & Reporting | Automatic saving, test report printing, and multi-curve comparison support |
| Calibration Program | Built-in support for calibrating various internal devices to ensure data accuracy |