Investigations of conveyor belts flammability. Comparison of flammability assessment using the large-scale gallery test and cone calorimeter

The paper describes results of investigations of conveyor belt flammability in full scale, using the large-scale gallery method and using cone calorimeter. On the basis of oxygen consumption calorimetry, the amounts of heat release during burning of conveyor belts were calculated. A correlation was found between results of conveyor belt flammability obtained using both methods. Criteria for conveyor belt flammability assessment were established for the cone calorimeter method, which define a level that would be equivalent to that for the large-scale gallery test. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.