When a building product claims to be non-combustible, this furnace gives the verdict. A cylindrical specimen is lowered into a furnace held at 750 °C and held there for the duration of the test; if the material contributes meaningful heat or flames, furnace and specimen thermocouples register temperature rise, and the specimen is weighed before and after. The Motis NCF uses PID temperature control with automatic switching between temperature and power control, and resistance-band heating wound on the radiation tube to reach and hold 750 +/- 5 °C.
How the Non-Combustibility Test Furnace works
The furnace is stabilised at 750 °C, verified with the furnace thermocouple calibration device supplied with the instrument - including a 360-degree rotating, lifting thermocouple scanner for wall temperature distribution. The specimen, monitored by furnace, specimen-centre and specimen-surface thermocouples, is inserted and the temperature traces and mass change are recorded for the assessment criteria of the standard.
Key specifications
| Standards | ISO 1182, GB/T 5464, BS 476-4 and BS 476-11, IMO FTP Code Part 1; the basis for GB 8624 grade A assessment |
|---|---|
| Furnace temperature | 750 +/- 5 °C, held by PID controller with thyristor power control and automatic temperature/power switching |
| Heating element | Resistance band wound on the radiation tube (Kanthal band, as documented for this model) |
| Thermocouples | Three measurement points - furnace, specimen centre, specimen surface (Omega thermocouples, as documented); calibration device with vertical gauge and 360° rotating scanner for wall temperature |
| Air flow | Stainless steel inverted-cone air stabiliser and cylindrical draft shield with Teflon treatment |
| Software | Staged heating-rate control; data acquisition and analysis software producing the test report |
What the test reports
- Furnace and specimen temperature rise
- Duration of sustained flaming
- Mass loss of the specimen
- Assessment against the non-combustibility criteria of the governing standard
Applications
Mineral wool, boards, mortars and other products aiming at Euroclass A1 or A1fl, marine FTP approval, or GB 8624 grade A are tested on this furnace. Together with the bomb calorimeter (for PCS) it completes the A1 evidence pair.
Frequently asked questions
Which standard should I order against?
Order against the standard your reports must cite. The instrument platform is shared across the listed standards, but fixtures, software templates and calibration routines differ, so name the standard (and its year) in your inquiry and the configuration will be matched to it.
Can the instrument be installed in an existing laboratory?
Yes, in most cases. Tell us the available floor space, ceiling height, exhaust capacity and gas supplies in your inquiry; large systems such as the SBI and tunnel furnaces need a dedicated exhaust arrangement, which is confirmed in the layout proposal before ordering.
Why do I also see a bomb calorimeter in A1 work?
ISO 1182 shows the product contributes almost no heat in the furnace; ISO 1716 (the bomb calorimeter) shows its total stored chemical energy is below the PCS limit. EN 13501-1 class A1 asks for both.
Configuration, installation and support
Every Non-Combustibility Test Furnace is supplied as a configured system, not a bare instrument: the test chamber or frame, the burner or heater assemblies named in the method, the measurement chain and the control software with the report templates for ISO 1182, GB/T 5464, BS 476-4, IMO FTP Part 1. Before quotation we confirm the installation conditions with you - floor loading and ceiling height for large rigs, exhaust and extraction routes, gas and fuel services, and power supply - because a fire test instrument only produces defensible data when the room around it is right. Commissioning covers assembly, calibration of the measurement chain against the method's own checks, and training of your operators on running the test and maintaining the apparatus. Spare ignition parts, thermocouples and other consumables for the first period of operation can be included in the supply, and the instrument is supported with calibration and maintenance services after installation.
What to include in your inquiry
To quote the Non-Combustibility Test Furnace correctly the first time, send: the standard and edition you will test to (ISO 1182, GB/T 5464, BS 476-4, IMO FTP Part 1); the materials or products you will test and their sizes; the configuration options you already know you need; and the destination laboratory's location and available services. If you are building a new fire laboratory rather than adding one instrument, say so - this apparatus is often planned together with the other instruments in its category, and a combined layout and exhaust plan is cheaper than three separate ones.