ECE R118 Approval of Technical Instructions Regarding Combustion Behavior of Materials Used in Internal Structure of Certain Motor Vehicle Classes

EUROLAB laboratory provides testing and compliance services within the scope of ECE R118 standard. The ECE R118 test regulation regulates the principles for the approval of technical instructions (information) on the combustion behavior of materials used in the interior structure of certain motor vehicle classes. This technical regulation contains uniform provisions regarding the combustion behavior of materials used in the construction of certain categories of motor vehicles or their ability to repel lubricant.

This regulation includes combustion behaviors such as ignition, burning rate and melting behavior and fuel of materials used in M3 category vehicles (vehicles with at least four wheels, motor, more than eight seats other than the driver and used for passenger transport and with a maximum mass of more than 5 tons) or It applies to the ability to spray lubricants.

The R118 regulation on the fire reaction of different materials in the vehicle describes five different tests:

Lateral Flame Spread - Spread Test:

The test specimens are held vertically and exposed to a gas-fired radiant panel and a non-collision pilot flame. The hot end of the sample receives a radiant heat flux of 50.5 kW/m 2 and decreases to a level of 1.2 kW/m. Although the pilot flame will not strike the surface of the sample, it will act as an ignition source for any volatile gas produced by the product. During the test, the maximum distance traveled along the sample through the flame is recorded. The Critical Heat Flux (CHF) during quenching is determined with this test by measuring how far the flames travel from the surface of the sample.

Test to Determine the Horizontal Burn Rate of Materials Horizontally

The sample is held horizontally in a combustion chamber in a U-shaped support. The free end of the sample is exposed to a flame for 15 seconds. To calculate the horizontal burning rate of the material, the time required for the flame to cross the distance between the first measuring point and the last (or the self-extinguishing measuring point) is measured.

Test to Determine the Melting Behavior of Materials

The sample is placed 500 mm under a 30 W radiant heat source. Below the sample is a chamber filled with cotton wool. The purpose of this test is to pay attention to their condition if the sample ignites, burning or non-combustible falling droplets, if any - cotton wool ignites or does not.

Test to Determine the Vertical Burn Rate of Materials

The rectangular sample is held vertically in a sample holder that allows 220 horizontal thread markers to be placed at 370 mm, 520 mm and 3 mm from the lower edge of the sample. A 30 mm flame with a 20° inclination from the vertical is applied over the sample for 5 seconds. During testing, the time required for yarn markers 1, 2 and 3 to break is measured from the moment the flame is applied.

Resistance to Flame Spread Test

A 950°C flame is applied perpendicularly to a sample of cable with a 45° inclination and is choked by applying mechanical stress until the conductor is visible or when: 15 s for cables with conductor size greater than 2,5 mm² for cables with conductors greater than 2,5 mm² 30 mm² - Less than or equal to XNUMX sec. This test is timed to determine when the flame is extinguished so that the burn length of the cable is also measured at the end of the test.

The application for approval of a tire type under this regulation is made by the tire manufacturer or its representative.

EUROLAB laboratory, with its professional engineer staff, provides the best service to you, our suppliers and manufacturers, with its 118 years of experience, within the scope of the Approval of the Technical Instructions Regarding the Combustion Behavior of the Materials Used in the Internal Structure of ECE R25 Certain Motor Vehicle Classes. Do not hesitate to contact our organization EUROLAB for all your automotive testing and service requests.