Composite building materials, such as Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP) are widely used in the exterior cladding systems of modern buildings. However, FRP's classification as a combustible material presents concerns with respect to external fire spread. Combustible exterior cladding assemblies are required to pass the NFPA 285 multi-story building test. The full-scale NFPA 285 test is expensive to run, and it is challenging to repeatedly test the exterior cladding specimen when considering potential alterations to the assembly. This project focuses on utilizing a cost-effective intermediate-scale screening rig in the WPI Fire Laboratory to provide results, which are indicative of the full-scale NFPA 285 test.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Dong, Jiawen Michelle
• Rice, Shannon Marie
• Sullivan, Keith Joseph
• Schiffhauer, Earl Michael

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042816-110322

Advisor

• Dembsey, Nicholas A.

Year

• 2016

Sponsor

• Kreysler and Associates

Date created

• 2016-04-28

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright