Premier Control Technologies Fluid Solutions
Modern fire testing laboratories demand highly stable, repeatable and traceable control of fuel, air, pressure and temperature. Whether performing flame spread tests, calorimetry, reaction to fire assessments or chamber based evaluations, the precision of gas delivery, pressure stability and temperature measurement directly influences test quality and compliance.
This page brings together the most relevant instrumentation technologies from the PCT portfolio that support UK and Irish fire testing laboratories across burner control, chamber pressure management, calibration delivery and specimen monitoring. The following sections outline the key fire testing applications, their technical challenges, and the specific PCT products best suited to each.
Burner fuel flow control is central to every fire testing system, as it determines ignition consistency, flame intensity, test repeatability and compliance with EN/ISO/IMO fire test procedures. Precise modulation of fuel flow ensures stable burner characteristics throughout the test, particularly where heat release verification or defined flame exposure profiles are required. Variations in fuel flow can distort flame height, flame shape and burner stoichiometry, leading to inconsistent results. Fire test rigs often operate at low flows and low pressures, requiring highly sensitive instrumentation. Laboratories must also balance fuel delivery responsiveness with long term stability. Robust, verifiable fuel flow indication is therefore essential for ensuring reproducible fire test outcomes.
Combustion air regulation ensures the correct stoichiometric air to fuel ratio at the burner, preventing incomplete combustion and ensuring consistent flame exposure conditions. Fire testing standards often require defined oxygen availability or stable airflow into burners for compliance. Even small deviations in air flow can change flame temperature, flame shape and heat release dynamics. Test rigs typically feature low pressure, low velocity air paths, meaning sensors must be both responsive and stable. Accurate airflow regulation supports repeatable ignition, flame uniformity and test method reproducibility.
Draft pressure is critical in enclosed fire testing chambers where consistent extraction, oxygen replenishment and combustion gas evacuation must be maintained. Improper draft conditions can cause flame lift, quenching, excessive turbulence or unstable combustion. Standards such as EN 13823, ISO 5660 and BS 476 require stable chamber conditions to ensure repeatability. Draft pressure must often remain slightly negative but tightly controlled, demanding a responsive pressure stabilisation system. High accuracy pressure control improves measurement repeatability and helps maintain consistent boundary conditions.
Orifice plates are widely used for low pressure gas measurement and test gas characterisation in fire testing systems. Maintaining a stable differential pressure across an orifice ensures consistent gas flow rates used for burner calibration or airflow verification. Variability in downstream extraction, supply fluctuations or unexpected disturbances can distort ΔP readings. Accurate differential pressure regulation improves burner reproducibility and reduces calibration drift. In many test environments, maintaining ΔP is also necessary for validating flow measurement traceability.
Calibration gas delivery underpins test rig validation, burner characterisation and regular test system verification. Fire testing laboratories must regularly apply known gas flows or pressures to validate sensors, burners and measurement equipment. Consistent delivery of calibration gas prevents drift and improves measurement comparability between laboratories. The delivery system must offer stable pressure and flow for reliable calibration. Any deviations reduce confidence in test results and regulatory compliance.
Fire testing laboratories frequently require controlled gas mixtures — for example, adjusting oxygen levels, blending reference gases or creating specific burner atmospheres. Gas ratio control ensures accurate flame characteristics and supports method development or research based tests. Even small deviations from the intended mixture can impact flame behaviour, smoke emission or heat release outcomes. A stable, verifiable gas mixing approach is essential for achieving consistent, repeatable combustion. Automated mixing systems reduce human error and support more advanced test rig automation.
Flame spread tests require precise, low flow fuel dosing to ensure controlled ignition and steady flame advance across test specimens. Inconsistent metering can skew flame progression and invalidate the test. Fire test rigs often demand stable, drift free metering at very low flow rates. Liquid fuel test setups (e.g., alcohol based flame spread methods) also require gentle, bubble free delivery. Automation of metering helps reduce operator variation and improves repeatability across batches of tests.
Stack temperature affects combustion efficiency, extraction rates, plume buoyancy and chamber thermal behaviour. In fire test environments, stack temperature data informs safety controls and ensures combustion products are evacuated properly. Temperature monitoring is also used to confirm stable test conditions and to diagnose burner or chamber issues. Sensors must withstand elevated temperatures and be positioned precisely for reliable readings. High quality temperature measurement helps maintain compliance with standards requiring controlled exhaust conditions.
Monitoring specimen surface temperature provides insight into material ignition, decomposition and heat transfer behaviour during fire tests. Many EN/ISO methods require temperature sensors to be mounted on or near the specimen surface with high repeatability. Temperature accuracy impacts the interpretation of ignition delay, flame spread and thermal degradation. Sensors must be fast responding and able to withstand intense local heating. Stable, repeatable measurement improves comparative performance assessments across materials and test runs.
Leak verification is essential for ensuring safe operation of gas panels and gas delivery systems in fire testing facilities. Undetected leaks can alter burner stoichiometry, pose safety hazards and invalidate calibration or test results. Regular leak checks ensure the integrity of regulators, valves, fittings and flexible lines. Leak detection is also part of many lab accreditation and maintenance protocols. A reliable measurement instrument ensures consistent and auditable leakage evaluation.
Chamber pressure stability determines oxygen replenishment, smoke evacuation and combustion behaviour inside fire test enclosures. Unstable chamber pressure can distort test results through turbulent flow, inconsistent flame contact or variable heat transfer. Pressure stability testing ensures extraction and makeup air systems are functioning correctly prior to live testing. Precise stability measurement is also essential where pressure dependent calorimetry or gas sampling is used. A stable chamber supports more repeatable and standard compliant testing outcomes.
Pilot flame reliability ensures safe burner ignition and prevents unburned gas accumulation. Purge line flow indication confirms that flow paths are cleared before ignition, reducing explosion risk. Both pilot and purge flows are typically very low, requiring sensitive and stable measurement. Accurate indication improves safety and supports test rig interlocks. Reliable flow confirmation contributes to both operational compliance and operator safety.
| Application | Recommended Technologies | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Burner fuel flow control | King Rotameters | Simple, reliable fuel flow indication for stable burner operation |
| Combustion air flow regulation | Alicat M Series MFMs | Accurate, responsive airflow measurement to maintain stoichiometry |
| Chamber draft pressure control | Alicat PC/PCD | Precise draft regulation for chamber stability and compliance |
| Orifice ΔP regulation | Drastar Regulators | Stable upstream pressure ensuring repeatable differential pressure |
| Calibration gas delivery | Equilibar BPRs | Ultra stable outlet pressure for calibration accuracy |
| Gas mixing & ratio control | PCT Gas Mixers | Automated, precise gas ratio control for test atmospheres |
| Flame spread fuel metering | Valveless Piston Pumps | Drift free micro dosing for liquid fuel ignition sources |
| Stack temperature monitoring | Temperature Probes & Thermowells | Durable, accurate sensing in high temperature exhaust paths |
| Specimen temperature measurement | Temperature Transmitters | Clean, isolated temperature signal output to DAQ/PLC |
| Gas panel leak verification | Process Displays | Clear, real time monitoring of stability during leak checks |
| Chamber pressure stability | Signal Conditioners | Noise free pressure signals for stability assessment |
| Pilot flame / purge flow | Peristaltic Pumps | Smooth, contamination free low flow delivery |
01953 609930
