AS 1530.8.1:2018 Australian Standard Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures
15.1 General
This Clause sets out specific procedures for determining the BAL of external walls. It shall be read in conjunction with Clauses 1 to 14 and Clause 23 of this Standard. This Clause is not intended for evaluating the performance of doorsets, glazing, dampers, service penetrations and similar components, often found in walls, as these are covered by other clauses of this Standard.
15.2 Test specimen configuration
The wall system shall be installed and tested in a manner representative of the intended application. The wall shall include corner details by incorporating a rebate in the centre of the specimen with an eaves detail and non-combustible sill and window as shown in Figure 15.4. It shall include representative base of wall details and any openings to wall cavities. It shall also be tested with horizontal or vertical joints where these form part of the wall in practice. Stiffeners (or the like) that form part of the wall shall be incorporated and tested in the test specimen.
NOTE: In-built features such as service penetrations and attachments may be incorporated and tested in accordance with the relevant sections in addition to this Clause.
The eaves and window details shall be constructed in accordance with the minimum prescribed solutions specified in AS 3959 for the applicable BAL (Radiation Level) being evaluated, to demonstrate that the wall system will not compromise the performance of the eaves and window details without screens.
NOTE: Alternative eave and window details may be included; however, the results are only applicable to the tested construction.
15.4 Instrumentation
Thermocouples used to measure non-fire-side temperatures of the specimen and internal surface temperatures shall conform with AS 1530.4. To measure the average temperature rise on the unexposed face of the specimen and average temperature of the internal surface of an external skin, five thermocouples shall be used. One thermocouple shall be placed close to the centre and the rest shall be placed close to the centre of each quarter section, where practicable. The five thermocouples shall be positioned as shown in Figure 15.4. These thermocouples shall not be attached to the specimen over thermal bridges, joints, junction, through-connections and fixings such as bolts, screws or nails. Thermocouples shall not be placed over a ridge or in a depression unless it is wide enough for a disc to make full contact. For specimens of non-uniform thickness, for example, surfaces with corrugations or ribs, the thermocouples may be appropriately positioned in order to determine average temperatures.