AS 1603.3:2018 Australian Standard Automatic fire detection and alarm systems
5.1.3 Operating conditions for tests
If a test method requires a specimen to be operational, the specimen shall be connected to a power source with characteristics that enable the heat alarm’s normal means of operation. Unless otherwise specified in the test method, the power source parameters applied to the specimen shall be set within the normal range(s) of operation and shall remain constant throughout the tests. The value chosen for each parameter shall normally be the nominal value, or the mean of the specified range. The details of the power source used shall be given in the test report (see Clause 6).
5.1.4 Mounting arrangements
The specimen shall be mounted by its normal means of attachment. If more than one method of mounting is identified, the method considered to be the most unfavourable for each test shall be used.
5.1.6 Measurement of response time
The procedure shall be as follows:
(a) Mount the specimen for which the response time is to be measured in a heat tunnel (see AS 7240.5) as specified in Clause 5.1.4. The specimen shall be connected to suitable supply and monitoring equipment in accordance with Clause 5.1.3.
(b) The orientation of the specimen, relative to the direction of air flow, shall be that which gave the maximum response time in the directional dependence test (5.2),unless otherwise specified.
(c) Before the measurement, stabilize the temperature of the air stream and the specimen at the temperature specified in the applicable test procedure.
(d) Make the measurement by increasing the air temperature in the heat tunnel, linearly with respect to time at the rate of rise specified in the applicable test procedure, until the supply and monitoring equipment indicates an alarm or until the upper limit of the response time for the test is reached. During the measurement, the air flow shall be maintained at a constant mass flow, equivalent to (0.8 ±0.1) m/s at 25°C. The air temperature shall be controlled to within ±2 K of the nominal temperature required at any time during the test (see AS 7240.5).
(e) The response time is measured from the moment the temperature starts increasing to the indication of an alarm from the supply and monitoring equipment.