UN-ECE-R118 REGULATION

UNIFORM TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE BURNING BEHAVIOR AND/OR THE CAPACITY TO REJECT FUEL OR LUBRICANTS OF MATERIALS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF MOTOR VEHICLES

General Premise:

The UN-ECE-R118 Regulation concerns the combustion behavior and/or the ability to reject the fuel or lubricant of the materials used in the construction of category M3 type II or III passenger vehicles.
The regulation describes the types of approvals applicable to the vehicle type and to the components located in certain areas of the interior of the passenger compartment and/or engine compartment.

Test:

Annex 6: Test to determine the HORIZONTAL BURNING SPEED OF MATERIALS

The sample is held horizontally in a combustion chamber in a U-shaped holder. The free end of the sample is exposed to a flame for 15 s. The time required for the flame to travel the distance between the first measurement point and the last one (or the measurement point where the flame extinguished), is measured to calculate the horizontal burning rate of the material. The horizontal combustion rate is then calculated using the formula V = 60 * space/time (mm/min).

The result of the test is considered satisfactory if, according to the worst results, the horizontal burning rate does not exceed 100 mm/minute or if the flame is extinguished before the last measuring point is reached.

Annex 7: Test to determine the MELT BEHAVIOR OF MATERIALS

The sample is placed 30 mm below a 500 W radiant heat source (Irradiance of 3 W/cm2). Under the sample is a container filled with cotton wool. The purpose of this test is to observe:

– if the sample ignites,

– if there are flaming or non-flaming droplets falling,

– whether the cotton lights up or not.

Annex 8: Test to determine the VERTICAL BURNING SPEED OF MATERIALS

The rectangular sample is held vertically in a sample holder with 3 markers (cotton thread). A flame set at a height of 40 mm and inclined 30° from the vertical is applied to the sample for 5 seconds. During the test, the time it takes for thread markers 1, 2 and 3 to break is measured from the moment the flame is applied. The vertical combustion rate is then calculated using the formula V = 60 * space/time (mm/min).

The result of the test is considered satisfactory if, according to the worst results, the vertical burning rate does not exceed 100 mm/minute or if the flame is extinguished before destroying one of the first reference wires.

Annex 9: Test to determine the CAPACITY OF MATERIALS TO REJECT FUEL OR LUBRICANTS

The components/materials to be tested are insulators fitted in the engine compartment and in each separate heating compartment.

The tested samples must have dimensions of 140×140 mm and the thickness must be 5mm.

The sample is fixed in the specimen holder support and immersed for 24 hours in the test fluid (diesel fuel on the market).

At the end of the test, based on the results obtained, the weight increase of the tested samples must not exceed 1 gram.

Annex 10: Test to determine the FLAME PROPAGATION RESISTANCE OF ELECTRIC CABLES

Five samples with a length of at least 600 mm of insulation are tested and are tested through a Bunsen burner with an appropriate gas. The sample is suspended and kept straight by means of a pulley (with weight at the end), with an inclination of 45° with respect to the vertical, in a chamber without air currents and exposed for examination to the internal blue cone of the flame (Temperature 950±50 °C).

The test result is considered satisfactory if, based on the worst results, the combustion flame of the insulation material is extinguished within 70 seconds and at least 50 mm of insulation remain intact at the top of the test specimen

Conclusion:

The conformity of the components/materials used for the construction of class M3 vehicles for the transport of people, with respect to the Regulations, is necessary for the issue of the Approval by the Ministry of Transport.

In our laboratories we can perform the various tests according to all the annexes relating to the Standard, issuing Accredited Reports according to UNI EN ISO 17025:2018.

These tests can in any case be supervised by the Officials of the Ministry of Transport who, if compliant, can start the Homologation process.

And what better way to carry out these flammability tests and more than by contacting an ACCREDIA Accredited Laboratory, according to ISO/IEC 17025, precisely for all the attachments required by the UN-ECE-R118 regulation?

A special thanks to our Personal Technician who is able to satisfy your every need, following your requests step-by-step: from the request for an offer, up to the issue of the report and, if necessary, even afterwards.

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