Fire Testing and Research

Aon frequently conducts full-scale fire tests. All of our testing is performed in specially-designed facilities and under controlled conditions so that we can accurately determine material burning characteristics and consequently support the development of sprinkler system design criteria. In instances where stored commodities are a factor, the goal of our testing is to mimic actual warehouse conditions, allowing our researchers to better understand the growth rate and ultimate magnitude of potential fires in similar environments.

 

When you take into consideration the test commodity, technical expertise, use of test facilities and disposal and cleanup efforts involved with fire testing, it is no surprise that each fire test can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars. In some cases, the benefit of such testing may be realized in future construction costs with the development of a more cost-effective design. In most cases, however, it is based upon the realization that if a fire occurs in a facility using questionable design criteria, a catastrophic fire loss may result.

 

Ultimately, there are many benefits to fire testing and many applications for the test results, which can be used to obtain an approval or listing of a new suppression system arrangement or component use or to obtain an equivalency to an existing building code requirement from an Authority Having Jurisdiction. In addition, the design criteria may be adopted or codified in a code or standard.