Dripping Test Machine

Reaction-to-Fire Dripping Tester for Building & Fitting Materials

QualiDTM™ NF505 Reaction-to-Fire Dripping Tester is a specialized laboratory instrument for complementary dripping assessment within the French reaction-to-fire classification system for building and fitting materials. It evaluates whether thermally melting materials generate flaming or non-flaming drips when exposed to radiant heat, providing an important fire-performance parameter that may not be determined through primary reaction-to-fire tests alone.

The QualiDTM™ NF505 dripping tester is suitable for thermally sensitive materials such as thermoplastic films, flexible foams, synthetic textiles, and composite laminates that can melt, soften, or drip under heat exposure. It complements testing performed with the Epiradiator heat source specified in NF P 92-501 or the electrical burner used in NF P 92-503. When dripping occurs during these primary tests, complementary assessment with the NF505 can determine the nature of the resulting droplets.

During the test, molten material falls onto a standardized cotton wool indicator positioned beneath the specimen. The test determines whether the falling droplets ignite the indicator, allowing the dripping behavior to be classified as flaming or non-flaming. This provides valuable information for fire classification and reaction-to-fire evaluation of materials that exhibit melting or dripping characteristics.

Designed for building product manufacturers, construction material testing laboratories, fire safety research facilities, and regulatory compliance laboratories across the United States and Canada, the QualiDTM™ NF505 follows the structural and dimensional requirements associated with NF P 92-505 and European Directive 95/28/EC.

The compact tabletop design integrates a 500 W Epiradiator heat source, adjustable specimen support, and drop receptacle on a common base. This self-contained configuration provides a practical solution for laboratory dripping tests, reaction-to-fire evaluation, and building material fire performance testing, with convenient operation and routine maintenance.

Dripping Test Machine — QualiDTM™ NF505 Applications

The QualiDTM™ NF505 Dripping Test Machine provides complementary reaction-to-fire testing for building and fitting materials that exhibit melting or dripping when exposed to heat. It supports NF P 92-505 dripping evaluation and related fire classification procedures for materials requiring assessment of flaming or non-flaming drips.

Key applications include:

• Complementary dripping testing according to NF P 92-505 after primary reaction-to-fire tests performed according to NF P 92-501 or NF P 92-503 when flaming or non-flaming dripping is observed.

• M classification evaluation for building and fitting materials that melt, soften, or produce drips under specified fire exposure conditions.

• Fire performance testing of thermoplastic interior materials, including wall coverings, ceiling liners, synthetic foams, decorative laminates, and other heat-sensitive products.

• Complementary assessment following the NF P 92-504 flame persistency test when dripping occurs during the primary evaluation.

• Material qualification and pre-submission compliance testing for building products intended for French and European markets where M-class fire classification is required.

• R&D screening of thermoplastic and composite materials to evaluate dripping behavior under radiant heat and support material selection, formulation development, and product optimization.

• Third-party fire testing laboratory services for NF P 92-505 complementary dripping assessments of building material samples.

• Quality control testing for building product manufacturers requiring documented fire classification data for technical documentation, product data sheets, and CE marking support.

Applicable Standards & Regulatory Compliance

The QualiDTM™ NF505 Dripping Tester is designed for complementary fire performance evaluation in accordance with recognized French and European requirements. It supports NF P 92-505 dripping testing for materials evaluated within the reaction-to-fire M classification system, with applications covering building, fitting, and relevant interior materials.

NF P 92-505 — Complementary Dripping Test

NF P 92-505 specifies the complementary dripping test used to evaluate the fire behavior of building and fitting materials that produce flaming or non-flaming drips during primary reaction-to-fire testing. The method defines key test components and conditions, including the Epiradiator heat source, specimen support, drop receptacle, and cotton wool indicator used for assessing the ignition behavior of falling droplets.

95/28/EC — European Vehicle Interior Material Requirements

European Directive 95/28/EC addresses the burning behavior of materials used in the interior construction of certain categories of motor vehicles. Where applicable, the directive provides a regulatory framework for evaluating vehicle interior trim materials in relation to fire behavior and dripping characteristics.

North American Market Applications: The QualiDTM™ NF505 configuration described here focuses on the above French and European test requirements and does not reference Chinese national standards.

Dripping Test Machine — QualiDTM™ NF505 Key Features

The QualiDTM™ NF505 Dripping Test Machine combines an integrated radiant heat source, adjustable specimen support, and cotton wool drop receptacle in a compact laboratory system. Its configuration supports repeatable NF P 92-505 complementary dripping tests for building, fitting, and other thermally sensitive materials.

Integrated Common-Base Architecture

• Unified tabletop construction: The Epiradiator heat source, specimen support assembly, and drop receptacle are mounted on a common base for stable positioning and consistent component alignment.

• Fixed component geometry: The integrated structure helps maintain the specified spatial relationships between test components, supporting repeatable dripping test conditions.

• Self-contained configuration: All major test components are integrated into one compact platform for convenient laboratory operation.

500 W Epiradiator Heat Source

• 500 W Epiradiator-type radiant heat source: Provides the radiant heating required for the NF P 92-505 complementary dripping test.

• 100 mm radiant surface: Features a translucent vitreous fused silica disk with a 100 mm diameter, matching the specified Epiradiator source geometry.

• Vertical irradiation: The Epiradiator is mounted on the first stand to provide controlled top-down radiant heat exposure to the specimen.

• Consistent heat exposure: The defined radiant surface geometry supports repeatable thermal exposure during dripping evaluation.

Epiradiator Positioning and Removal

• Movable handle mechanism: Allows the Epiradiator support to be raised slightly and rotated 90° horizontally.

• Convenient specimen access: The radiant heat source can be moved away from the specimen area during loading and unloading.

• Stable test configuration: The positioning mechanism helps maintain the apparatus geometry when the heat source is returned to the testing position.

Adjustable Specimen Support Assembly

• Two-stand configuration: The second stand incorporates an adjustable assembly for positioning the specimen support and drop receptacle.

• 300 mm specimen-to-receptacle spacing: The upper specimen support and lower drop receptacle are positioned with a 300 mm separation according to NF P 92-505 requirements.

• Stainless steel specimen grid: A metal ring with a flat circular stainless steel wire grid provides stable horizontal specimen placement while allowing molten material and droplets to pass through.

• Free-drip configuration: The open grid design allows droplets generated during thermal exposure to fall directly toward the indicator receptacle.

Cotton Wool Drop Receptacle

• Flat-bottom indicator dish: The receptacle features a small dish with a flat bottom covered with standardized cotton wool.

• Dripping ignition assessment: The cotton wool acts as the indicator for determining whether falling droplets ignite during the complementary dripping test.

• 300 mm positioning: The receptacle is located 300 mm below the specimen support to capture droplets generated during testing.

• NF P 92-505 evaluation: The arrangement supports classification of dripping behavior based on the ignition response of the cotton wool indicator.

Distance Adjustment and Verification

• Integrated positioning guide: A guiding mark on the Epiradiator support works with a graduated metal rule attached to the second stand.

• Precise heat-source positioning: The system allows adjustment of the distance between the radiant surface and the upper surface of the specimen.

• Repeatable test setup: Clear distance measurement supports consistent positioning and repeatable radiant heat exposure from one test to another.

Compact Laboratory Construction

• Space-saving tabletop design: Measures 520 mm (W) × 350 mm (D) × 650 mm (H) for convenient installation in laboratory environments.

• Laboratory enclosure compatibility: The compact footprint can accommodate installation within suitable laboratory fume hoods or ventilated testing enclosures.

• 30 kg net weight: The relatively lightweight construction allows convenient repositioning when laboratory layouts or testing requirements change.

Theory and Method

The QualiDTM™ NF505 Dripping Tester evaluates the fire behavior of molten or dripping material generated when thermoplastic building and fitting materials are exposed to radiant heat. The NF P 92-505 complementary dripping test focuses on whether falling droplets can ignite a standardized cotton wool indicator beneath the heated specimen, providing additional information for reaction-to-fire classification.

Radiant Heat Exposure

The test specimen is placed horizontally on a circular stainless steel wire grid supported by a metal ring in the upper assembly. A 500 W Epiradiator-type radiant heat source is positioned above the specimen. Its 100 mm diameter translucent fused silica radiant disk delivers controlled radiant heat to the upper surface of the test specimen.

The distance between the Epiradiator radiant surface and the specimen is accurately established using a guiding mark on the Epiradiator support together with a graduated metal rule attached to the second stand. This positioning system helps provide consistent heat exposure and repeatable test conditions between specimens.

Dripping and Cotton Wool Ignition Assessment

As the specimen is heated, thermally softened or molten material may fall through the stainless steel specimen grid. The resulting droplets descend into a drop receptacle positioned 300 mm below the specimen support.

The receptacle contains a small dish with its flat bottom completely covered by standardized cotton wool, which serves as the ignition indicator specified for the complementary dripping assessment.

If a falling droplet ignites the cotton wool, the resulting observation is used in the M classification evaluation according to the applicable test procedure. Where the cotton wool remains unignited, the result is considered together with the observations from the applicable primary reaction-to-fire test, such as NF P 92-501 or NF P 92-503, including whether dripping was flaming or non-flaming.

Repeatable Test Positioning

The Epiradiator is mounted on a movable handle mechanism that allows the radiant source to be raised and rotated 90° horizontally away from the specimen. This provides convenient access for specimen installation, removal, and test setup while helping preserve the defined apparatus geometry.

The integrated positioning system combines controlled radiant heat exposure, fixed specimen-to-receptacle spacing, and repeatable Epiradiator positioning. Together, these features provide a practical configuration for NF P 92-505 complementary dripping tests and fire performance evaluation of thermoplastic and other heat-sensitive materials.

• Wide-input power supply: Supports 110–230 V AC, 10 A, providing compatibility with common U.S. and Canadian laboratory power configurations.

• Operating temperature range: Designed for ambient operating conditions from 10°C to 30°C, suitable for standard conditioned laboratory environments.

Dripping Test Machine — QualiDTM™ NF505 Technical Specifications