Fire Performance of Intermodal Shipping Containers
Abstract
During the week of 19 July 1976, a full-scale fire test series was performed at the U.S. Coast Guard Fire and Safety Test Detachment to examine the potential Fire hazards of intermodal shipping containers. The three-part test series was conducted on Little Sand Island in Mobile Bay, Alabama. The first sequence of tests were planned to evaluate whether a fire originating within a sealed intermodal container could burn through the container shell. The second task of the test series was to determine the effects of an exterior pool fire exposure on a single level of containers, and the final task was to evaluate the effects of an exterior pool fire exposure on a stack of containers. Standard 8 foot by 8 foot by 20 foot steel, aluminum and fiberglass-reinforced plywood shipping containers were tested. The interior fire tests utilized two 30-pound wood cribs constructed of white fir and 2 gallons of naptha as a fuel source. For the exterior fire tests, a 29 x 24 foot steel test pan containing JP-5 was constructed beneath the container stack. Standard container stacking and lashing arrangements were used for all tests.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA047513
Entities
People
- Randall Eberly
Organizations
- United States Coast Guard Research & Development Center