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The objective of this Test is to ensure that the Cabinet has been designed to limit internal temperature to no more than 177°C after one hour exposure (two hours for 9000 Series) to a severe fire. The most critical area of concern in this test is not often during the the fire itself but rather after the Test, during the 'furnace soak out' period
The 'furnace soak-out' is when the Cabinet is left to remain in a closed furnace after the flames have been put out to replicate an 'after-fire' environment. This Test is conducted to ensure that internal temperatures do not exceed the maximum 177°C after the fire due to external heat slowly radiating into the Cabinet.
At no time during the Test does the UL Test Test Requirement allow the temperature inside the Cabinet to rise higher than the temperature suitable for papers in order to pass the Test successfully.
This test is designed to reveal if the Cabinet able to withstand sudden exposure to high heat without exploding. This requires for a cold cabinet to be pushed into a furnace pre-heated to 1090°C. to simulate a cabinet falling into a fire. The furnace exposure continues at this temperature for 30 minutes. If no explosion results, the cabinet is left to remain in a closed furnace until sufficiently cool to be opened.
This Test requires for a hot cabinet to be dropped from 30ft (9.1 metres) onto rubble to simulate the effect of a floor collapsing during the fire. The Cabinet is then inverted and returned into the furnace for another 30 minutes to show that it still provides protection.
After the Impact and Re-heat test, the Cabinet is examined for deformation, rupture of parts or insulation and other evidences of through openings into the interior. The door of the RPF Cabinet is forced open only after it has sufficiently cooled from the exposure to fire.
In all the above Tests - The Fire Endurance, Fire Shock and Impact and Re-heat Tests, the Chubb RPF Cabinet has complied to the requirements of UL 72 Class 350 for Fire Protection. In addition to the various Tests outlined above, UL also reserves the right to inspect the manufacturing facility, components and suppliers that make up the manufacturing process of the Chubb RPF Cabinets.