Many of Mason’s acoustic products are installed in fire resistant walls or floors and are required to have the same fire rating (FRL) as the wall or floor.

In order to develop acoustic products with fire resistant properties, Mason installed a full scale, gas fired, vertical Fire Test Chamber as part of their R&D facility. This furnace is constructed in accordance with International Standards and is capable of undertaking tests in accordance with ASTM-E- 2074-00; BS476 Parts 20,22 & 24 and AS1530.4. It is also equipped with the apparatus required for hose stream testing under US Standards.

The furnace can test specimens up to 3000 x 3160 and may be used to test doorsets, walls, windows, access panels and fire stopping products. Temperature and pressure within the chamber are remotely controlled from the computerized control room, as required by the relevant Standards.

Following completion of product development using the in-house Fire Test Chamber, Mason fire resistant products are sent to independent Internationally accredited laboratories for confirmation testing. For example confirmation testing has been conducted at Warrington Fire research Melbourne Australia and Warnock Hersey Vancouver Canada.

The Fire Test Chamber is also used in the QA/QC process. Random sample fire testing of products permits Mason factory engineers to check that the products are fit for purpose.