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Automatic Glow Wire Tester (GWIT and GWFI)

Automatic Glow Wire Tester (GWIT and GWFI)
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Product Categories
Fire and Flammability Testing Equipment
Standards
IEC 60695-2-10
IEC 60695-2-13
UL 746A
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Automatic Glow Wire Tester (GWIT and GWFI) - QualiFlame™ GWT-A

Computer-Controlled Glow Wire Test Apparatus for Ignition Temperature and Flammability Index Determination

QualiFlame™ GWT-A automatic glow wire tester determines the glow-wire ignition temperature (GWIT) and glow-wire flammability index (GWFI) of solid insulating materials, engineering plastics, and finished electrical parts. Manufacturers use it to reproduce the thermal stress that an overloaded resistor or a failing heating element places on a polymer under fault conditions. The instrument heats a nickel-chromium loop to any set point between 550°C and 1050°C, holds it for one minute, and then applies it to the specimen under controlled force.

A microcomputer runs the full sequence and plots temperature-time and current-time curves as the test proceeds. The GWT-A logs ignition time, flame extinction time, and any ignition of the tissue layer caused by flaming droplets, which removes the stopwatch error that limits manual glow wire test apparatus. Operators store results, review stored curves, and export reports from a single interface. The cast test chamber and its extraction system draw combustion products away from the technician throughout the run.

Electrical and electronics manufacturers, appliance producers, new-energy material developers, and third-party certification laboratories apply the GWT-A to both material screening and product qualification. Optional robotic sample handling, barcode traceability, and cloud connectivity extend the platform toward unattended batch testing. Qualitest supplies the instrument with calibration accessories and application support for laboratories across North America.

Automatic Glow Wire Tester (GWIT and GWFI) - QualiFlame™ GWT-A Applications

The GWT-A serves any laboratory that must demonstrate a material or component will not propagate fire when a nearby part overheats. Its temperature range and force control cover the full span of glow-wire methods used in product safety programs.

  • Electrical and Electronic Components: qualifies connectors, switches, relay housings, terminal blocks, and printed circuit board substrates that sit close to current-carrying parts
  • Household Appliance Manufacturing: verifies enclosures, control panels, and internal supports against the glow-wire requirements written into appliance safety programs
  • Engineering Plastics and Compounding: ranks flame-retardant formulations during development so compounders can compare additive packages on GWFI and GWIT results
  • Wire and Cable Insulation: evaluates jacketing and insulation compounds for resistance to ignition from an adjacent glowing element
  • New Energy and Battery Materials: screens separator films, module housings, and busbar insulation used in battery packs and energy storage cabinets
  • Composite and Laminate Materials: tests glass-reinforced laminates, structural composites, and coated substrates where resin chemistry governs ignition behavior
  • Automotive Electrical Systems: assesses fuse boxes, harness supports, and cabin electronics housings exposed to localized heating
  • Certification and Third-Party Laboratories: produces traceable GWIT and GWFI records for compliance files, type approval, and customer audits
Automatic Glow Wire Tester (GWIT and GWFI)

Standards

The GWT-A follows the glow-wire methods that product safety programs reference for insulating materials and end products. Its geometry, applied force, penetration depth, and calibration routine match the requirements written into these documents.

  • IEC 60695-2-10 - Fire Hazard Testing, Part 2-10: Glowing/Hot-Wire Based Test Methods, Glow-Wire Apparatus and Common Test Procedure
  • IEC 60695-2-13 - Fire Hazard Testing, Part 2-13: Glowing/Hot-Wire Based Test Methods, Glow-Wire Ignition Temperature (GWIT) Test Method for Materials
  • UL 746A - Standard for Polymeric Materials, Short Term Property Evaluations

Automatic Glow Wire Tester (GWIT and GWFI) - QualiFlame™ GWT-A Key Features

The GWT-A pairs a rigid, sealed test enclosure with a computer control layer that handles temperature regulation, timing, and reporting in one sequence.

  • Integral Cast Test Chamber: a corrosion-resistant coated single-piece enclosure holds the loop, carriage, and specimen in fixed alignment, which keeps geometry stable through repeated high-temperature cycles
  • Layered Modular Layout: control, test, and flue-gas extraction functions occupy separate levels, so service access to one layer does not disturb the calibrated test zone
  • Concealed Check-Valve Extraction: an electric check-valve exhaust adjusts continuously from 0 to 2 m³/min at 55 dB or less, with anti-backflow efficiency above 99% to keep smoke out of the laboratory
  • x86 Control Platform: a 2.6 GHz processor with 8 GB RAM and a 256 GB SSD expandable to 2 TB runs the test software locally, so long test campaigns store on the instrument itself
  • Dual Gigabit Networking: two Ethernet ports at 1000 Mbps with IEEE 1588 precision time protocol support connect the tester to laboratory networks and synchronized data systems
  • Real-Time Curve Acquisition: temperature-time and current-time traces build on screen as the test runs, and stored curves stay available for online analysis and raw-data retrieval
  • Configurable Reporting: users edit test schemes, build their own report templates, and save, export, or print results, with capacity for 100 or more test records
  • Multi-Point Software Calibration: linear correction applies across several points on the temperature and current scales, which tightens accuracy without hardware adjustment
  • 7 mm Depth Control Module: a dedicated penetration limiter handles flat and curved specimens alike, holding contact geometry constant across sample shapes
  • ASTM B115 Calibration Probe: the oxygen-free copper sensor probe delivers stable thermal response during verification checks
  • Adjustable Timing Across the Sequence: hot period, contact duration, and recording windows all set from the software, which lets one instrument cover several glow-wire procedures

Theory and Method

Glow-wire testing models a single, well-defined failure: a component inside a product overheats and glows, and the surrounding plastic must survive that contact without spreading fire. The GWT-A reproduces the condition with a U-shaped nickel-chromium loop (Ni 77%, Cr 20%) of 4.00 mm diameter that carries up to 170 A. Resistive heating raises the loop to incandescence, and a Type K sheathed thermocouple embedded at the tip feeds a closed control loop that holds the set point within ±2°C. Silver foil calibration confirms thermocouple placement, since pure silver melts at 961.8°C and provides a physical reference near the middle of the working range.

Once the loop stabilizes for one minute, the carriage advances the specimen horizontally at 18 ±3 mm/s until contact occurs at a force of 0.95 N. A mechanical stop limits penetration to 7.0 mm, so every specimen receives the same contact geometry regardless of how quickly the polymer softens. Conduction drives the surface layer above its decomposition temperature, volatiles evolve, and the mixture of pyrolysis gases and air above the contact zone either ignites or disperses. The instrument times ignition and, after the standard 30-second contact period, times flame extinction and watches the tissue layer below for droplet ignition.

The two reported indices read that behavior differently. GWFI identifies the highest temperature at which the specimen either fails to ignite or self-extinguishes within 30 seconds of loop withdrawal, without burning through and without igniting the tissue beneath. GWIT works from the opposite direction: the instrument finds the highest temperature that produces no ignition across three specimens, then the result is reported 25 K above that value, or 30 K above when it exceeds 900°C. Automated current control and curve capture make both determinations repeatable across operators and shifts.

Automatic Glow Wire Tester (GWIT and GWFI) - QualiFlame™ GWT-A Technical Specifications

ParameterSpecification
ModelQualiFlame™ GWT-A
Test TemperatureRoom temperature to 1050°C, ±2°C, continuously adjustable
Hot Period Duration0 to 9999.9 s, ±0.1 s, continuously adjustable
Ignition Time Recording0 to 9999.9 s, ±0.1 s, circuit-controlled
Fall Time Recording0 to 9999.9 s, ±0.1 s circuit-controlled
Penetration (Browning) Depth7.0 mm ±0.5 mm
Test Advance Speed18 ±3 mm/s
Applied Force0.95 ±0.1 N
Glow Wire MaterialNickel-chromium alloy (Ni 77%, Cr 20%), Ø4.00 mm ±0.07 mm
Glow Wire ShapeU-shaped loop, horizontal and stationary
ThermocoupleType K, sheathed (armored), Ø1 mm
Calibration MethodSilver foil, 960°C ±10°C
Heating Current0 to 170 A, continuously adjustable
Test Chamber VolumeGreater than 0.5 m³
Smoke ExtractionØ100 mm duct (standard); adjustable air velocity 0 to 2 m/s (optional)
Control Platformx86 architecture, 2.6 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD (expandable to 2 TB)
Data InterfaceDual gigabit Ethernet, up to 1000 Mbps, IEEE 1588 support
Test Record Storage100 or more test datasets
Overall Dimensions1340 mm (W) × 720 mm (D) × 1060 mm (H)
WeightApproximately 150 kg
Recommended Bench Size1500 mm (L) × 1000 mm (W) × 700 mm (H)
Wall Clearance200 mm minimum recommended
Voltage220 V ±10%, 50 Hz, 500 VA (110V is also available)

Listed values are standard product specifications. Customized configurations follow the contract and technical agreement.

Optional Configurations

ItemDescription
High-Definition Process Recording1080p at 60 fps low-light HDR camera that records and stores the full test sequence, with real-time retrieval for editing and archiving
Voice Interaction SystemCustomizable voice announcement module that reports test status aloud during operation
IoT Cloud Platform4G/5G network module for remote monitoring, program download, status tracking, alarm notification, and parameter adjustment, with Modbus and TCP integration into MES and other plant systems
Automated Testing SystemSix-axis robotic arm with ±0.025 mm repeat positioning that handles sample pickup, delivery, placement, clamping, testing, data recording, and waste retrieval; one arm can serve two testers over a bus network
Sample Traceability SystemBarcode scanning that captures material, batch, and test scheme data and links the record from sample submission through testing to report generation
Upgraded Exhaust SystemConstant-speed fan with adjustable air velocity for laboratories that need higher extraction capacity

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