Flash-Fire Laboratory for Advanced Manikin & Material Evaluation (FLAMME)

Flash-Fire Laboratory for Advanced Manikin & Material Evaluation (FLAMME)

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RMIT’s Flash-Fire Laboratory for Advanced Manikin & Material Evaluation (FLAMME) is a state of-the-art facility and the only one of its kind in Australasia.

FLAMME is a specialised testing facility within RMIT’s School of Fashion and Textiles.

It is equipped to conduct precise, responsive and highly objective assessments of protective garments and related materials when exposed to a simulated flash-fire.

Located at RMIT’s Brunswick Campus in Melbourne, the facility allows for real-time, on-site observation of tests and rapid-turnaround of both accredited and non-accredited assessment results.

Image taken from above of laboratory with two men standing at a desk

The Manikin

FLAMME uses a purpose-built Thermetrics burn injury manikin equipped with 134 temperature sensors distributed across its surface. When clothed, the manikin can withstand an 84 kW/mÇ flash-fire for 3-20 seconds.

Quantitative (temperature, heat flux, transferred energy and predicted burn injury) and qualitative data (visual assessment of damage) are used to assess garment performance. Data is recorded every 0.1 seconds for a minimum of 120 seconds to allow for highly detailed data capture before, during and after exposure to flash-fire.

FLAMME
See our FLAMME facility testing personal protective clothing worn by Australian firefighters.
Watch video

Capabilities

FLAMME can provide:

  • Measurement of the protective performance of a garment during simulated flash-fire
  • Commercial testing in accordance with ISO 13506 and ASTM F1930 standards
  • One-off testing for non-standard analysis
  • Product research & development
  • Training and education for designers, manufacturers and end-users of PPC.

The RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles’ Flash-Fire Laboratory for Advanced Manikin & Material Evaluation (FLAMME) is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA).

Date of Accreditation: 30 June 2025 | Accreditation number: 21254 | Site number: 25579

Relevant industries

FLAMME’s capabilities have benefits for a range of industries where protective garments and high-performance textiles are critical to the safety of those who work on the frontline.

  • Firefighting
  • Emergency services
  • Mining
  • Motorsports
  • Defence
  • Aerospace
  • Building & construction

Contact

Get in touch to discuss your testing needs at flamme@rmit.edu.au

Key staff

Steve Michielsen – FLAMME Academic lead
Shelley MacRae – FLAMME Quality Manager and Technical lead
Rumbie Zizhou – FLAMME Senior Technical Officer
Rajiv Padhye – WEFT Centre Director

Location

FLAMME is located at RMIT’s Brunswick Campus in Melbourne.
Brunswick Campus
25 Dawson St
Brunswick, Victoria 3056

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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