There are sockets for 122 heat sensors, which are uniformly distributed on the surface of the entire body. Leads from each sensor are taken to the data acquisition unit through a guarded, heat shielded cable. The manikin is suspended from the ceiling of the burn chamber on an adjustable fixture.

The computer system used controls the test procedure, acquire the data from the instrumented manikin, calculate the results, and produce a report of the test. The test sequence includes dressing the manikin in the test garment, interacting with the computer to assure safe conditions, lighting the pilot flames, exposing the garment to the flash fire, acquiring the data, and running the fans to vent the chamber. The data acquired by the system is used to calculate the incident heat flux and predicted burn injury for each sensor during and after the exposure.

The most important requirements of the flash fire system are safe operation and reproducibility. Eight industrial burners, which have been modified, produce the flash fire and are carefully positioned to create a large volume of fire, which fully engulfs the manikin. Each burner has a pilot flame which is lighted and proven before the gas is supplied to the torch. The gas control panel monitors the state of each pilot flame and prevents opening of the exposure torch valve if there is no pilot flame present. This feature provides both safety and control over the position and number of torches used in each test. The gas control panel also monitors the condition of the gas supply line and safety devices and will shut the system down and vent the gas in the supply line in case of a malfunction.
 The criteria for protective performance is the ability to reduce heat transfer to the manikin which is reported as predicted burn injury. The calculated incident heat flux is used to calculate the temperature of human tissue at two depths below the surface of the skin, one representing second degree and the other representing third degree burn injury.