Significance and Use

This test method provides a means of measuring the time and extent of burning for cellular polymeric materials. It also provides a means of measuring burning rates for materials that continue to burn past the specified gage marks.

This test method provides a means of comparing the burning characteristics of materials of like thickness density, cell size, and skin irregularities, including the effect of falling particles of cellular polymeric materials. It is suitable for quality control, specification acceptance, and for research and development. Examples include filled or reinforced, rigid or flexible, or cut or formed materials

In this test method, the specimens are subjected to one or more specific sets of laboratory fire test exposure conditions. If different test conditions are substituted or if the anticipated end-use conditions are changed, it is not always possible from this test method to predict changes in the performance characteristics measured. Therefore, the results are strictly valid only for the fire test exposure conditions described in this procedure.

This test method is not intended to be a criterion for fire hazard. The fire hazard created by materials depends upon the form and end use of the material. Assessment of fire hazard includes, but is not limited to, many factors such as flame spread, burning rate, ease of ignition, fuel contribution, heat evolution, products of combustion, and others.

1. Scope

1.1 This fire-test-response test method describes a small-scale horizontally oriented burning test procedure for comparing the relative rate of burning and the extent and time of burning of cellular polymeric materials having a density less than 250 kg/m ³ .

1.2 The classification system described in the Appendix X1 is intended for quality assurance and the preselection of component materials for products.

1.3 This standard measures and describes the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific hazard statement, see Note 3.

1.6 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.

Note 1This test method is equivalent to ISO 9772.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D4483 Practice for Evaluating Precision for Test Method Standards in the Rubber and Carbon Black Manufacturing Industries

D5025 Specification for Laboratory Burner Used for Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials

E176 Terminology of Fire Standards

E437 Specification for Industrial Wire Cloth and Screens (Square Opening Series) (Discontinued 2000) Replaced by E 2016

ISO Standard

Keywords

burning characteristics; burning rate; cellular materials; horizontal; Burning characteristics--rubber/cellular materials; Cellular plastics; Fire testing--rubber/cellular materials; Heating tests--plastics; Horizontal burning (HB) rate; Polymers ;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.220.40 (Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products); 83.100 (Cellular materials)

DOI: 10.1520/D4986-10

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM D4986