ASTM D5537-99
Historical Standard: ASTM D5537-99 Standard Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread and Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
SUPERSEDED (see Active link, below)
ASTM D5537
1. Scope
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 This test method provides a means to measure the heat released by burning the electrical insulating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables when the cable specimens, excluding accessories, are subjected to a specified flaming ignition source and burn freely under well ventilated conditions. Flame propagation cable damage, by char length, and mass loss are also measured.
1.3 This standard provides two different protocols for exposing the materials, when made into cable specimens, to an ignition source (approximately 20 kW), for a 20 min test duration. Use it to determine the heat release, flame propagation and mass loss characteristics of the materials contained in single and multiconductor electrical or optical fiber cables.
1.4 This test method does not provide information on the fire performance of materials insulating electrical or optical fiber cables in fire conditions other than the ones specifically used in this standard nor does it measure the contribution of the materials in those cables to a developing fire condition.
1.5 Data describing the burning behavior from ignition to the end of the test are obtained.
1.6 This test equipment is suitable for making other measurements, including the smoke released by the burning specimen (Test Method D5424) and the concentrations of certain toxic gas species in the combustion gases (see Appendix X4).
1.7 The values stated in SI units are the standard (see Practice E380); the values stated in parentheses are for information only.
1.8 This standard should be used to measure and describe the response of materials, products or assemblies to heat and flame under controlled conditions and should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may be used as elements of a fire hazard or fire risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard or fire risk of a particular end use.
1.9 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently hazardous. Employ adequate safeguards for personnel and property in conducting these tests.
1.10 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.
2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.
NFPA Standards
NFPA 286 Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire GrowthASTM Standards
D1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
D5424 Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E603 Guide for Room Fire Experiments
E800 Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Generated During Fires
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
E1537 Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture
E2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Tests
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 International System of Units (SI), The Modernized Metric System
IEEE Standard
IEEE 1202 Standard for Flame Testing of Cables for Use in Cable Tray in Industrial and Commercial Occupancies Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE), 445 Hoes Ln., P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08854-1331, http://www.ieee.org.Underwriters Laboratories Standards
UL 1685 Standard Vertical Tray Fire Propagation and Smoke Release Test for Electrical and Optical Fiber CablesCanadian Standards Association Standard
CSA FT4, Vertical Fl No. 0.3, Test Methods for Electrical Wires and Cables Available from Canadian Standards Association (CSA), 5060 Spectrum Way, Mississauga, ON L4W 5N6, Canada, http://www.csa.ca.Keywords
cable; cable tray; calorimetry; carbon dioxide; carbon monoxide; char; electrical cable; electrical insulation; fire; fire-test response; flame; heat release; heat release rate; ignition; optical density; optical fiber cable; oxygen consumption calorimetry; smoke obscuration; smoke release; toxic gases; Cables; Char; Electrical insulating solids; Electrical shielding cable; Fire testing--electrical insulating materials; Fire-test response; Flame heat release; Heat release; Mass flow; Mass loss testing; Optical fiber/cable/conduit; Oxygen consumption calorimetry; Smoke obscuration; Symbols; Vertical cable tray configuration; Volumetric measurement
ICS Code
ICS Number Code 13.220.40 (Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products); 29.035.01 (Insulating materials in general)
DOI: 10.1520/D5537-99
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