1. Scope

1.1 This practice deals with methods to construct, calibrate, and use full scale oxygen consumption calorimeters to help minimize testing result discrepancies between laboratories.

1.2 The methodology described herein is used in a number of ASTM test methods, in a variety of unstandardized test methods, and for research purposes. This practice will facilitate coordination of generic requirements, which are not specific to the item under test.

1.3 The principal fire-test-response characteristics obtained from the test methods using this technique are those associated with heat release from the specimens tested, as a function of time. Other fire-test-response characteristics also are determined.

1.4 This practice is intended to apply to the conduction of different types of tests, including both some in which the objective is to assess the comparative fire performance of products releasing low amounts of heat or smoke and some in which the objective is to assess whether flashover will occur.

1.5 This practice does not provide pass/fail criteria that can be used as a regulatory tool, nor does it describe a test method for any material or product.

1.6 For use of the SI system of units in referee decisions, see IEEE/ASTM SI-10. The units given in parentheses are provided for information only.

1.7 This standard is used to measure and describe 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.

Note 1This is the standard caveat described in section F2.2.2.1 of the Form and Style for ASTM Standards manual for fire-test-response standards. In actual fact, this practice does not provide quantitative measures.

1.8 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently hazardous, and adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests. Fire testing involves hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. See also Section 7.

1.9 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.

ASTM Standards

D5424 Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration

D5537 Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread, Smoke Obscuration, and Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration

D6113 Test Method for Using a Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables

E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

E176 Terminology of Fire Standards

E603 Guide for Room Fire Experiments

E906 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using a Thermopile Method

E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter

E1474 Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate of Upholstered Furniture and Mattress Components or Composites Using a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter

E1537 Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture

E1590 Test Method for Fire Testing of Mattresses

E1623 Test Method for Determination of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials, Products, and Systems Using an Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL)

E1740 Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate and Other Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Wall Covering or Ceiling Covering Composites Using a Cone Calorimeter

E1822 Test Method for Fire Testing of Stacked Chairs

ISO Standards

California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation Standards

NFPA Standards

UL Standards

Keywords

calorimetry; fire; full-scale test; heat release; oxygen consumption; smoke;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 17.200.20 (Temperature-measuring instruments)

DOI: 10.1520/E2067-02

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.