ASTM D2859-16(2021)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D2859 − 16 (Reapproved 2021) An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Ignition Characteristics of Finished Textile Floor Covering
Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2859; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.6 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
1.1 This fire-test-response standard describes a test method
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
for the determination of the flammability of finished textile
as requirements of the standard.
floor covering materials when exposed to an ignition source
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
under controlled laboratory conditions.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1.1 Carpets and rugs offered for sale in the United States
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
are required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
(CPSC) to comply with the test methods in 16 CFR 1630 or 16
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
CFR 1631, as appropriate.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
1.1.2 This test method is similar but not identical to the test
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
methods contained in 16 CFR 1630 and CFR 1631 and issued
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
by CPSC. If compliance with one of the CPSC test methods is
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
required, this test method does not ensure regulatory compli-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
ance.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.2 This test method is applicable to all types of textile floor
2. Referenced Documents
coverings, regardless of the method of fabrication or whether
they are made from natural or man-made fibers. It is possible
2.1 ASTM Standards:
to apply this test method to unfinished material; however, the
C1186 Specification for Flat Fiber-Cement Sheets
results of such a test shall not be considered a satisfactory
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
evaluation of a textile floor covering material for ultimate
D1776 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles
consumer use.
D5684 Terminology Relating to Pile Floor Coverings
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
2.2 AATCC Standard:
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are
provided for information only and are not considered standard. Method 138-2014, Shampooing: Washing of Textile Floor
Coverings
1.4 This standard is used to measure and describe the
2.3 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
16 CFR Part 1630 Standard for the surface flammability of
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
carpets and rugs (FF 1-70)
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
16 CFR Part 1631 Standard for the surface flammability of
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
small carpets and rugs (FF 2-70)
actual fire conditions.
1.5 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently
hazardous, and adequate safeguards for personnel and property
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
shall be employed in conducting these tests
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
Technical Manual of the American Association of Textile Chemists and
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Colorists (AATCC), P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, http://
Standards and is direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface Burning. www.aatcc.org.
Current edition approved March 15, 2021. Published March 2021. Originally Can be found in Title 16, Volume 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D2859 - 16. DOI: Available from U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, 732
10.1520/D2859-16R21. N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D2859 − 16 (2021)
3. Terminology 5.6 Theacceptancecriterionofthistestmethodisconsistent
with that of CPSC standards (see Section 10).
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms contained in this test method
6. Apparatus and Reagent
associated with fire issues refer to Terminology E176. For
6.1 Test Chamber—The test chamber shall consist of a box
definitions of terms contained in this test method and associ-
with nominal inside dimensions of 300 by 300 by 300 mm (12
ated with textile issues refer to Terminology D123. For
definitions of terms contained in this test method and associ- by 12 by 12 in.) made from fiber cement board not less than
nominally 6 mm (0.25 in.) thick, open at the top, and having a
ated with pile floor covering issues refer to Terminology
D5684. flat removable floor made of the same material. The fiber
cement board shall be uncoated, have a density of 1444 6 160
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3 3
kg/m (90 6 10 lb⁄ft ) and comply with the requirements of
3.2.1 finished, adj—in textile floor covering materials, the
Specification C1186 Grade II. The sides shall be fastened
completion of all manufacturing operations.
together and sealed to prevent air leakage into the box during
3.2.2 flammability, n—thecapabilityofburningwithaflame
use.
under specified conditions (see Terminology E176 for addi-
6.2 Frame—The flattening frame shall be a steel plate,
tional discussion of the term flammable.)
nominally 230 by 230 mm (9 by 9 in.), nominally 6 mm (0.25
in.) thick, with a nominal 200 6 5-mm (8-in.) diameter hole
4. Summary of Test Method
cut in the center of the plate.
4.1 This test method involves the exposure of conditioned
6.3 Desiccating Cabinet—A desiccating cabinet shall be
and oven-dried specimens to a standard source of ignition in a
provided, containing silica gel or an alternate desiccant. The
draft-protected environment and the measurement of the re-
desiccating cabinet shall have shelves large enough to hold a
sulting char length.
set of eight specimens horizontally without contacting each
other during a cooling period following specimen drying.
5. Significance and Use
6.4 Circulating Air Oven—Aforced circulation drying oven
5.1 This test method provides a procedure for identification
shall be provided, for removal of moisture from the specimens,
of those finished textile floor covering materials that can be
capable of being thermostatically controlled and maintained at
rated as flame-resistant under specific controlled laboratory
105 6 2 °C (221 6 4 °F) throughout the enclosure.
conditions.
6.5 Glove—Non hygroscopic disposable gloves shall be
5.2 This test method does not specify the use of an underlay
provided for handling the specimens after drying. The gloves
material. If an underlay material is used to assess the effect of
shall be made of polyethylene or rubber.
a specific underlay in combination with a specific floor
6.6 Steel Rule—Asteel rule, graduated in 0.5-mm (0.02-in.)
covering, such a variation in procedure must be noted in the
increments shall be provided.
report.
6.7 Vacuum Cleaner—A vacuum cleaner shall be used to
5.3 In this test, results are observed with the specimens in a
remove all loose material from each specimen prior to condi-
horizontal plane. Different results are possible if the same
tioning. All surfaces of the vacuum cleaner contacting the
material is tested or used in any other plane.
specimens shall be flat and smooth and maintained in a clean
5.4 Test Method D2859 for testing finished textile floor
condition.
covering materials for flammability is considered satisfactory
6.8 Laboratory Fume Hood—The apparatus shall be placed
for acceptance testing of commercial shipments since the
in a laboratory fume hood capable of providing a draft-free
method has been used extensively in the trade for acceptance
environment during the test for the test chamber described in
testing. In cases of disagreement arising from differences in
6.1. The hood shall permit the observation of the test in
values reported by the purchaser and the seller when using this
progress, and the removal of the products of combustion
method for acceptance testing, the statistical bias, if any,
following each test.
between the laboratory of the purchaser and the laboratory of
6.9 Mirror—Optionally, a small mirror shall be provided,
the seller shall be determined with each comparison being
mounted above each test chamber at an angle to permit
based on testing specimens randomly drawn from one sample
observation of the specimen from outside of the hood.
of material of the type being evaluated.
6.10 Ignition Source—The ignition source shall be a timed
5.5 The test procedures of this standard are similar but not
methenamine burning tablet (pill), with the following specifi-
identical to those contained in the standards for the surface
cations.
flammability of carpets and rugs of the U.S. Consumer Product
6.10.1 The pill shall be a flat, round, compressed tablet of
Safety Commis
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