ISO/TC 61/SC 4/WG 8 - Ignitability and fire growth

This document specifies a test method for determining the minimum volume fraction of oxygen, in admixture with nitrogen, at ambient temperature, that supports combustion of small vertical sheet test specimen under a specified gas velocity that is higher than that specified in ISOÂ 4589-2. NOTEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The result is expressed as a high gas velocity oxygen index (HOI). In addition, this document specifies the testing apparatus for determining the HOI. The test method is applicable to materials in the form of sheets up to 2Â mm thick. It is also applicable to flexible sheet materials that are supported vertically by a specified specimen holder.

This document describes and classifies a range of laboratory ignition sources for use in fire tests on plastics and products consisting substantially of plastics. These sources vary in intensity and area of impingement. They are suitable for use to simulate the initial thermal abuse to which plastics are potentially exposed in certain actual fire risk scenarios. This compilation of standard ignition sources describes the ignition sources used by different standards development organizations and contained in standard test methods, specifications, or regulations used to assess the fire properties or plastics and of products containing plastic materials. The ignition sources described in this document are associated with flaming and non-flaming ignition. This document describes the relevant ignition sources and references the associated standard. This compilation of ignition sources does not discuss the application of the standard referenced in any specific clause in which the ignition source is described, and this compilation is likely not to be a fully comprehensive list of ignition sources. This document does not address detailed test procedures.

This document specifies a small-scale laboratory screening procedure for comparing the relative burning characteristics of horizontally oriented, small cellular plastic specimens having a density less than 250 kg⋅m−3 determined in accordance with ISO 845, when exposed to a small-flame ignition source. NOTE Another International Standard which covers flexible cellular plastic and cellular rubber is ISO 3582[2]. This method of test is intended for quality assurance and limited product evaluation of cellular plastic materials under controlled laboratory conditions, and is not intended to assess the fire behaviour of, for example, building materials or furnishings under actual fire conditions. The optional classification system described in Annex A is intended for the pre-selection of cellular plastic materials for products, including the determination of the ranges of material parameters that give the same classification (see 6.1).

This document describes and classifies a range of laboratory ignition sources for use in fire tests on plastics and products consisting substantially of plastics. These sources vary in intensity and area of impingement. They are suitable for use to simulate the initial thermal abuse to which plastics are potentially exposed in certain actual fire risk scenarios. Different standards developing organizations have issued many standard test methods, specifications and regulations to assess fire properties of plastics or of products containing plastic materials. Many of those standards contain ignition sources associated with flaming and non-flaming ignition. This document describes the ignition sources and references the associated standard. This compilation of ignition sources does not discuss the application of the standard where the ignition source is described and is likely not to be a fully comprehensive list of ignition sources. This document does not address detailed test procedures.

ISO 4589-3:2017 specifies methods for determining the minimum volume fraction of oxygen, in a mixture with nitrogen, that will support combustion of small vertical test specimens under specified test conditions over a range of temperatures between 25 °C and 150 °C. The range of temperatures is typically between 40 °C and 150 °C. The results are defined as temperature index values at the test temperature, which is typical of the practical temperature that a plastic material can experience in an overheated service situation. Methods are provided for testing materials that are self-supporting at the test temperature in the form of vertical bars or sheet up to 10,5 mm thick. However, they are not applicable to form V which requires a supporting frame as defined in ISO 4589‑2:2017, Table 2. These methods are suitable for solid, laminated or cellular materials characterized by an apparent density 100 kg/m3 or higher. The methods are also applicable to some cellular materials having an apparent density of less than 100 kg/m3. A method is provided for testing flexible sheet or film materials while supported vertically. ISO 4589-3:2017 also includes a method (see Annex A) for determining the temperature at which the OI of small vertical test specimens in air is 20,9 % under specified test conditions. The temperature at which this occurs is defined as the flammability temperature (FT) and the method is limited to the determination of temperatures less than 400 °C. The method is not applicable to materials having an OI of

ISO 4589-1:2017 specifies the general requirements for the oxygen index (OI) test which are further described in ISO 4589‑2 and ISO 4589‑3 as follows: - ISO 4589‑2 describes a method for determining the minimum volume fraction of oxygen in a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen introduced at 23 °C ± 2 °C that will just support combustion of a material under specified test conditions; - ISO 4589‑3 describes methods of carrying out the same determination over a range of temperatures typically between 25 °C and 150 °C (although temperatures up to 400 °C can be used).

ISO 4589-2:2017 specifies methods for determining the minimum volume fraction of oxygen, in admixture with nitrogen, that will support combustion of small vertical test specimens under specified test conditions. The results are defined as oxygen index (OI) values. Methods are provided for testing materials that are self-supporting in the form of vertical bars or sheets up to 10,5 mm thick. These methods are suitable for solid, laminated or cellular materials characterized by an apparent density 100 kg/m3 or greater. The methods might also be applicable to some cellular materials having an apparent density of less than 100 kg/m3. A method is provided for testing flexible sheets or film materials while supported vertically. For comparative purposes, a procedure is provided for determining whether or not the OI of a material lies above some specified minimum value.

ISO 13927:2015 specifies a method suitable for the production control or product development purposes for assessing the heat release rate of essentially flat products exposed in the horizontal orientation to controlled levels of radiant heating with an external igniter. The heat release rate is determined by the use of a thermopile instead of the more accurate oxygen consumption techniques. The time to ignition (sustained flaming) is also measured in this test. Test specimen mass loss can also be measured optionally.

ISO 9772:2012 specifies a small-scale laboratory screening procedure for comparing the relative burning characteristics of horizontally oriented, small cellular plastic specimens, having a density less than 250 kg/m3, when exposed to an ignition source. This method of test is intended for quality assurance and limited product evaluation of cellular plastic materials under controlled laboratory conditions, and is not intended to assess the fire behaviour of e.g. building materials or furnishings under actual fire conditions. An optional classification system is described in an annex. It is intended for the pre-selection of cellular plastic materials for products, including the determination of the ranges of material parameters that give the same classification.

ISO/TR 10093:2017 describes and classifies a range of laboratory ignition sources for use in fire tests on plastics and products consisting substantially of plastics. These sources vary in intensity and area of impingement. They are suitable for use to simulate the initial thermal abuse to which plastics are potentially exposed in certain actual fire risk scenarios. Different standards developing organizations have issued many standard test methods, specifications and regulations to assess fire properties of plastics or of products containing plastic materials. Many of those standards contain ignition sources associated with flaming and non-flaming ignition. This document describes the ignition sources and references the associated standard. This compilation of ignition sources does not discuss the application of the standard where the ignition source is described and is likely not to be a fully comprehensive list of ignition sources. ISO/TR 10093:2017 does not address detailed test procedures.

Guidance document for the determination of burning behaviour of plastics by the oxygen index (OI). Provides information to guide the reader in the use of the test procedures described in parts 2 and 3.

Specifies methods for the determination the minimum concentration of oxygen, in a mixture with nitrogen, that will support combustion of small vertical test specimens under specified test conditions over a range of temperatures between 25 °Celsius and 150 °Celsius. The results are defined as oxygen index values at the test temperature. Also included is a method for determining the flammability temperature (less than 400 °Celsius) at which the oxygen index of small vertical test specimens in air is 20,9.