1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers a small-scale laboratory screening procedure for comparing the relative rate of burning and/or extent and time of burning of self-supporting plastics in the form of bars, molded or cut from sheets, plates, or panels, and tested in the horizontal position. This test method should be used to establish relative burning characteristics of plastic materials and should not be used as a fire-hazard test method.

Note 1-Warning-During the course of combustion, gases or vapors, or both, are evolved which may be hazardous to personnel. Precaution-In addition to other precautions, adequate precautions should be taken to protect the operator.

Note 2-Additional information on materials which do not burn to the gage mark by this test may be obtained using Test Method D 3801. For tests of flexible plastics in the form of thin sheets and film, reference should be made to Test Methods D 4804. Tests on the burning rate of sheet and plate insulation are covered in Test Methods D 229. Burning characteristics, as measured by minimum oxygen to support combustion, may be determined by Test Method D 2863.

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

1.3 This standard should be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to heat and flame under controlled laboratory 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 risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use>.

1.4 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 specific hazard statements, see Note 1 and 6.1.

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

D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing

D648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics Under Flexural Load in the Edgewise Position

D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics

D1929 Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics

D2843 Test Method for Density of Smoke from the Burning or Decomposition of Plastics

D3801 Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position

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

D5207 Practice for Confirmation of 20-mm (50-W) and 125-mm (500-W) Test Flames for Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials

E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

E176 Terminology of Fire Standards

E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

IEC Standards

Keywords

burning characteristics; combustion; extent of burning; flammability; HB; horizontal burning rate; plastics; rate of burning; small-scale burning test burning; time of burning; Burning characteristics--plastics; Extent of burning; Horizontal burning (HB) rate; Rate of burning; Self-supporting plastics; Time to burn; Small-scale burning tests;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.220.40 (Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products); 83.080.01 (Plast in general)

DOI: 10.1520/D0635-98

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.