Significance and Use
5.1 Flammable liquid products can be generated by either pyrolysis or melting of polymers. Materials that generate flammable liquid products include thermoplastic polymers (for example, polyolefins) and thermosetting polymers (for example, polyurea and flexible polyurethane), which degrade to yield, in part, liquid pyrolyzates when pyrolyzing. Such liquid material can accumulate underneath a burning item and eventually ignite to form a pool fire, generally leading to a sharp increase in heat release rate and increase in fire hazard.
5.2 Fire barriers are able to hinder the formation of a pool fire by delaying the generation and the release of flammable liquid products.
5.3 This test method is intended to simulate the combustion of a central (that is, away from the edges) cross-section of a single material or a multi-layered product with ignition occurring on the top surface of the specimen.
5.4 The test method is designed to assess whether liquid products are released during the test and the time at which they are released.
5.5 The test method is designed to assess whether dripping occurs during the test and the time at which it occurs.
5.6 The test method is designed to assess whether bottom ignition occurs during the test and the time at which it occurs.
5.7 The test method is designed to assess whether pool ignition occurs during the test and the time at which it occurs.
5.8 The test method is designed to assess whether burn-through occurs during the test and the time at which it occurs.
5.9 The test measures heat release rate, mass loss rate and the resulting smoke obscuration as a result of exposing the specimen to a radiant heat source.
5.10 The test method assesses whether the components of the specimen under examination demonstrates any of the following behaviors: breaking open, charring, appearance of superficial cracks without complete separation of the parts, melting, or shrinkage.
5.11 The test method does not assess flame spread and does not account for other factors such as aging, wear and tear of a product or vandalism.
Scope
1.1 This test method covers a means to measure the response of materials, products or layered assemblies when exposed to controlled levels of radiant heating, with or without an external ignitor.
1.2 This test method provides an alternative test configuration to Test Method E1354 to measure the ignitability, heat release rate (including peak heat release rate and total heat released), mass loss rate, effective heat of combustion and visible smoke development.
1.3 Compared to Test Method E1354, this test method adds the ability to measure the time at which the following phenomena occur: (1) appearance of liquid products (generated by either melting or pyrolysis of the specimen) underneath the sample, dripping and generation of a liquid pool underneath the specimen, (2) flaming over the bottom surface of the specimen and liquid pool, and; (3) burn-through.
1.4 This test method is not intended to measure the response of products comprised of noncombustible cores.
1.5 The top side of the specimens shall be exposed to an initial test heat flux of 0 kW/m2 to 75 kW/m2. External ignition, if any, shall be by electric spark.
1.6 This test method has been developed for use to evaluate the fire test response characteristics of materials, products or layered assemblies. It is potentially useful for mathematical modeling, material or product design purposes, and research and development.
1.7 This test method is used to measure and describe the response of 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 an end-use product under actual fire conditions.
1.8 This test method is used to measure the effect of fire barriers on the burning behavior of materials, products or layered assemblies to a range of radiant heat intensities but does not account for all factors that affect the performance of fire barriers at full scale.
1.9 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, refer to Section 7.1.
1.11 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.
1.12 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.
