What is ISO 9038 about?
ISO 9038 discusses the determination of sustained combustibility of liquids. ISO 9038 specifies a procedure, at temperatures up to 100 °C, to determine whether a liquid product, that would be classified as “flammable” by virtue of its flashpoint, sustains combustion at the temperature(s) specified e.g., in regulations.
The procedure is applicable to paints (including water-borne paints), varnishes, paint binders, solvents, petroleum or related products and adhesives, that have a flashpoint. The test method in is ISO 9038 applicable, in addition to test methods for flashpoint, for assessing the fire hazard of a product
Note 1: Many national and international regulations classify liquids as presenting a flammable hazard based on their flashpoint, as determined by a recognized method. Some of these regulations allow a derogation if the substance cannot “sustain combustion” at some specified temperature(s).
Note 2: It is not applicable to painted surfaces in respect of assessing their potential fire hazards.
Who is ISO 9038 for?
ISO 9038 on the determination of sustained combustibility of liquids is useful for:
- Paint Manufacturers
- Quality control personnel
- Health and safety bodies
Why should you use ISO 9038?
A product with a flashpoint within a given range can continue to burn after initial ignition, while a similar product, although it has a similar flashpoint, does not continue to burn. ISO 9038 describes a method for discriminating between those products that sustain combustion and those that do not.
The method in ISO 9038 guides you on whether a flammable product, when maintained at a selected test temperature, generates sufficient flammable vapour to cause ignition when an ignition source is applied and then continues to generate sufficient vapour to burn when the ignition source is moved to the “off” position.
The test method in ISO 9038 does not determine the flashpoint of the product under test but, by means of a test procedure, merely determines if it sustains combustion at a selected test temperature; this criterion can be required to comply with laws or regulations relating to the storage, transport, and use of flammable products.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN ISO 9038:2021 supersedes BS EN ISO 9038:2013, which is withdrawn. BS EN ISO 9038:2021 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN ISO 9038:2013. These include:
- The test method has been aligned with the requirements of the UN Test
- The requirement for triplicate tests instead of duplicate tests has been specified
- The standard test temperature has been changed to 60,5 °C
- The criteria for sustained combustion have been revised
