International test standards, flammability

This book is available in the U.S. horn Scientific and Technical Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc, New York, N.Y. It deals with all aspects of plastics flammability, from fundamentals to the detailed descriptions of national and international regulations, standards, test methods, product approval procedures for plastics and plastic components in the various fields of application. Foams are given extensive coverage throughout the book. The tables and illustrations are extremely well prepared. 

The only internationally used standard concerns the flammability testing of interior materials of motorcars. The US National Highway Transport Safety Administration was the first in regulating this test method when it published its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS No. 302) in 1972, which was accepted by the International Standard Organization as ISO 3795-1976 (E). 

As part of the lEC 60695-11 series, they will replace the lEC standards 60695-2-4/0 and 60695-2-4/2 and also the ISO standards 1210 and 10351. They will also harmonize several pre-eminent international standards, including the US standard UL 94 Test for flammability of plastic materials for parts in devices and appliances, and ASTM 0635,03801 and 05048. 

The primary consensus-based organizations in the United States developing and maintaining fire and flammability test standards are ASTM International (previously the American Society for Testing and Materials) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Committee EOS on Fire Tests is the primary committee in ASTM that develops fire and flammability test standards (25). Several material- or product-oriented Committees have subcommittees that develop fire and flammability test standards as well. For example. Committee D20 on Plastics has a subcommittee on thermal properties (D20.30) that develops and maintains some fire and flammability test standards for plastics. The Fire Test Committee is responsible for all fire and flammability test standards that are used by any of the fire safety codes and standards published by NFPA. A number of test laboratories in the United States, such as Underwriters Laboratories and FM Global, have established a consensus process that meets the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) so that they now can publish American National Standards. 

International fire and flammability test standards are developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Committee (lEC). The latter is concerned with electrical products only. Technical committees TC 92 and TC 89 are the primary committees that develop and maintain fire and flammability test standards in ISO and lEC respectively. As in ASTM, there are a number of product- or industiy-specific committees in ISO that also develop fire and flammahihty test standards. For example, SCI on Test Methods of ISO TC 136 on Furniture has puhhshed two ignition tests for upholstered seating. An important difference between ISO and lEC vs ASTM and NFPA is that the international committees establish consensus on a geographical basis. Each coimtiy that actively participates in the work can be a voting member on an ISO or lEC committee. Committees are composed in a similar manner in CEN and CENELEC, which are the European coimterparts of ISO and lEC respectively. However, member coimtries can have multiple votes in CEN and CENELEC committees. The munber of votes is a function of the population of the coimtiy. 

International fire and flammability test standards are developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International... 

ASTM D 7309 Standard Test Method for Determining Flammability Characteristics of Plastics and Other Solid Materials Using Microscale Combustion. Annual Book of Standards, Vol. 08.03, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA. 

Standard test method for determining flammability characteristics of plastics and other solid materials using microscale combustion calorimetry, ASTM D 7309-07, American Society for Testing and Materials (International), West Conshohocken, PA, 2007. 

Fire-Rated Valves that handle flammable fluids may have additional safety-related requirements for minimal external leakage, minimal internal (downstream) leakage, and operability during and after a fire. Being fire-rated does not mean being totally impervious to fire, but a sample valve must meet particular specifications such as those of American Petroleum Institute (API) 607, Factory Mutual Research Corp. (FM) 7440, or the British Standard 5146 under a simulated fire test. Due to very high flame temperature, metal seating (either primary or as a backup to a bumed-out elastomer) is mandatory. 

ASTM E1232-02. Standard Test Method for Temperature Limit of Flammability of Chemicals ASTM International West Conshohocken, PA, USA, 2002 Edition. 

The most important methods have by now achieved internationally accepted forms, as set down in several national standards. Besides these methods, some testing procedures still exist individually in one or two countries. In addition, some particular test methods have been developed for the research into special flammability problems. 

Test procedures for the flammability of materials in the electric industry have been developed and introduced in several countries over the last 15 years, without the puzzling diversity of the methods which have arisen in the building industry. The procedures are hence governed by more uniform test methods and international standards. 

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