INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION____________ FIRE HAZARD TESTING – Part 8-2: Heat release – Summary and relevance of test methods FOREWORD 1 The International Electrotechnica
General
This summary does not replace published standards, which are the only valid reference documents
When fire tests are not specified and require development for a specific IEC technical committee purpose, collaboration with the relevant IEC technical committee is essential, as outlined in IEC Guide 104 The chosen test methods must be pertinent to the specific fire scenario in question For guidance on selecting appropriate fire tests for electrotechnical products, refer to IEC 60695-1-10.
General guidance on heat release tests for electrotechnical products is given in IEC 60695-8-1.
Measurement of complete combustion
The bomb calorimeter
Purpose and principle
The method aims to measure the gross heat of combustion at constant volume by burning a test specimen of a specified mass in a sealed calorimeter filled with oxygen This calorimeter is calibrated using the combustion of certified benzoic acid The heat of combustion is calculated based on the observed temperature rise, while accounting for heat loss and the latent heat of vaporization of water.
Test specimen
The test specimen is typically a mixture of 0,5 g of finely powdered benzoic acid and, also in a finely divided state, 0,5 g of the material under test.
Test procedure
The "bomb" calorimeter is a robust vessel designed to withstand high pressures while maintaining a constant internal volume It is placed in a stirred water bath, forming the calorimeter system, which is further surrounded by an outer water bath During a combustion reaction, the temperatures of both the calorimeter water and the outer water bath are continuously monitored and adjusted using electrical heating to ensure they remain equal This setup prevents any net heat loss from the calorimeter to the environment, thereby maintaining an adiabatic condition.
To perform a measurement, a test specimen comprising a known mass of benzoic acid and a known mass of test material is placed in a crucible within a bomb, where it contacts an electrical ignition wire The vessel is pressurized with oxygen (between 3.0 MPa and 3.5 MPa), sealed, and allowed to reach thermal equilibrium The sample is ignited with a precise amount of energy, ensuring complete combustion due to the excess high-pressure oxygen The heat released during this process is determined by the calorimeter's known heat capacity and the temperature increase resulting from the combustion reaction.
The experiment gives the heat released at constant volume, i.e the change in internal energy,
∆U The gross heat of combustion at constant pressure is the enthalpy change, ∆H, where
∆(PV) is calculated using the ideal gas law;
To calculate ∆H, it is essential to understand the combustion reaction and the chemical composition of its products, which may not always be available Nevertheless, the difference between ∆U and ∆H is typically minimal and can often be disregarded in fire science applications, such as when carbon combusts to produce carbon dioxide.
The net heat of combustion can be determined by knowing the hydrogen content of the test specimen, assuming complete conversion of hydrogen into water This calculation utilizes a latent heat of vaporization value of 2,449 kJ⋅g\(^{-1}\) for water at 25 °C.
Repeatability and reproducibility
A round-robin exercise was conducted by CEN and the results are summarized in Annex B of ISO 1716:2010.
Relevance of test data
When using an oxygen bomb calorimeter to measure heat of combustion, the sample is fully converted to oxidized products However, in real fire scenarios, incomplete combustion often leaves behind char and partially oxidized products, such as soot and carbon monoxide Consequently, the heat released during a fire is typically lower than the theoretical maximum derived from combustion data.
Heat of combustion data are fundamental to the science of thermochemistry and are of great importance in fire modelling and fire safety engineering
In Europe, materials are classified as non-combustible under the Construction Products Regulation if they have a gross heat of combustion of ≤2 kJ⋅g⁻¹, as determined by a bomb calorimeter following ISO 1716, or if they satisfy specific criteria when tested according to ISO 1182.
Surface finish materials used in accommodation spaces of international trading merchant ships are required to have a calorific potential (heat of combustion) equal to or less than
45 MJ⋅m −2 measured by ISO 1716 in accordance with the SOLAS Convention [5].
Measurements of incomplete combustion
Cone calorimeter
This small-scale test method for assessing heat release utilizes the oxygen consumption technique It features a load cell for measuring mass loss, a holder for the test specimen, a conical heater to ensure uniform heat flux on the specimen's surface, and equipment for measuring oxygen consumption.
This test method measures key parameters such as the rate of heat release, peak and average values, total heat release, effective heat of combustion, mass loss, time to ignition, and smoke obscuration Testing is conducted under well-ventilated conditions, with exposures performed both with and without spark ignition.
The range of external heat flux in ASTM E1354 is from 0 kW⋅m -2 to 100 kW⋅m -2 in, and from
0 kW⋅m -2 to 75 kW⋅m -2 in ISO 5660-1
ASTM D6113 [8] has been published as a test method on wires and cables
The specimen holder can accommodate test specimens up to 100 mm × 100 mm × 50 mm thick The normal orientation is horizontal, but vertical specimen holders also permit exposure in a vertical orientation
During testing, a specimen is subjected to a defined radiant flux from a conical electrical heater Ignition is initiated with an external spark, positioned above the specimen until ignition is achieved The heat release rate is evaluated by measuring the oxygen concentration in the exhaust duct, utilizing the principle of oxygen consumption as outlined in IEC 60695-8-1.
Round-robin evaluation tests have been conducted on building products and on plastic materials Details are available in ASTM RR E05-1008 [9]
Round-robin evaluation tests have been performed on building products and plastic materials, as outlined in Clauses C.1 to C.3 of ISO 5660-1:2015 Additionally, tests have been conducted on plastic materials that intumesce or deform when exposed to heat, detailed in Clause C.4 of the same standard.
No round-robin evaluation data are currently available on electrotechnical products
Data from these tests can be utilized to assess the overall fire hazard, inform fire safety engineering calculations, and support research and product development efforts.
NOTE 1 In Japan, ISO 5660-1 has been used for the determination of building materials as non-combustible and quasi-non-combustible, and the cone calorimeter apparatus has been used to test small electrotechnical items
NOTE 2 Although wires and cables can be installed in the test specimen holder and tested, no relationship to large-scale tests has been confirmed.
Microscale calorimetry
The small-scale fire test assesses the flammability characteristics of combustible materials using the oxygen consumption technique Conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, this test involves the thermal decomposition of milligram specimens in either an oxygen-free (anaerobic) or oxidizing (aerobic) environment at a constant heating rate, ensuring complete thermal oxidation of the emitted gases.
The apparatus incorporates a temperature-controlled specimen chamber, a test specimen holder, a mixing chamber, a combustion chamber (combustor) and oxygen consumption measurement equipment
This test method measures key parameters such as the specific heat release rate, heat release capacity, heat release temperature, total heat release, pyrolysis residue, and specific heat of combustion Additionally, it allows for the external heat flux to be varied from 0 kW⋅m\(^{-2}\).
Specimens can exist in various forms, including film, fiber, powder, pellet, or droplet When testing liquids, it is essential that their boiling point exceeds the initial temperature of the sample chamber.
The specimen mass ranges from 1 mg to 10 mg, with the requirement that the oxidation of the specimen gases must consume less than half of the available oxygen in the combustion gas stream throughout the test and at the specified heating rate Typically, the specimen mass is between 2 mg and 5 mg.
The test specimen is positioned in a sample cup and inserted into the specimen chamber, which maintains a continuous flow of purge gas For Method A (anaerobic decomposition), the purge gas is pure nitrogen, while Method B (aerobic decomposition) utilizes a nitrogen and oxygen mixture The specimen chamber, along with the specimen, is subsequently heated at a consistent rate.
The gases from the specimen chamber pass into the combustion chamber where they are mixed with excess oxygen and oxidized in a high temperature environment
The heating rate in the specimen chamber, along with the flow rate and oxygen concentration of gases exiting the combustion chamber, is continuously monitored This data is used to calculate key metrics such as the specific heat release rate, heat release capacity, heat release temperature, and specific total heat release.
The mass of specimen remaining after the test is measured and the pyrolysis residue and specific heat of combustion calculated
This method generates thermoanalytical data that can be used for the preliminary screening of materials
Specific heat release rates are directly measured and align well with those obtained from cone calorimeter tests The ignition temperature of materials can also be measured directly Additionally, heats of combustion have been determined and are comparable to values obtained from an oxygen bomb calorimeter.
The Ohio State University calorimeter
This test method measures the rate of heat release using temperature measurement techniques, providing key metrics such as peak and average values, total heat release, time to ignition, and smoke obscuration from various materials and products.
The test specimens are exposed to radiant energy, with or without piloted ignition via a small flame
The external heat flux may be varied from 0 kW⋅m −2 to 100 kW⋅m −2
The specimen holder can accommodate test specimens up to 150 mm × 150 mm × 50 mm thick The normal orientation is vertical, but horizontal specimen holders also permit exposure in a horizontal orientation
The test specimen is positioned in a chamber with a steady airflow, where its surface is subjected to radiant energy Combustion can be triggered by either non-piloted or piloted ignition of the gases released.
The changes in temperature of the gases leaving the chamber are continuously monitored and the heat release rate is calculated from these data
Data have been obtained by ASTM E-5.21.34, a Task Group on Intermediate Scale Calorimetry
Test data can be utilized to assess the overall fire hazard, inform fire safety engineering calculations, and support research and product development efforts.
The test method is also used by the USA Federal Aviation Authority to assess the compliance of aircraft cabin materials with Federal Aviation Regulations [12].
Fire propagation apparatus (ISO 12136)
ISO 12136 outlines test methods for assessing the flammability characteristics of materials, focusing on their ability to support fire propagation using a fire propagation apparatus (FPA) This international standard quantifies key properties such as time to ignition, heat release rates, mass loss rate, effective heat of combustion, heat of gasification, and smoke yield These characteristics are essential for fire safety engineering and fire modeling.
Square test specimens measure 102 mm × 102 mm and are secured in a square holder, while circular test specimens have a diameter of 96.5 mm and are placed in a circular holder The thickness of the test specimens ranges from a minimum of 3 mm to a maximum of 25.4 mm For the vertical fire propagation test, the specimen dimensions are 102 mm in width and 305 mm in length, and it is mounted in a vertical holder.
This international standard outlines four test methods that measure ignition time, mass loss rate, heat release rate, and smoke generation rate These tests utilize a laboratory calorimeter, specifically the fire propagation apparatus, which isolates the heat source from the test specimen The objective of these methods is to provide flammability property measurements that accurately characterize fire behavior during reference-scale fire tests.
Various ignition, combustion, and fire propagation test methods have been conducted on materials and products with diverse polymer compositions and structures, including those used in electrotechnical products and electric cables.
The fire propagation test method uniquely measures the heat release rate during upward fire propagation and burning of a vertical test specimen This process is initiated by an external radiant flux and occurs in various environments, including normal air, oxygen-enriched air, or oxygen-vitiated air.
The test methods are designed to assess the flammability characteristics of materials, including specimens from end-use products and their components The results inform flame spread and fire growth models, contribute to risk analysis studies, and aid in the design of buildings and products, as well as in the research and development of materials.
This International Standard provides a method to assess the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame in controlled settings However, it does not encompass all necessary factors for evaluating fire hazards or risks under real fire conditions.
Single Burning Item (SBI) test
The SBI test is a fire reaction assessment designed for flat building products, excluding flooring, where the product is tested in a corner setup It involves exposing the specimen to radiation and flames from a defined single burning item (SBI), simulated by a propane-fueled sandbox burner located at the bottom internal corner This testing method is not applicable for cables.
A note in the scope of the standard states that “The treatment of some families of products, e.g linear products (pipes, ducts, cables etc.) can need special rules.”
The test specimen is placed on a trolley within a frame located under an exhaust system, where its reaction to the burner is monitored both instrumentally and visually Key metrics such as flame spread, heat release, and smoke production are meticulously measured during the testing process.
The corner test specimen consists of two wings (long and short) of maximum thickness
The test specimen features two wings mounted at a right angle, with the short wing measuring 495 mm by 1,500 mm and the long wing measuring 1,000 mm by 1,500 mm Both wings are supported by calcium silicate backing board panels, which can be positioned either directly against the free-standing specimen or at a specified distance from it.
The test specimen is subjected to flames from a sand-box burner at the internal corner, utilizing propane gas combustion to achieve a heat output of 30.7 kW ± 2.0 kW Data is collected over 26 minutes, with performance evaluation occurring over a 20-minute interval Key performance parameters assessed include heat release, smoke production, lateral flame spread, and the presence of falling flaming droplets and particles.
The short period before ignition is used to measure the heat and smoke output of the burner, using an identical auxiliary burner away from the test specimen
The Fire Growth Rate (FIGRA) index is a crucial parameter for classifying heat release, defined as the maximum value of the quotient HRR av (t)/ (t − 300 s) Here, HRR av (t) represents the 30-second moving average of the heat release rate.
A round-robin test series was carried out in 1997 It was conducted by 15 laboratories, testing
30 products three times Results are given in Annex B of EN 13823:2004 [23] A second round-robin test series was reported in January 2005 [24] It was conducted by 30 European laboratories, testing 9 different construction products
The test, developed in Europe to comply with the European Construction Products Directive, is essential for four classes outlined in EN 13501-1 It aims to predict performance in the full-scale ISO 9705 test, which serves as the reference scenario This test data enables EU member states to implement a harmonized system for classifying the fire reaction performance of construction products for the first time.
NOTE The Construction Products Directive has been repealed by the Construction Products Regulation [3].
Vertical cable ladder tests
NOTE A summary and comparison of vertical cable ladder tests which incorporate heat release measurements is given in Table 1
4.3.6.2 ASTM and UL test methods
The two test methods, detailed in Table 1, are largely alike but feature distinct protocols They are designed to evaluate flame propagation, heat release rate, and total heat release from burning cables, while also assessing smoke obscuration, mass loss, and combustion gas release.
The ignition source utilized is a propane gas premixed burner, typically set at 20 kW, positioned either perpendicular to the vertical cable test specimen or at a 20° angle The cables are arranged on a vertical ladder, with configurations and loadings tailored to meet specific test requirements.
The test specimens are manufactured lengths of cables, 2,44 m in length
Cables are arranged on a vertical ladder, with a propane gas burner positioned near the base of the ladder, varying by protocol The heat release rate is calculated by assessing the oxygen concentration, flow rate, and temperature in the exhaust duct, based on the principle of oxygen consumption Additionally, the smoke and combustion products emitted are measured within the exhaust duct.
No data are currently available A round-robin evaluation of the ASTM D5537 test method was initiated by ASTM committee D09 on Electrical and Electronic Insulation, but was not completed
Data from these tests can be utilized to assess the role of wires and cables in the overall fire hazard and to inform fire safety engineering calculations.
EN 50399 outlines the testing apparatus and procedures for evaluating the fire performance of cables This standard was established as part of the FIPEC research program to comply with the European Construction Products Directive (CPD), facilitating the classification of cables under the CPD.
NOTE The CPD has been repealed by the Construction Products Regulation [3]
The large-scale fire test evaluates the burning behavior of multiple cables mounted on a vertical cable ladder using a specified ignition source This test generates crucial data on the early stages of a cable fire, including ignition and flame propagation hazards It measures the heat release rate to assess the potential impact on adjacent areas and evaluates smoke production, which can reduce visibility in the room of origin and surrounding enclosures.
During the test, key parameters such as flame spread, heat release rate, total heat release, smoke production rate, total smoke production, fire growth rate index, and the presence of flaming droplets or particles can be assessed.
The apparatus, inspired by EN 60332-3-10, incorporates enhanced instrumentation to assess heat release and smoke production during testing The heat release rate is calculated by monitoring oxygen concentration, flow rate, and temperature in the exhaust duct, utilizing the principle of oxygen consumption Additionally, the smoke and combustion products emitted are measured within the exhaust duct.
EN 50399 outlines two distinct protocols for flame ignition sources The first protocol specifies a propane mass flow of 442 mg⋅s^{-1} ± 10 mg⋅s^{-1} and an air flow of 1,550 mg⋅s^{-1} ± 140 mg⋅s^{-1}, corresponding to a nominal power of 20.5 kW, which is applicable for classifications B2 ca, C ca, and D ca The second protocol features a higher propane mass flow of 647 mg⋅s^{-1} ± 15 mg⋅s^{-1} and an air flow of 2,300 mg⋅s^{-1} ± 140 mg⋅s^{-1}, with a nominal power of 30 kW, designated for classification B1 ca.
Test specimens consist of cables with a minimum length of 3.5 meters The loading and spacing of these specimens on the ladder are determined by the diameter of the cable.
Cables are installed on the front of a vertical ladder in a specific arrangement, with the lower section extending about 50 cm beneath the burner The heat release rate is calculated by assessing the oxygen concentration, flow rate, and temperature in the exhaust duct, utilizing the principle of oxygen consumption.
The airflow in the test chamber is maintained at 8 m³·min⁻¹ ± 0.8 m³·min⁻¹, while the exhaust duct's volume flow rate is set between 0.7 m³·s⁻¹ and 1.2 m³·s⁻¹ throughout the test A test flame is applied for 20 minutes before being extinguished, and the airflow continues for an additional 30 seconds before stopping.
In the case of testing for class B1 ca , a non-combustible calcium silicate board is placed behind the ladder
The repeatability and reproducibility of EN 50399 has been reported by CENELEC [33] and by
The test, created in Europe to comply with the European Construction Products Directive, is essential for four cable classifications It provides EU member states with a unified system for assessing the fire performance of cables utilized in buildings.
NOTE The CPD has been repealed by the Construction Products Regulation [3]
Recent studies have shown that additional measurement techniques, validated for standard tests on building products, are effective in evaluating the fire performance of electric cables These methods, which include heat release and smoke production measurements, provide a more comprehensive, precise, and sensitive assessment compared to existing test methods outlined in IEC 60332-3, allowing for a broader range of fire performance evaluations.
Table 1 – Summary and comparison of vertical cable ladder tests
Burner power / kW (approx.) 20 20 20,5 or 30
Angle of burner Horizontal 20° upwards Horizontal
Width of test specimen / m and mounting techniques 0,15 Front only 0,25 Front only Between 0,22 and 0,32
Cables to be bundled No If D < 13 mm If D ≤ 5 mm
Test enclosure specified Yes Yes Yes
Maximum char length from bottom / m 2,44 (UL)
No requirements are given in the test method d)
Heat release measurement Optional (UL)
Mandatory (ASTM) Mandatory a) Both UL 1685 and ASTM D 5537 contain 2 test protocols Protocol A of ASTM D 5537 is equivalent to the
The UL 1581-1160 protocol of UL 1685 and protocol B of ASTM D 5537 are equivalent to the UL 1581-1164 protocol of UL 1685 ASTM D5424 is similar to ASTM D5537, with mandatory smoke release measurements and optional heat release, mass loss, toxic gases, and char length measurements In contrast, ASTM D5537 mandates heat release, mass loss, and char length, while smoke and toxic gases are optional ASTM fire test standards lack pass/fail criteria; however, cables tested to UL 1685 that meet flame spread, heat release, and smoke release criteria are classified as "limited smoke" cables Additionally, a maximum char length of 1.5 m is measured from the horizontal height line of the burner, with specific requirements outlined in Table 4 of the European Commission Decision 2006/751/EC.
Horizontal cable ladder test
The test method outlines a horizontal fire testing procedure to assess key parameters of communication cables, including flame propagation distance, optical smoke density, total heat release, heat release rate, time to ignition, and the presence of flaming droplets or particles These cables are evaluated in conditions that closely mimic their actual installation.
The ignition source is a dual port methane gas diffusion flame burner, set at typically
88 kW ± 2 kW The test flame extends downstream to a distance of 1,37 m over one end of the test specimen, with negligible upstream coverage
NOTE 1 The test apparatus is based on the NFPA 262 test [36] (also known as UL 910), but heat release rate measurement is mandatory in the EN test, whereas it is an optional measurement in the NFPA test
NOTE 2 The development of NFPA 262/UL 910 has been reviewed [37]
The test chamber is 8,9 m long and its internal dimensions are 451 mm ± 6 mm wide and
The chamber measures 305 mm in height, with a tolerance of ± 6 mm It features insulating refractory bricks lining the base and sides, while the top cover consists of 50 mm thick mineral composition insulation Additionally, one side of the chamber is equipped with a series of observation windows.
NOTE The chamber is often referred to as the “Steiner tunnel”
The ladder-type cable tray, designed to support open-cable and cables-in-tray test specimens, measures 7,300 mm ± 51 mm in length and 305 mm ± 3 mm in width Each rung is constructed to ensure optimal support for the cables.
286 mm ± 3 mm long The ladder is mounted horizontally and centrally in the test chamber about 200 mm above the floor of the chamber
The test specimens consist of cables measuring 7,320 mm ± 152 mm, arranged in a single layer on the cable tray ladder These cables are positioned in parallel, straight rows with no gaps between them.
Cables are arranged in a single layer on a horizontal ladder within a chamber, where airflow is regulated by an air-inlet shutter and an exhaust duct damper, maintaining a speed of 1.22 m⋅s⁻¹ ± 0.025 m⋅s⁻¹ The test flame is ignited, and the data acquisition system is activated, with the test duration set for 20 minutes.
The heat release rate is assessed by analyzing the oxygen concentration, flow rate, and temperature in the exhaust duct, based on the principle of oxygen consumption Additionally, the optical density of the smoke is measured within the exhaust duct.
The reported data encompasses key metrics such as the maximum flame travel distance, peak and average optical density of smoke, smoke release rate, peak smoke release rate, total smoke released, peak heat release rate, and total heat release.
No data are currently available
This test is one of the most severe cable fire tests and was developed to test plenum cables
NOTE A plenum is an area located above false ceilings where heating, ventilating or air-conditioning ducts are located, as well as communication cables and other utilities
Data from these tests can be utilized to assess the impact of communication cables on overall fire hazards and to inform fire safety engineering calculations.
Open calorimetry fire tests
ISO 24473 outlines various test methods designed to replicate real-scale fires on test objects or groups of objects in well-ventilated environments, allowing for the examination of different fire sizes based on the available equipment scale.
This article discusses methods for assessing the contribution of an object or group of objects to fire growth when exposed to a specific ignition source The testing procedures yield data for all phases of a fire while eliminating the influence of nearby structures Additionally, these methods facilitate comparative analysis of fire behavior across various products or assemblies, focusing on heat, smoke, and combustion gas production, and provide essential data for mathematical modeling studies.
ISO 24473 is applicable to the study of electrotechnical products when they are being considered as a victim of an external heat source
The methods outlined in 4.2 and 4.3 are summarised in Table 2 below
Product committees intending to adopt or modify any of these test methods shall ensure that the method is appropriate and suitable for the intended use – see 4.1
Table 2 – Overview of heat release test methods
Clause reference and test method Ignition source Test specimen Comments
An electrically heated wire Typically a mixture of
0,5 g of finely powdered benzoic acid and, also in a finely divided state, 0,5 g of the material under test
Measures the heat of combustion Such data are fundamental to the science of thermochemistry and are of great importance in fire modelling and fire safety engineering
Incident heat flux (up to
100 kW/m 2 ) with a spark igniter (for piloted ignition)
Up to 100 mm by 100 mm by 50 mm thick
Measures the rate of heat release, including peak and average values, total heat release, effective heat of combustion, mass loss, time to ignition and smoke obscuration
Testing is in well- ventilated conditions 4.3.2
Controlled heating plus a combustion furnace Typically between 2 mg and 5 mg The method generates thermo-analytical data that can be used for the preliminary screening of materials
Incident heat flux (up to
100 kW/m 2 ) with or without piloted ignition via a small flame
Up to 150 mm by 150 mm by 50 mm thick
Changes in temperature of the gases leaving the test chamber are continuously monitored and the heat release rate is calculated from these data
Incident heat flux (up to
W = 102 mm, L = 305 mm (for vertical fire propagation)
The FPA has the capability of measuring heat release rates and exhaust product flows generated during upward fire propagation on a vertical test specimen 0,305 m high
Clause reference and test method Ignition source Test specimen Comments
30,7 kW propane burner A 90° corner of two panels of max thickness
The SBI test is a reaction to fire test for essentially flat building products (excluding flooring)
The propane burner, with an approximate power of 20 kW and 2.44 m lengths of cables, is utilized in test methods to evaluate flame propagation, heat release rate, and total heat release from burning cables Additionally, these methods can assess smoke obscuration, mass loss, and the release of combustion gases.
The propane burner is available in two power settings, 20.5 kW and 30 kW, and is equipped with 3.5 m lengths of cables Key performance metrics such as flame spread, heat release rate, total heat release, smoke production rate, total smoke production, fire growth rate index, and the presence of flaming droplets or particles can be accurately assessed.
The 88 kW methane burner is utilized in a horizontal fire test method to assess key performance metrics of communication cables, including flame propagation distance, optical smoke density, total heat release, heat release rate, time to ignition, and the presence of flaming droplets or particles, with a cable length of 7.3 meters.
ISO 24473 outlines a set of test methods designed for evaluating electrotechnical products subjected to external heat sources.
[1] ISO 1716:2010, Reaction to fire tests for building products – Determination of the heat of combustion
[2] EN 13501-1:2007 + Amendment 1:2009, Fire classification of construction products and building elements Classification using test data from reaction to fire tests
[3] Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March
2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing Council Directive 89/106/EEC
[4] ISO 1182, Reaction to fire tests for products – Non-combustibility test
[5] International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, amended
[6] ISO 5660-1:2015, Reaction-to-fire tests – Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate – Part 1: Heat release rate (cone calorimeter method) and smoke production rate (dynamic measurement)
[7] ASTM E 1354: Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
[8] ASTM D 6113: Standard Test Method for Using a Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire- Test Response Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
[9] ASTM RR E 05-1008, Interlaboratory Round-Robin Trials to Assess Repeatability and Reproducibility for the Cone Calorimeter (Unpublished research report – see Appendix
[10] ASTM D 7309, Standard Test Method for Determining Flammability Characteristics of Plastics and Other Solid Materials Using Microscale Combustion Calorimetry
[11] ASTM E 906, Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rate for Materials and Products
[12] U.S Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Regulations, FAR Sec 25.853 –
[13] ISO 12136:2011, Reaction to Fire Tests – Measurement of Material Properties Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus, International Organization for Standardization, Geneva,
[14] ASTM E 2058 (2013), Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Synthetic Polymer
Material Flammability Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA), ASTM International,
Tewarson and Khan (1988) explored the generation of smoke from electrical cables in their study presented at the ASTM Symposium on Characterization and Toxicity of Smoke Their research, published in ASTM STP 1082, provides valuable insights into the characteristics and toxicity of smoke produced by burning electrical materials, contributing to safety standards and fire prevention measures.
[16] Tewarson, A and Khan, M.M., Fire Propagation Behavior of Electrical Cables,
2 nd International Symposium on Fire Safety Science, Hemisphere Publishing Corp., New York, NY, 1988
[17] Tewarson, A and Khan, M.M., Flame Propagation for Polymers in Cylindrical
Configuration and Vertical Orientation, 22 nd International Symposium on Combustion, The Combustion Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 1988
[18] Tewarson, A and Khan, M.M., A New Standard Test Method for Fire Propagation
Behavior of Electrical Cables in Industrial and Commercial Occupancies, Proceedings of the 5 th International Fire Conference, Interflam, 1990
[19] Tewarson, A and Khan, M.M., A New Standard Test Method for the Quantification of
Fire Propagation Behavior of Electrical Cables Using Factory Mutual Research Corporation’s Small-Scale Flammability Apparatus, Fire Technology, August 1992
[20] Khan, M.M., Bill, R.G and Alpert, R.L., Screening of plenum cables using a small-scale fire test protocol, Fire and Materials, 30, pp 65-76 (2006)
[21] Boardman, D., Khan, M.M., The Effectiveness of Coatings on the Flame Spread
Behavior of Electric Cables, Fire and Materials Conference 2013, January 2013
[22] Tewarson, A., Khan, M.M., Wu, P.K and Bill, R.G., Flammability Evaluation of Clean Room Polymeric Materials for the Semiconductor Industry, Fire and Materials, 25, pp 31-42 (2001)
[23] EN 13823:2004, Reaction to fire tests for building products – Building products, excluding floorings, exposed to thermal attack by a single burning item
[24] SBI Second Round-Robin, Call identifier ENTR/2002/CP11: Theme No 11/2002,
[25] The Construction Products Directive (Council Directive 89/106/EEC)
[26] ISO 9705:1993, Fire tests – Full-scale room test for surface products
[27] ASTM D5424, Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration Testing of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Configuration
The ASTM D5537 standard outlines the testing methods for evaluating heat release, flame spread, smoke obscuration, and mass loss of insulating materials used in electrical or optical fiber cables These tests are conducted in a vertical cable tray configuration to ensure safety and performance during combustion.
[29] UL 1685, Standard for Vertical-Tray Fire-Propagation and Smoke-Release Test for Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables
[30] EN 50399, Common test methods for cables under fire conditions – Heat release and smoke production measurement on cables during flame spread test – Apparatus, procedures, results
[31] Fire Performance of Electrical Cables, Final report on the European Commission SMT programme sponsored research project SMT4-CT96-2059, Interscience Communications Limited 2000, ISBN 09532312 5 9
[32] IEC 60332-3-10, Tests on electric cables under fire conditions – Part 3-10: Test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables – Apparatus
[33] CLC TC20/Sec1576/INF, prEN 50399 – Round-Robin evaluation, CENELEC, Brussels, June 2008
[34] CEMAC – CE Marking of Cables, Fire Technology SP Report 2010:27, ISBN 978- 91-
[35] EN 50289-4-11:2002, Communication cables Specifications for test methods Environmental test methods A horizontal integrated fire test method
[36] NFPA 262, Standard Method of Test for Flame Travel and Smoke of Wires and Cables for Use in Air-Handling Spaces – 2007 Edition
The Plenum Cable Test Method, discussed by M.M Hirschler at the 10th Annual Conference on Recent Advances in Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials, highlights the historical context and implications of cable testing This method is crucial for ensuring the safety and performance of polymeric materials in various applications The conference, held from May 20-22, 1999, in Stamford, CT, provided a platform for experts to share insights on advancements in flame retardancy, emphasizing the importance of rigorous testing standards in the industry.
[38] ISO 24473, Fire tests – Open calorimetry – Measurement of the rate of production of heat and combustion products for fires of up to 40 MW
[39] IEC 60695-1-11, Fire hazard testing – Part 1-11: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products – Fire hazard assessment
[40] IEC 60695-1-12, Fire hazard testing – Part 1-12: Guidance for assessing the fire hazard of electrotechnical products – Fire safety engineering