ASTM D4986-20

Standard Test Method for Horizontal Burning Characteristics of Cellular Polymeric Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method provides a means of measuring the time and extent of burning for cellular polymeric materials. It also provides a means of measuring burning rates for materials that continue to burn past the specified gage marks.  
5.2 This test method provides a means of comparing the burning characteristics of materials of like thickness density, cell size, and skin irregularities, including the effect of falling particles of cellular polymeric materials. It is suitable for quality control, specification acceptance, and for research and development. Examples include filled or reinforced, rigid or flexible, or cut or formed materials  
5.3 In this test method, the specimens are subjected to one or more specific sets of laboratory fire test exposure conditions. If different test conditions are substituted or if the anticipated end-use conditions are changed, it is not always possible from this test method to predict changes in the performance characteristics measured. Therefore, the results are strictly valid only for the fire test exposure conditions described in this procedure.  
5.4 This test method is not intended to be a criterion for fire hazard. The fire hazard created by materials depends upon the form and end use of the material. Assessment of fire hazard includes, but is not limited to, many factors such as flame spread, burning rate, ease of ignition, fuel contribution, heat evolution, products of combustion, and others.
SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard contains a test method for small-scale laboratory procedures to be used to determine the relative rate of burning and the extent and time of burning of horizontally oriented cellular polymeric materials having a density less than 250 kg/m3.  
1.2 The results are intended to serve as a preliminary indication of their acceptability with respect to flammability for a particular application. The final acceptance of the material is dependent upon its use in the end-product that conforms with the standards applicable to such end-product.  
1.3 The classification system described in the Appendix X1 is intended for quality assurance and the preselection of component materials for products.  
1.4 This standard measures and describes the response of materials, products, or 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 the materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.  
1.6 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 a specific hazard statement, see 6.1.1.  
1.7 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.
Note 1: This test method is equivalent to ISO 9772.  
1.8 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2020
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 83.100 - Cellular materials
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.30 - Thermal Properties

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D4986 − 20
Standard Test Method for
Horizontal Burning Characteristics of Cellular Polymeric
1
Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4986; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
1.1 This fire-test-response standard contains a test method
for small-scale laboratory procedures to be used to determine
2. Referenced Documents
the relative rate of burning and the extent and time of burning
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
of horizontally oriented cellular polymeric materials having a
3
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
density less than 250 kg/m .
D4483 Practice for Evaluating Precision for Test Method
1.2 The results are intended to serve as a preliminary
Standards in the Rubber and Carbon Black Manufacturing
indicationoftheiracceptabilitywithrespecttoflammabilityfor
Industries
a particular application. The final acceptance of the material is
D5025 Specification for Laboratory Burner Used for Small-
dependent upon its use in the end-product that conforms with
Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials
the standards applicable to such end-product.
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
1.3 The classification system described in the Appendix X1 E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
is intended for quality assurance and the preselection of E2016 Specification for Industrial Woven Wire Cloth
3
component materials for products. 2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 9772 Cellular Plastics—Determination of Horizontal
1.4 This standard measures and describes the response of
Burning Characteristics of Small Specimens Subjected to
materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
a Small Flame
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all
ISO 13943 Fire Safety—Vocabulary
factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the
materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
3. Terminology
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1 Definitions:
standard.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms relating to plastics, the defi-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
nitions in this test method are in accordance with Terminology
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
D883. For terms relating to fire, the definitions in this test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
method are in accordance with Terminology E176 and
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
ISO 13943. In case of conflict, the definitions given in Termi-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
nology E176 shall prevail. For terms relating to precision and
For a specific hazard statement, see 6.1.1.
bias and associated issues, the terms used in this test method
1.7 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
are in accordance with the definitions in Terminology E456.
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
conducting these tests.
3.2.1 afterflame, n—flame that persists after the ignition
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 9772.
source has been removed.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.2.2 afterflame time, n—the length of time for which a
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
material continues to flame, under specified conditions, after
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
the ignition source has been removed.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal Properties. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2020. Published March 2020. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D4986 – 18. DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/D4986-20. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4986 − 20
3.2.3 afterglow, n—persiste
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4986 − 18 D4986 − 20
Standard Test Method for
Horizontal Burning Characteristics of Cellular Polymeric
1
Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4986; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This fire-test-response standard contains a test method for small-scale laboratory procedures to be used to determine the
relative rate of burning and the extent and time of burning of horizontally oriented cellular polymeric materials having a density
3
less than 250 kg/m .
1.2 The results are intended to serve as a preliminary indication of their acceptability with respect to flammability for a
particular application. The final acceptance of the material is dependent upon its use in the end-product that conforms with the
standards applicable to such end-product.
1.3 The classification system described in the Appendix X1 is intended for quality assurance and the preselection of component
materials for products.
1.4 This standard measures and describes the response of materials, products, or 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 the materials, products,
or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
1.6 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 a specific hazard statement, see 6.1.1.
1.7 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these
tests.
NOTE 1—This test method is equivalent to ISO 9772.
1.8 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D4483 Practice for Evaluating Precision for Test Method Standards in the Rubber and Carbon Black Manufacturing Industries
D5025 Specification for Laboratory Burner Used for Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E2016 Specification for Industrial Woven Wire Cloth
3
2.2 ISO Standard:
ISO 9772 Cellular Plastics—Determination of Horizontal Burning Characteristics of Small Specimens Subjected to a Small
Flame
ISO 13943 Fire Safety—Vocabulary
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal Properties.
Current edition approved May 1, 2018Feb. 1, 2020. Published June 2018March 2020. Originally approved in 1989. Last previous edition approved in 20102018 as
D4986 – 10.D4986 – 18. DOI: 10.1520/D4986-18.10.1520/D4986-20.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D4986 − 20
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of fire-related terms used terms relating to plastics, the definitions in this test method, refer method are in
accordance with Terminology D883to . For terms relating to fire, the definitions in this test method are in accordance with
Terminology E176. For definitions of and ISO 13943. In case of conflict, the definitions given in Terminology E176 shall prevail.
For terms relating to plastics precision and bias and associated issues, the
...