ASTM D2843-22

Standard Test Method for Density of Smoke from the Burning or Decomposition of Plastics

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Tests made on a material under conditions herein prescribed are of considerable value in comparing the relative smoke obscuration characteristics of plastics.  
5.2 This test method serves to determine the extent to which plastic materials are likely to smoke under conditions of active burning and decomposition in the presence of flame.
Note 2: One study5 suggested that visual and instrumental observations from this test compare well with the visual observations of the smoke generated by plastic materials when added to a freely burning large outdoor fire.  
5.3 The usefulness of this test procedure is in its ability to measure the amount of smoke obscuration produced in a simple, direct, and meaningful manner under the specified conditions. The degree of obscuration of vision by smoke generated by combustibles is known to be affected by changes in quantity and form of material, humidity, draft, temperature, and oxygen supply.  
5.4 Safety Precautions—Products of combustion are toxic. Care shall be taken to guard the operator from the effects of products of combustion.
SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response test method covers a laboratory procedure for measuring and observing the relative amounts of smoke obscuration produced by the burning or decomposition of plastics. It is intended to be used for measuring the smoke-producing characteristics of plastics under controlled conditions of combustion or decomposition. Correlation with other fire conditions is not implied. The measurements are made in terms of the loss of light transmission through a collected volume of smoke produced under controlled, standardized conditions. The apparatus is constructed so that the flame and smoke is observable during the test.2  
1.2 During the course of combustion, gases or vapors, or both, are evolved that are potentially hazardous to personnel. Adequate precautions shall be taken to protect the operator.  
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information purposes only.  
1.4 This standard is used to measure and describe 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 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests. Specific safety warning statements are given in 1.2 and 9.13.  
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.
Note 1: There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.  
1.7 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: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Mar-2022
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.30 - Thermal Properties

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: D2843 − 22
Standard Test Method for
Density of Smoke from the Burning or Decomposition of
1
Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2843; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This fire-test-response test method covers a laboratory
procedure for measuring and observing the relative amounts of
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
smoke obscuration produced by the burning or decomposition
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
of plastics. It is intended to be used for measuring the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
smoke-producing characteristics of plastics under controlled
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
conditions of combustion or decomposition. Correlation with
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
other fire conditions is not implied. The measurements are
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
made in terms of the loss of light transmission through a
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
collected volume of smoke produced under controlled, stan-
2. Referenced Documents
dardized conditions. The apparatus is constructed so that the
2
3
flame and smoke is observable during the test.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
1.2 During the course of combustion, gases or vapors, or
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
both, are evolved that are potentially hazardous to personnel.
D1600 Terminology forAbbreviatedTerms Relating to Plas-
Adequate precautions shall be taken to protect the operator.
tics
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
Building Materials
purposes only.
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
1.4 This standard is used to measure and describe the
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
E662 Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
Generated by Solid Materials
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
actual fire conditions.
E906/E906M Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke
Release Rates for Materials and Products Using a Ther-
1.5 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
mopile Method
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
conducting these tests. Specific safety warning statements are
Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Con-
given in 1.2 and 9.13.
sumption Calorimeter
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E2935 Practice for Evaluating Equivalence of Two Testing
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Processes
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 13943 Fire Safety—Vocabulary
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D20 on Plastics
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal Properties-
3
(Section D20.30.03). For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved March 15, 2022. Published March 2022. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as D2843 - 19. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D2843-22. the ASTM website.
2
4
Anonymous, “A Method of Measuring Smoke Density,” NFPA Quarterly, Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
QNFPA,Vol 57, January 1964, p. 276. Reprint NFPAQ57-9.Available from NFPA, Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier,
60 Batterymarch St., Boston, MA 02110. Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyr
...

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: D2843 − 19 D2843 − 22
Standard Test Method for
Density of Smoke from the Burning or Decomposition of
1
Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2843; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This fire-test-response test method covers a laboratory procedure for measuring and observing the relative amounts of smoke
obscuration produced by the burning or decomposition of plastics. It is intended to be used for measuring the smoke-producing
characteristics of plastics under controlled conditions of combustion or decomposition. Correlation with other fire conditions is not
implied. The measurements are made in terms of the loss of light transmission through a collected volume of smoke produced
2
under controlled, standardized conditions. The apparatus is constructed so that the flame and smoke is observable during the test.
1.2 During the course of combustion, gases or vapors, or both, are evolved that are potentially hazardous to personnel. Adequate
precautions shall be taken to protect the operator.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information purposes
only.
1.4 This standard is used to measure and describe 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 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these
tests. Specific safety warning statements are given in 1.2 and 9.13.
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.
NOTE 1—There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.
1.7 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.
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(Section
D20.30.03).
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2019March 15, 2022. Published October 2019March 2022. Originally approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 20162019
as D2843 - 16.D2843 - 19. DOI: 10.1520/D2843-19.10.1520/D2843-22.
2
Anonymous, “A Method of Measuring Smoke Density,” NFPA Quarterly, QNFPA, Vol 57, January 1964, p. 276. Reprint NFPA Q57-9. Available from NFPA, 60
Batterymarch St., Boston, MA 02110.
*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

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D2843 − 22
2. Referenced Documents
3
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
D1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to Plastics
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E456 Terminology Relating to Quality and Statistics
E662 Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E906/E906M Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using a Thermopile Method
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption
Calorimeter
E2935 Practice for Evaluating Equivalence of Two Testing Processes
4
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 13943 Fire Safety—Vocabulary
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms relating to plastics, the defi
...