ASTM D4804-03

Standard Test Method for Determining the Flammability Characteristics of Nonrigid Solid Plastics

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The test results represent the afterflame and afterglow times, in seconds, for a material under the conditions of the test.
The afterflame and afterglow times and other burning phenomena will vary with thickness. Test data should only be compared with data for material of comparable thickness. Useful information may be obtained from a plot of afterflame and afterglow times versus thickness.
The effect of material thickness, colors, additives, deterioration, and possible loss of volatile components is measurable.
The results serve as a reference for comparing the relative performance of materials and can be an aid in material selection.
In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to one or more specific sets of laboratory test conditions. If different test conditions are substituted or the end-use conditions are changed, it may not be possible by or from this test method to predict changes in the fire-test-response characteristics measured; therefore, the results are valid only for the fire-test exposure conditions described in this test method.
SCOPE
1.1 These fire-test-response test methods describe small-scale laboratory procedures for determining the comparative burning characteristics of solid plastic materials that, due to specimen thinness and nonrigidity, may distort or shrink when tested using Test Method D 3801. A flame is applied to the base of specimens held in a vertical position and the extinguishing times are determined upon removal of the test flame.
1.2 The classification system described in Appendix X1 is intended for quality assurance and the preselection of component materials for products.
1.3 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.
Note 1—These test methods and ISO 9773 are technically equivalent.
Note 2—For rate of burning of nonrigid solid plastics in a horizontal position, formerly Test Method B of these test methods, see Test Method D 635, section 9.4.
1.4 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Warning in 6.1.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-2003
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.30 - Thermal Properties

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4804-98 - Standard Test Methods for Determining the Flammability Characteristics of Nonrigid Solid Plastics
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4000-23 - Standard Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5025-20a - Standard Specification for Laboratory Burner Used for Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D3801-20a - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D1593-22 - Standard Specification for Nonrigid Vinyl Chloride Plastic Film and Sheeting
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4976-12a(2020) - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003

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: D 4804 – 03
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Flammability Characteristics of Nonrigid
1
Solid Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4804; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* D 3801 Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Extin-
guishing Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical
1.1 These fire-test-response test methods describe small-
Position
scale laboratory procedures for determining the comparative
D 5025 Specification for a Laboratory Burner Used for
burning characteristics of solid plastic materials that, due to
Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials
specimen thinness and nonrigidity, may distort or shrink when
D 5207 Practice for Confirmation of 20 and 125 mm Test
testedusingTestMethodD 3801.Aflameisappliedtothebase
Flames for Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials
of specimens held in a vertical position and the extinguishing
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
times are determined upon removal of the test flame.
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
1.2 The classification system described in Appendix X1 is
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
intended for quality assurance and the preselection of compo-
2.2 ISO Standards:
nent materials for products.
ISO 9773–98 Plastics—Determination of Burning Behav-
1.3 This standard measures and describes the response of
iour of Thin Flexible Vertical Specimens in Contact With
materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
3
a Small Flame Ignition Source
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all
factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the
3. Terminology
materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of fire-related terms used in
NOTE 1—These test methods and ISO 9773 are technically equivalent.
these test methods, refer to Terminology E 176.
NOTE 2—For rate of burning of nonrigid solid plastics in a horizontal
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
position, formerly Test Method B of these test methods, see Test Method
3.2.1 flame-impingement time, n—the time in seconds that
D 635, section 9.4.
the flame from the burner is in contact with the specimen.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.2 flaming material, n—flaming drips or particles from
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the specimen which ignite the dry, absorbent surgical cotton
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
placed 300 mm below the test specimen.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2.3 afterflame, n—persistence of flaming of a material,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
after the ignition source has been removed.
statements, see Warning in 6.1.
3.2.4 afterflame time, n—the length of time for which a
material continues to flame, under specified conditions, after
2. Referenced Documents
the ignition source has been removed.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.2.5 afterglow, n—persistence of glowing of a material,
D 635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
after cessation of flaming or, if no flaming occurs, after
Time of Burning of Self-Supporting Plastics in a Horizon-
removal of the ignition source.
tal Position
3.2.6 afterglow time, n—the length of time for which a
materialcontinuestoglowunderspecifiedtestconditions,after
1
the ignition source has been removed or cessation of flaming,
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D20 on
Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal
or both.
Properties.
3.2.7 flame, v—to undergo combustion in the gaseous phase
Current edition approved July 10, 2003. Published September 2003. Originally
with emission of light.
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 1998 as D 4804 – 98.
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
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
the ASTM website. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
*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 ----------------------
D4804–03
3.2.8 glow, n—visible light, other than from flaming, emit- 6.6 Cotton—A supply of d
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:D4804–98 Designation: D 4804 – 03
Standard Test Method for
Determining the Flammability Characteristics of Nonrigid
1
Solid Plastics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4804; 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 These fire-test-response test methods describe small-scale laboratory procedures for determining the comparative burning
characteristicsofsolidplasticmaterialsthat,duetospecimenthinnessandnonrigidity,may distortorshrinkwhentestedusingTest
Method D 3801.Aflame is applied to the base of specimens held in a vertical position and the extinguishing times are determined
upon removal of the test flame.
1.2 The classification system described in Appendix X1 is intended for quality assurance and the preselection of component
materials for products.
1.3 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.
NOTE 1—These test methods and ISO 9773 are equivalent. are technically equivalent.
NOTE 2—For rate of burning of nonrigid solid plastics in a horizontal position, formerly Test Method B of these test methods, see Test Method D 635,
section 9.4.
1.4 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Note 3. For specific hazard statements, see Warning in 6.1.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 635 Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent andTime of Burning of Self-Supporting Plastics in a Horizontal Position
2
D1898Practice for Sampling of Plastics
D 3801 Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Extinguishing Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position
D 5025 Specification for a Laboratory Burner Used for Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials
D 5207 Practice for CalibrationConfirmation of 20 and 125 mmTest Flames for Small-Scale BurningTests on Plastic Materials
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
2.2 ISO Standards:
ISO 9773–98 Plastics—Determination of Burning Behaviour of Thin Flexible Vertical Specimens in Contact With a Small
3
Flame Ignition Source
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions— For definitions of fire-related terms used in these test methods, refer to Terminology E 176.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 flame-impingement time, n—the time in seconds that the flame from the burner is in contact with the specimen.
3.2.2 flaming material, n—flaming drips or particles from the specimen which ignite the dry, absorbent surgical cotton placed
300 mm below the test specimen.
1
These test methods are under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D-20D20 on Plastics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal Properties
.
Current edition approved July 10, 1998.2003. Published February 1999.September 2003. Originally published as D4804–88.approved in 1988. Last previous edition
approved in 1998 as D 4804 – 918.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
, Vol 08.01.volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
*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 ----------------------
D4804–03
3.2.3 afterflame, n—persistence of flaming of a material, after the ignition source has been removed.
3.2.4 afterflame time, n—thelengthoftimeforwhichamaterialcontinuestoflame,underspecifiedconditions,aftertheignition
source has been removed.
3.2.5 afterglow, n—pers
...