ASTM D6113-21

Standard Test Method for Using Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is used to determine the heat release rate and a number of other fire-test-response characteristics as a result of exposing insulating materials contained in electrical or optical cables to a prescribed initial test heat flux in the cone calorimeter apparatus.  
5.2 Quantitative heat release measurements provide information that is potentially useful for design of electrical or optical cables, and product development.  
5.3 Heat release measurements provide useful information for product development by giving a quantitative measure of specific changes in fire performance caused by component and composite modifications. Heat release data from this test method will not be predictive of product behavior if the product will not spread flame over its surface under the fire exposure conditions of interest.  
5.4 The fire-test-response characteristics determined by this test method are affected by the thickness of the material used as test specimen, whether as a plaque or as coating on a wire or cable. The diameter of the wire or cable used will also affect the test results.  
5.5 A radiant exposure is used as an energy source for this test method. This type of source has been used for comparison with heat release rate and flame spread studies of insulating materials constructed into cables when burning in a vertical cable tray configuration (Test Methods D5424 and D5537) (2-9). No definitive relationships have been established.  
5.6 The value of heat release rate corresponding to the critical limit between propagating cable fires and non-propagating fires is not known.  
5.7 This test method does not determine the net heat of combustion.  
5.8 It has not been demonstrated that this test method is capable of predicting the response of electrical or optical fiber cables in a full scale fire. In particular, this test method does not address the self-extinguishing characteristics of the cables in a full scale fire.
SCOPE
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.  
1.2 Several fire-test-response characteristics, including the time to sustained flaming, heat release rate, total heat released, effective heat of combustion, and specific extinction area; are measured or calculated by this test method at a constant radiant heat flux. For specific limitations see also 5.7 and Section 6.  
1.3 The tests are conducted by burning the electrical insulating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables when the cable test specimens, excluding accessories, are subjected to radiant heat.  
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 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 specific precautionary statements, see Section 7.  
1.6 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.  
1.7 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.  
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: Published
• Publication Date: 28-Feb-2021
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 29.035.01 - Insulating materials in general
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: D09 - Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials
• Drafting Committee: D09.17 - Fire and 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: D6113 − 21
Standard Test Method for
Using Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test-Response
Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in
1
Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6113; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber 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 is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 Several fire-test-response characteristics, including the
2. Referenced Documents
time to sustained flaming, heat release rate, total heat released,
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
effective heat of combustion, and specific extinction area; are
D618Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
measuredorcalculatedbythistestmethodataconstantradiant
D1711Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
heat flux. For specific limitations see also 5.7 and Section 6.
D5424Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating
1.3 The tests are conducted by burning the electrical insu-
Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
lating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables
When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
when the cable test specimens, excluding accessories, are
D5485Test Method for Determining the Corrosive Effect of
subjected to radiant heat.
Combustion Products Using the Cone Corrosimeter
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
D5537TestMethodforHeatRelease,FlameSpread,Smoke
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
Obscuration, and Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Mate-
only.
rialsContainedinElectricalorOpticalFiberCablesWhen
Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
E176Terminology of Fire Standards
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
E603Guide for Room Fire Experiments
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
E691Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
E906/E906MTest Method for Heat and Visible Smoke
For specific precautionary statements, see Section 7.
Release Rates for Materials and Products Using a Ther-
1.6 This standard measures and describes the response of
mopile Method
materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
E1354Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all
Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Con-
factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the
sumption Calorimeter
materials, products or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
E1474Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate
1.7 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
of Upholstered Furniture and Mattress Components or
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
Composites Using a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption
conducting these tests.
Calorimeter
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
E2058Test Methods for Measurement of Material Flamma-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
bility Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA)
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
E2965Test Method for Determination of Low Levels of
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Heat Release Rate for Materials and Products Using an
Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 on
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of
2
Subcommittee D09.17 on Fire and Thermal Properties. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved March 1, 2021. Published May 2021. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D6113–16. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/D6113-21. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D6113 − 21
3
2.2 CSA Standard: contained in Terminology E176 shall be used. Use T
...

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: D6113 − 16 D6113 − 21
Standard Test Method for
Using a Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test-Response
Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in
1
Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6113; 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*Scope
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 Several fire-test-response characteristics, including the time to sustained flaming, heat release rate, total heat released, effective
heat of combustion, and specific extinction area; are measured or calculated by this test method at a constant radiant heatingheat
flux. For specific limitations see also 5.7 and Section 6.
1.3 The tests are conducted by burning the electrical insulating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables when the
cable test specimens, excluding accessories, are subjected to radiant heat.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.5 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability orof regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements, see Section 7.
1.6 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.
1.7 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these
tests.
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:
D618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 on Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D09.17 on Fire and Thermal Properties.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2016March 1, 2021. Published December 2016May 2021. Originally approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 20102016 as
D6113 – 11.D6113 – 16. DOI: 10.1520/D6113-16.10.1520/D6113-21.
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.
*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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D6113 − 21
D1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
D5424 Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When
Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
D5485 Test Method for Determining Corrosive Effect of Combustion Products Using the Cone Corrosimeter
D5537 Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread, Smoke Obscuration, and Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Materials
Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E603 Guide for Room Fire Experiments
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method
E906E906/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
E1474 Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate of Upholstered Furniture and Mattress Components or Composites
Using a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
E2
...