ASTM D6113-99
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Using a Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test Response Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
Standard Test Method for Using a Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test Response Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
SCOPE
1.1 this is a fire-test-response standard.
General Information
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 6113 – 99
Standard Test Method for
Using a Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test-Response
Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in
Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6113; 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 5537 Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread and
Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Materials Contained in
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a
1.2 Several fire-test-response characteristics, including the
Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
time to sustained flaming, heat release rate, total heat released,
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
effective heat of combustion, and specific extinction area; are
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
measured or calculated by this test method at a constant radiant
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
heating flux. For specific limitations see also 5.7 and Section 6.
E 906 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
1.3 The tests are conducted by burning the electrical insu-
Rates for Materials and Products
lating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables
E 1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
when the cable test specimens, excluding accessories, are
Rates for Material snd Products Using an Oxygen Con-
subjected to radiant heat.
sumption Calorimeter
1.4 This standard measures and describes the response of
E 1474 Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate
materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
of Upholstered Furniture and Mattress Components or
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all
Composites Using a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption
factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the
Calorimeter
materials, products or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
2.2 CSA Standard:
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
CSA C22.2 No. 0.3, FT4, Vertical Flame Tests: Cables in
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
Cable Trays, Section 4.11.4 in C22.2 No. 0.3, Test
only.
Methods for Electrical Wires and Cables
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
2.3 IEC Standards:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
IEC 695-4 Fire Hazard Testing. Part 4: Terminology Con-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
cerning Fire Tests
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
IEC 695-5-2 Fire Hazard Testing. Part 5: Guidance for
bility or regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
Assessing Smoke Corrosivity from Burning of Electro-
precautionary statements, see Section 7.
technical Products, Section 2: Test Methods
2. Referenced Documents
2.4 IEEE Standard:
IEEE 1202: Standard for Flame Testing of Cables for Use in
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Cable Tray in Industrial and Commercial Occupancies,
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
IEEE Standard 1202
D 1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
2.5 ISO Standards:
D 5424 Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating
ISO Guide 52 Glossary of Fire Terms and Definitions, First
Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
Edition, 1989
When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
ISO CD 11907-4 Dynamic Method for Measuring Smoke
D 5485 Test Method for Determining the Corrosive Effect
of Combustion Products Using the Cone Corrosimeter
Annual Book of Standards, Vol 04.07.
Annual Book of Standards, Vol 14.02.
1 7
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-9 on Available from Canadian Standards Association, 178 Rexdale Blvd., Rexdale,
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of Ontario, Canada, M9W 1R3.
Subcommittee D09.21 on Fire Performance Standards.
Available from International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), 3 Rue de
Current edition approved Oct. 10, 1999. Published December 1999. Originally Varembe, Geneva, Switzerland.
published as D 6113 – 97. Last previous edition D 6113 – 97. Available from Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 345 East 47th.
Annual Book of Standards, Vol 08.01. Street, New York, NY 10017.
3 10
Annual Book of Standards, Vol 10.01. Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), PO Box
Annual Book of Standards, Vol 10.02. 56, Geneva 20, CH 1211, Switzerland.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D6113
Corrosivity Using a Radiant Conical Heater 3.2.8 oxygen consumption principle, n—the expression of
2.6 OSHA Standard: the relationship between the mass of oxygen consumed during
combustion and the heat released.
OSHA 191.1450 Occupational Exposure to Hazardous
Chemicals in Laboratories 3.2.9 smoke obscuration, n—the reduction in visibility due
to the smoke.
2.7 UL Standards:
ANSI/UL 910 Standard Test Method for Fire and Smoke 3.2.10 specific extinction area, n—a measure of smoke
obscuration potential per unit mass lost, determined as the
Characteristics of Electrical and Optical Fiber Cables
Used in Air Handling Spaces product of the extinction coefficient and the volumetric mass
flow rate, divided by the mass loss rate.
ANSI/UL 1581 Reference Standard for Electrical Wires,
3.2.11 sustained flaming, n—existence of flame on or over
Cables, and Flexible Cords
the surface of the test specimen for periods of4sor more.
UL 1666 Standard Test for Flame Propagation Height of
3.2.11.1 Discussion—Flaming of less than 4 s duration is
Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables Installed Vertically in
identified as flashing or transitory flaming.
Shafts
3.2.12 total heat released, n—integrated value of the rate of
UL 1685 Standard Vertical Tray Fire Propagation and
heat release, for a specified time period.
Smoke Release Test for Electrical and Optical Fiber
Cables
4. Summary of Test Method
3. Terminology 4.1 All fire-test-response characteristics in this test method
are determined using the apparatus and procedures described in
3.1 Definitions:
Test Method E 1354.
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method and
4.2 The oxygen consumption principle, used in this test
associated with fire issues use Terminology E 176, ISO Guide
method, is based on the observation that, generally, the net heat
52 and IEC 695-4. Where differences exist in definitions, those
of combustion is directly related to the amount of oxygen
contained in Terminology E 176 shall be used. Use Terminol-
required for combustion (1). Approximately 13.1 MJ of heat
ogy D 1711 for definitions of terms used in this test method and
are released per 1 kg of oxygen consumed. Test specimens in
associated with electrical insulation materials.
this test method are burned in ambient air conditions, while
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
being subjected to a prescribed external heating flux. (See also
3.2.1 cone calorimeter, n—the apparatus which is used in
X5.1).
Test Method E 1354 to determine heat release rate, by the
4.3 The heat release is determined by the measurement of
principle of oxygen consumption calorimetry, and other fire-
the oxygen consumption, as determined by the oxygen con-
test-response characteristics.
centration and the flow rate in the combustion product stream,
3.2.2 effective heat of combustion, n—the ratio of the
as described in Test Method E 1354.
measured heat release to the mass loss, under specified test
4.4 The primary measurements are oxygen concentration
conditions.
and exhaust gas flow rate. Additional measurements include
3.2.2.1 Discussion—The effective heat of combustion is a
the time to sustained flaming, the smoke obscuration generated,
function of the test conditions, including heating flux, exposure
the mass loss rate, and the effective heat of combustion.
time and test specimen geometry.
Ignitability is determined by measuring the time from initial
3.2.3 heat release rate, n—the calorific energy released per
exposure to time of sustained flaming of the test specimen.
unit time by the combustion of a material under specified test
4.5 A cone calorimeter is used to measure the consumption
conditions.
of oxygen during this test; heat release is then calculated, based
3.2.4 heating flux, n—the prescribed incident power per unit
on the oxygen consumption principle. The test specimen is
area of test specimen, the power being imposed externally from
mounted horizontally and a spark ignition source is employed.
the heater onto the test specimen at the initiation of the test.
3.2.4.1 Discussion—The test specimen, once ignited, is also
5. Significance and Use
heated by its own flame.
5.1 This test method is used to determine the heat release
3.2.5 ignitability, n—the measure of the ease with which a
rate and a number of other fire-test-response characteristics as
specimen can be ignited due to the influence of an external
a result of exposing insulating materials contained in electrical
energy source, under specified test conditions.
or optical cables to a prescribed heating flux in the cone
3.2.6 net heat of combustion, n—the quantity of heat re-
calorimeter apparatus.
leased by the complete combustion of a unit mass of the
5.2 Quantitative heat release measurements provide infor-
material, the water produced being in the vapor state.
mation that is potentially useful for design of electrical or
3.2.7 orientation, n—the plane in which the exposed face of
optical cables, and product development.
the test specimen is located during testing, which is horizontal
5.3 Heat release measurements provide useful information
facing up for this test.
for product development by giving a quantitative measure of
specific changes in fire performance caused by component and
Available from Occupational Health and Safety Administration, 200 Consti-
tution Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20210.
12 13
Available from Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 333 Pfingsten Rd, North- The boldface numbers given in parentheses refer to a list of references at the
brook, IL, 60062. end of this test method.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D6113
composite modifications. Heat release data from this test exposure chamber through a properly designed exhaust system.
method will not be predictive of product behavior if the An adequate method of venting the combustion products
product will not spread flame over its surface under the fire captured in the exposure chamber during the test is through an
exposure conditions of interest. OSHA approved smoke hood at the end of a test.
5.4 The fire-test-response characteristics determined by this 7.3 Check the exhaust system for proper operation before
test method are affected by the thickness of the material used testing and discharge into a building exhaust system with
as test specimen, whether as a plaque or as coating on a wire adequate capacity. Make provisions for collecting and venting
or cable. The diameter of the wire or cable used will also affect any combustion products that for whatever reason are not
the test results. collected by the exhaust system of the apparatus.
5.5 A radiant exposure is used as an energy source for this
8. Test Specimen
test method. This type of source has been used for comparison
with heat release rate and flame spread studies of insulating
8.1 Size and Preparation:
materials constructed into cables when burning in a vertical
8.1.1 The types of test specimens permitted are (a) materials
cable tray configuration (Test Methods D 5424 and D 5537)
in the form of a flat plaque, or (b) electrical insulating materials
(2-9). No definitive relationships have been established.
contained in electrical or optical cables. The test specimen shall
5.6 The value of heat release rate corresponding to the
be 100 6 2by100 6 2 mm (approximately 4 6 0.08 by 4 6
critical limit between propagating cable fires and non-
0.08 in.) in size, or as close to that as possible. Fill the
propagating fires is not known.
specimen holder as completely as possible with the cable
5.7 This test method does not determine the net heat of
pieces. Make the thickness of a material test specimen in a flat
combustion.
plaque the same as that of the end use of the material in cable
5.8 It has not been demonstrated that this test method is
construction. If the end use thickness is not known, or if the test
capable of predicting the response of electrical or optical fiber
is conducted for other purposes, use a thickness of 6.3 6 0.5
cables in a full scale fire. In particular, this test method does not
mm (approximately 0.25 6 0.02 in.). Ensure that the overall
address the self-extinguishing characteristics of the cables in a
characteristics of the test specimens are those of the wire or
full scale fire.
cable in its end use (wall thickness and overall diameter).
NOTE 1—Overall test specimen thicknesses of less than 2 mm (approxi-
6. Test Limitations
mately 0.08 in.) are not recommended, because potential testing errors
6.1 If during the test of one or more of the three replicate
become larger.
test specimens, any of the following unusual behavior occurs:
8.1.2 For test specimens of materials in flat plaques, cut the
molten material overflows the specimen holder trough; a test
test specimen to a size of 100 6 2by100 6 2mm
specimen is displaced from the zone of controlled irradiance
(approximately 4 6 0.08 by 4 6 0.08 in.). Wrap the test
(explosive spalling); or the test specimen swells sufficiently
specimen in a single layer of aluminum foil (0.03 to 0.04 mm
prior to ignition to touch the spark plug or swells up to the
–3
(1.2 to 1.6 3 10 in.) thick), shiny side towards the test
plane of the heater base during combustion; then test an
specimen. Place the edge frame over the test specimen and cut
additional specimen of the identical preconditioned test speci-
the aluminum foil along the open edges at the top of the edge
mens in the test mode in which the unusual behavior occurred.
frame to expose the test specimen. Remove the test specimen
Do not incorporate data obtained from the tests noted above,
from the edge frame, place a
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