ASTM D5537-03

Standard 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

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method provides a means to measure a variety of fire-test-response characteristics associated with heat and smoke release and resulting from burning the materials insulating electrical or optical fiber cables, when made into cables and installed on a vertical cable tray. The specimens are allowed to burn freely under well ventilated conditions after ignition by means of a propane gas burner.
The rate of heat release often serves as an indication of the intensity of the fire generated. General considerations of the importance of heat release rate are discussed in Appendix X1 and considerations for heat release calculations are in Appendix X2.
Other fire-test-response characteristics that are measurable by this test method are useful to make decisions on fire safety. The test method is also used for measuring smoke obscuration. The apparatus described here is also useful to measure gaseous components of smoke; the most important gaseous components of smoke are the carbon oxides, present in all fires. The carbon oxides are major indicators of the completeness of combustion and are often used as part of fire hazard assessment calculations and to improve the accuracy of heat release measurements.
Test Limitations:  
5.4.1 The fire-test-response characteristics measured in this test are a representation of the manner in which the specimens tested behave under certain specific conditions. Do not assume they are representative of a generic fire performance of the materials tested when made into cables of the construction under consideration.
5.4.2 In particular, it is unlikely that this test is an adequate representation of the fire behavior of cables in confined spaces, without abundant circulation of air.
5.4.3 This is an intermediate-scale test, and the predictability of its results to large scale fires has not been determined. Some information exists to suggest validation with regard to some large-scale scenarios.
SCOPE
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 This test method provides a means to measure the heat released and smoke obscuration by burning the electrical insulating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables when the cable specimens, excluding accessories, are subjected to a specified flaming ignition source and burn freely under well ventilated conditions. Flame propagation cable damage, by char length, and mass loss are also measured.
1.3 This test method provides two different protocols for exposing the materials, when made into cable specimens, to an ignition source (approximately 20 kW), for a 20 min test duration. Use it to determine the heat release, smoke release, flame propagation and mass loss characteristics of the materials contained in single and multiconductor electrical or optical fiber cables.
1.4 This test method does not provide information on the fire performance of materials insulating electrical or optical fiber cables in fire conditions other than the ones specifically used in this test method nor does it measure the contribution of the materials in those cables to a developing fire condition.
1.5 Data describing the burning behavior from ignition to the end of the test are obtained.
1.6 This test equipment is suitable for measuring the concentrations of certain toxic gas species in the combustion gases (see Appendix X4).
1.7 The values stated in SI units are the standard (see IEEE/ASTM SI 10); the values stated in parentheses are for information only.
1.8 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.
1.9 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently hazardous. Employ adequate safeguards for personnel and property in conducting these tests.
1.10 This s...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2003
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 29.035.01 - Insulating materials in general
• Technical Committee: D09 - Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D5537-99 - Standard Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread and Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM D5537-08 - Standard 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
• Effective Date: 01-May-2008
• Referred By: ASTM E2067-22 - Standard Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Tests
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5424-23a - Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E3020-22 - Standard Practice for Ignition Sources
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2102-21 - Standard Test Method for Measurement of Mass Loss and Ignitability for Screening Purposes Using a Conical Radiant Heater
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: 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
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E603-23 - Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2061-23 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of Rail Transportation Vehicles
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-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
An American National Standard
Designation: D 5537 – 03
Standard 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
1
Tray Configuration
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5537; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.9 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently
hazardous. Employ adequate safeguards for personnel and
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
property in conducting these tests.
1.2 This test method provides a means to measure the heat
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the
released and smoke obscuration by burning the electrical
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
insulating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
cables when the cable specimens, excluding accessories, are
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
subjectedtoaspecifiedflamingignitionsourceandburnfreely
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
under well ventilated conditions. Flame propagation cable
damage, by char length, and mass loss are also measured.
2. Referenced Documents
1.3 This test method provides two different protocols for
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
exposingthematerials,whenmadeintocablespecimens,toan
D1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
ignition source (approximately 20 kW), for a 20 min test
D5424 Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating
duration. Use it to determine the heat release, smoke release,
Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
flamepropagationandmasslosscharacteristicsofthematerials
When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
contained in single and multiconductor electrical or optical
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
fiber cables.
Building Materials
1.4 This test method does not provide information on the
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
fire performance of materials insulating electrical or optical
E603 Guide for Room Fire Experiments
fiber cables in fire conditions other than the ones specifically
E800 Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Gener-
usedinthistestmethodnordoesitmeasurethecontributionof
ated During Fires
the materials in those cables to a developing fire condition.
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
1.5 Data describing the burning behavior from ignition to
Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Con-
the end of the test are obtained.
sumption Calorimeter
1.6 This test equipment is suitable for measuring the con-
E1537 Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furni-
centrationsofcertaintoxicgasspeciesinthecombustiongases
ture
(see Appendix X4).
E2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calo-
1.7 The values stated in SI units are the standard (see
rimetry Fire Tests
IEEE/ASTM SI 10); the values stated in parentheses are for
IEEE/ASTM SI 10 Standard for Use of the International
information only.
System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
1.8 This standard measures and describes the response of
2.2 NFPA Standards:
materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
ANSI/NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, National Fire
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all
3
Protection Association
factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the
NFPA 265, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating
materials, products or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Subcommittee D09.21 on Fire Performance Standards. the ASTM website.
3
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2003. Published January 2004. Originally Available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park,
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 1999 as D5537–99. Quincy, MA 02269.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5537–03
Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Wall Cover- 4.2 Theverticalcabletraythatholdsthespecimenislocated
3
ings in an
...