ASTM D6113-03

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

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
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 heating flux in the cone calorimeter apparatus.
Quantitative heat release measurements provide information that is potentially useful for design of electrical or optical cables, and product development.
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.
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.
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 D 5424 and D 5537) (2-9). No definitive relationships have been established.
The value of heat release rate corresponding to the critical limit between propagating cable fires and non-propagating fires is not known.
This test method does not determine the net heat of combustion.
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 heating 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 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.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability or regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific precautionary statements, see Section 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Mar-2003
• 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

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6113-02 - Standard Test Method for Using a Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test Response Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM D6113-09 - Standard Test Method for Using a Cone Calorimeter to Determine Fire-Test-Response Characteristics of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2009
• 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: 10-Mar-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5485-21 - Standard Test Method for Determining Corrosive Effect of Combustion Products Using the Cone Corrosimeter
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2061-23 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of Rail Transportation Vehicles
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2067-22 - Standard Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Tests
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-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 6113 – 03
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 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.
4
1. Scope When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
D 5485 Test Method for Determining the Corrosive Effect
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
4
of Combustion Products Using the Cone Corrosimeter
1.2 Several fire-test-response characteristics, including the
D 5537 Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread and
time to sustained flaming, heat release rate, total heat released,
Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Materials Contained in
effective heat of combustion, and specific extinction area; are
Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a
measuredorcalculatedbythistestmethodataconstantradiant
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Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
heating flux. For specific limitations see also 5.7 and Section 6.
5
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
1.3 The tests are conducted by burning the electrical insu-
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
lating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables
6
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
when the cable test specimens, excluding accessories, are
E 906 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
subjected to radiant heat.
5
Rates for Materials and Products
1.4 This standard measures and describes the response of
E 1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
Rates for Material snd Products Using an Oxygen Con-
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all
5
sumption Calorimeter
factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the
E 1474 Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate
materials, products or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
of Upholstered Furniture and Mattress Components or
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
Composites Using a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
5
Calorimeter
only.
2.2 CSA Standard:
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
CSA C22.2 No. 0.3, FT4, Vertical Flame Tests: Cables in
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Cable Trays, Section 4.11.4 in C22.2 No. 0.3, Test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
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Methods for Electrical Wires and Cables
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
2.3 IEC Standards:
bility or regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
IEC 695-4 Fire Hazard Testing. Part 4: Terminology Con-
precautionary statements, see Section 7.
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cerning Fire Tests
2. Referenced Documents IEC 695-5-2 Fire Hazard Testing. Part 5: Guidance for
Assessing Smoke Corrosivity from Burning of Electro-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
8
2
technical Products, Section 2: Test Methods
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
3
2.4 IEEE Standard:
D 1711 Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
IEEE 1202: StandardforFlameTestingofCablesforUsein
D 5424 Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating
Cable Tray in Industrial and Commercial Occupancies,
Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables
1 4
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D09 on Annual Book of Standards, Vol 10.02.
5
Electrical and Electronic Insulating Materials and is the direct responsibility of Annual Book of Standards, Vol 04.07.
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Subcommittee D09.21 on Fire Performance Standards. Annual Book of Standards, Vol 14.02.
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Current edition approved March 10, 2003. Published April 2003. Originally Available from Canadian Standards Association, 5060 Spectrum Way, Missis-
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 6113 – 02. sauga, Ontario, Canada, L4W 5N6.
2 8
Annual Book of Standards, Vol 08.01. Available from International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), 3 Rue de
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Annual Book of Standards, Vol 10.01. Varembe, Geneva, Switzerland.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D6113–03
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IEEE Standard 1202 3.2.5 ignitability, n—the measure of the ease with which a
2.5 ISO Standards: specimen can be ignited due to the influence of an external
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ISO 13943 Fire Safety: Vocabulary energy source, under specified test conditions.
ISO CD 11907-4 Dynamic
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