ASTM E1321-97a(2002)

Standard Test Method for Determining Material Ignition and Flame Spread Properties

SCOPE
1.1 This fire test response standard determines material properties related to piloted ignition of a vertically oriented sample under a constant and uniform heat flux and to lateral flame spread on a vertical surface due to an externally applied radiant-heat flux.
1.2 The results of this test method provide a minimum surface flux and temperature necessary for ignition ( q"o,ig, Tig) and for lateral spread ( q"o,s, Ts,min), an effective material thermal inertia value (kc), and a flame-heating parameter (Φ) pertinent to lateral flame spread.
1.3 The results of this test method are potentially useful to predict the time to ignition, t ig, and the velocity, V, of lateral flame spread on a vertical surface under a specified external flux without forced lateral airflow. Use the equations in that govern the ignition and flame-spread processes and which have been used to correlate the data.
1.4 This test method is potentially useful to obtain results of ignition and flame spread for materials. Data are reported in units for convenient use in current fire growth models.
1.5 SI units are used throughout the standard.
1.6 This standard is used to measure and describe 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 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 Section 7.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-1997
• ICS: 13.220.50 - Fire-resistance of building materials and elements
• ICS: 91.100.01 - Construction materials in general
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.22 - Surface Burning

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1321-97a - Standard Test Method for Determining Material Ignition and Flame Spread Properties
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Replaced By: ASTM E1321-97a(2002)e1 - Standard Test Method for Determining Material Ignition and Flame Spread Properties
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E2058-19 - Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Material Flammability Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA)
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E176-21ae1 - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E2061-23 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of Rail Transportation Vehicles
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E2280-21 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of the Effect of Upholstered Seating Furniture Within Patient Rooms of Health Care Facilities
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D3675-22 - Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Flexible Cellular Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E1591-20 - Standard Guide for Obtaining Data for Fire Growth Models
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM F1870-22 - Standard Guide for Selection of Fire Test Methods for the Assessment of Upholstered Furnishings in Detention and Correctional Facilities
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E603-23 - Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E3020-22 - Standard Practice for Ignition Sources
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E1317-19 - Standard Test Method for Flammability of Surface Finishes
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997
• Referred By: ASTM E1623-22a - Standard Test Method for Determination of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials, Products, and Systems Using an Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL)
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-1997

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: E 1321 – 97a (Reapproved 2002)
Standard Test Method for
Determining Material Ignition and Flame Spread Properties
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1321; 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 E162 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials
Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
1.1 This fire test response standard determines material
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
properties related to piloted ignition of a vertically oriented
E286 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Building
sample under a constant and uniform heat flux and to lateral
Materials Using an 8-ft (2.44-m) Tunnel Furnace
flame spread on a vertical surface due to an externally applied
E648 Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-
radiant-heat flux.
Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
1.2 The results of this test method provide a minimum
E970 Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed
surface flux and temperature necessary for ignition ( q˙9 , T )
o,ig ig
Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant Heat Energy
and for lateral spread ( q˙9 , T ), an effective material
o,s s,min
Source
thermal inertia value (krc), and a flame-heating parameter (F)
E1317 Test Method for Flammability of Marine Surface
pertinent to lateral flame spread.
Finishes
1.3 The results of this test method are potentially useful to
2.2 ASTM Adjuncts:ASTM
predict the time to ignition, t , and the velocity, V, of lateral
ig
Detailed drawings (19), construction information, and parts
flame spread on a vertical surface under a specified external
list (Adjunct to E1317)
flux without forced lateral airflow. Use the equations in
Appendix X1 that govern the ignition and flame-spread pro-
3. Terminology
cesses and which have been used to correlate the data.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
1.4 Thistestmethodispotentiallyusefultoobtainresultsof
method, refer to Terminology E176.
ignition and flame spread for materials. Data are reported in
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
units for convenient use in current fire growth models.
3.2.1 backing board, n—anoncombustibleinsulatingboard,
1.5 SI units are used throughout the standard.
mounted behind the specimen during actual testing to satisfy
1.6 This standard is used to measure and describe the
the theoretical analysis assumption of no heat loss through the
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
specimen. It shall be roughly 25 6 5 mm thick with a density
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
no greater than 200 6 50 kg/m .
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
3.2.2 dummy specimen, n—a noncombustible insulating
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
board used for stabilizing the operating condition of the
actual fire conditions.
equipment, mounted in the apparatus in the position of the
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
specimen and removed only when a test specimen is to be
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
inserted. It shall be roughly 20 6 5 mm in thickness with a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
density of 750 6 100 kg/m .
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2.2.1 Discussion—For the ignition tests, the dummy
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard
specimen board shall have a hole at the 50-mm position for
statements, see Section 7.
mounting the fluxmeter.
2. Referenced Documents 3.2.3 effective thermal property, n—thermal properties de-
rived from heat-conduction theory applied to ignition/ flame-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
spread data treating the material as homogenous in structure.
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
2 3.2.4 mirror assembly, n—a mirror, marked and aligned
Building Materials
with the viewing rakes, used as an aid for quickly identifying
and tracking the flame-front progress.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-5 on Fire
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface
Burning.
Current edition approved June 10, 1997. Published August 1997. Originally
published as E1321–90. Last previous edition E1321–97. Discontinued; see 1992 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07. Available from ASTM Headquarters. Order ADJE1317.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 1321 – 97a (2002)
3.2.5 special calibration board, n—a specially assembled
noncombustible insulating board used for standardizing the
operating condition of the equipment which is used only to
measure the flux distribution at specified intervals along the
specimen surface. It shall be roughly 206 5 mm in thickness
with a density of 750 6 100 kg/m .
3.2.6 thermally thick, n—the thickness of a medium that is
large enough to have the predominate thermal (temperature)
effects experienced within that distance, that is, negligible heat
is lost from its unexposed side.
3.2.7 thermal operating level, n—the operating condition at
which the radiance of the heat source produces a specified
constant heat flux to some specified position at the specimen
surface.
FIG. 1 Schematic of Apparatus With Ignition Specimen
3.2.8 viewing rakes, n—a set of bars with wires spaced at
50-mm intervals for the purpose of increasing the precision of
timing flame-front progress along the specimen.
3.3 Symbols:Symbols:
−1/2
b = ignition correlation parameter, s .
s/2 1/2
C = flame heat transfer factor, m /kW·s .
CF = ratio of radiation pyrometer signal to flux inci-
dent on dummy specimen as measured during
calibration; a linear correlation is assumed, mV/
(kW/m ).
F(t) = specimen thermal response function.
F(x) = surface flux configuration invariant, (kW/m )/
mV.
h = heat loss coefficient, kW/m ·K.
q˙9 = measured incident flux, kW/m . FIG. 2 Normalized Flux Over Specimen
e
q˙9o,ig = critical flux for ignition, kW/m .
q˙9o,s = critical flux for spread, kW/m .
t = time, s.
t* = characteristic equilibrium time, s.
t = time at sample insertion, s.
t = time at ignition, s.
t = ignition time under incident flux, s.
ig
T = ignition temperature, °C.
ig
NOTE 1—All dimensions are in millimetres.
T = minimum temperature for spread, °C.
s,min
FIG. 3 Pilot Configuration for Ignition Test
T = ambient and initial temperature, °C.
`
V = flame (pyrolysis front) velocity, m/s.
x = longitudinal position along centerline of speci-
4.1.2 For the flame spread test, a 155,+0,−5 mm by
men, m.
800,+0,−5 mm specimen (see Fig. 1) is exposed to a
2 3
F = flame heating parameter, (kW) /m .
2 2 graduated heat flux (see Fig. 2) that is approximately 5 kW/m
krc = thermal heating property, (kW/m ·K) s.
higher at the hot end than the minimum heat flux necessary for
e = surface emissivity.
2 4
ignition; this flux being determined from the ignition test (see
s = Stefan-Boltzmann constant, kW/m ·K .
11.2). The specimen is preheated to thermal equilibrium; the
preheat time being derived from the ignition test (see 12.1).
4. Summary of Test Method
After using piloted ignition, the pyrolyzing flame-front pro-
4.1 This test method consists of two procedures; one to
gression along the horizontal length of the specimen as a
measure ignition and one to measure lateral-flame spread.
function of time is tracked. The data are correlated with a
Vertically mounted specimens are exposed to the heat from a
theoryofignitionandflamespreadforthedeviationofmaterial
vertical air-gas fueled radiant-heat energy source inclined at
flammability properties.
15° to the specimen (see Fig. 1).
5. Significance and Use
4.1.1 For the ignition test, a series of 155,+0,−5 mm by
155,+0,−5 mm specimens (see Fig. 1) are exposed to a 5.1 This test method addresses the fundamental aspects of
nearly uniform heat flux (see Fig. 2) and the time to flame
pilotedignitionandflamespread.Theprocedureissuitablefor
attachment, using piloted ignition (see Fig. 3), is determined. thederivationofrelevantmaterialflammabilityparametersthat
E 1321 – 97a (2002)
FIG. 4 General View of Apparatus
include minimum exposure levels for ignition, thermal-inertia the equipment. Some commercially available units have added
values, and flame-spread properties. safety features that are not described in the drawings.
5.2 This test method is used to measure some material-
NOTE 1—The specimen fume stack available in some commercial
flammability properties that are scientifically constant and
models is not required for this test procedure.
compatible and to derive specific properties that allow the
6.2 A brief parts list for the test-equipment assembly in-
prediction and explanation of the flame-spread characteristics
cludes:
of materials. They are considered effective properties that are
6.2.1 Main Frame (see Fig. 5), consisting of two separate
dependent on the correlations used and when combined with
theory can be used over a wide range of fire conditions for sections, the radiant-panel support frame and the specimen
support frame. The two frame sections shall be joined in a
predicting material ignition and flame-spread behavior.
5.3 Donotusethistestmethodforproductsthatdonothave manner that allows adjustments in the relative position of the
radiant panel to the specimen to be made easily.
planar, or nearly planar, external surfaces and those products
and assemblies in which physical performance such as joint
6.2.2 Specimen Holders, to provide for support of the
separationandfasteningmethodshasasignificantinfluenceon specimen during test; at least two of these are required, and
flame propagation in actual fire conditions. three prevent delays resulting from required cooling of holders
5.4 In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to one or
prior to mounting specimens.
more specific sets of laboratory test conditions. If different test
6.2.3 Radiant Panel, consisting of a radiation surface of
conditions are substituted or the end-use conditions are
porous refractory tiles mounted at the front of a stainless steel
changed, it is not always possible by or from this test method
plenum chamber to provide a flat radiating surface of approxi-
to predict changes in the fire-test-response characteristics
mately 280 by 483 mm. The plenum chamber shall include
measured. Therefore, the results are valid only for the fire test
baffle plates and diffusers to distribute the gas/air mixture
exposure conditions described in this procedure (see also 1.6).
evenly over the radiation surface. The gas/air mixture enters
the plenum chamber at one of the short sides to facilitate easy
6. Apparatus
connection when the panel is mounted from the frame. A
reverberatory screen (see Fig. 6) is provided immediately in
6.1 Test-Equipment Fabrication—Fig. 4 shows a photo-
front of the radiating surface to enhance the combustion
graphoftheequipmentasassembledreadyfortest.Figs.5and
efficiency and increase the radiant output.
6 show schematics of the apparatus. These provide engineer-
ing information necessary for the fabrication of the main 6.2.4 Air and Fuel Supply, to support combustion of the
frame, specimen holders, stack, and other necessary parts of radiant panel. The appropriate air and fuel flow-metering
E 1321 – 97a (2002)
Rakes, Radiation Pyrometer, and Mirror are all assembled on
the specimen support frame. The arrangement of parts on this
frame is shown in Figs. 4-6.
6.2.6 Dummy Specimen,ofnoncombustibleinsulatingboard
of the thickness and density specified in the test procedure,
shall be mounted on the apparatus in the position of the
specimen except during actual testing or calibration.
6.3 Instrumentation:
6.3.1 Total Radiation Pyrometer, compensated for its tem-
peraturevariationandhavinganominalsensitivitybetweenthe
thermal wavelengths of 1 and 9 µm that shall view a centrally
locatedareaontheradiantpanelofabout150by300mm.The
instrument shall be securely mounted on the specimen support
frame in such a manner that it can view the radiant panel
surface oriented for specimens in the vertical position.
FIG. 5 Test Apparatus Main Frame, Front View
6.3.2 Heat Fluxmeters—Have available at least three
fluxmeters for this test method. One of these shall be retained
as a laboratory reference standard. The fluxmeters shall be of
thethermopiletypewithanominalrangeof0to50kW/m and
have a sensitivity of approximately 10 mV at 50 kW/m . They
shall have been calibrated to an accuracy of 5% over this
range.Thetimeconstantoftheseinstrumentsshallnotbemore
than 290 ms (corresponding to a time to reach 95% of final
outputofnotmorethan1s).Thetargetsensingtheappliedflux
shall occupy an area not more than 4 by 4 mm and be located
flushwithandatthecenterofthewater-cooled25-mmcircular
exposed metallic end of the fluxmeter. If fluxmeters of smaller
diameters are to be used, these shall be inserted into a copper
sleeve of 25-mm outside diameter in such a way that good
thermal contact is maintained between the sleeve and water-
cooled fluxmeter body. The end of the sleeve and exposed
surface of the fluxmeter shall lie in the same plane. Radiation
shall not pass through any window before reaching the target.
FIG. 6 Test Apparatus, Side View
6.3.3 Timing Devices, such as a chronograph, a digital
clock,astopwatch,ataperecorder,adataacquisition/computer
devices, gas control valves, pressure reducer, and safety
system, or video camera shall be used to measure the times of
controls are all mounted on the panel support frame (see Fig.
ignition and flame-front advancement.
5). Requirements are as follows:
−3 3
6.3.4 Digital Millivoltmeter or Data Acquisition System,
6.2.4.1 Aregulatedairsupplyofabout8.33by10 m /sat
capable of indicating signal changes of 10 µV or less, is
a pressure sufficient to overcome the friction loss through the
suitable for monitoring changes in operating conditions of the
line, metering device, and radiant panel; the radiant-panel
radiant panel.
pressure drop amounts to approximately 20 to 30 Pa. A
flowmetersuitableforindicatingairflowovertherangeof2to
6.4 Space for Conducting Tests:
−3 3
15 by 10 m /s shall be provided. A flowmeter suitable for
6.4.1 Test Area, at least 45-m volume with a ceiling height
indicating methane flow rates over the range of 0.1 to 1.1 by
of not less than 2.5 m. The floor area supporting the appa
...