ASTM D635-98

Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position

SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers a small-scale laboratory screening procedure for comparing the relative rate of burning and/or extent and time of burning of self-supporting plastics in the form of bars, molded or cut from sheets, plates, or panels, and tested in the horizontal position. This test method should be used to establish relative burning characteristics of plastic materials and should not be used as a fire-hazard test method.  
Note 1-Warning-During the course of combustion, gases or vapors, or both, are evolved which may be hazardous to personnel. Precaution-In addition to other precautions, adequate precautions should be taken to protect the operator.
Note 2-Additional information on materials which do not burn to the gage mark by this test may be obtained using Test Method D 3801. For tests of flexible plastics in the form of thin sheets and film, reference should be made to Test Methods D 4804. Tests on the burning rate of sheet and plate insulation are covered in Test Methods D 229. Burning characteristics, as measured by minimum oxygen to support combustion, may be determined by Test Method D 2863.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.3 This standard should be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to heat and flame under controlled laboratory conditions and should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may be used as elements of a fire risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use>.
1.4 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 Note 1 and 6.1.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jul-1998
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: D20 - Plastics
• Drafting Committee: D20.30 - Thermal Properties

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D635-03 - Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D4976-12a(2020) - Standard Specification for Polyethylene Plastics Molding and Extrusion Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM C1822-21 - Standard Specification for Insulating Covers on Accessible Lavatory Piping
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D707-15(2023) - Standard Classification System and Basis for Specification for Cellulose Acetate Butyrate Molding and Extrusion Compounds (CAB)
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D706-20 - Standard Classification System and Basis for Specifications for Cellulose Acetate Molding and Extrusion Compounds (CA)
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D3801-20a - Standard Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D7793-21 - Standard Specification for Insulated Vinyl Siding
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D7445-18 - Standard Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Siding with Foam Plastic Backing (Backed Vinyl Siding)
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM F1837M-97(2018) - Standard Specification for Heat-Shrink Cable Entry Seals (Metric)
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM F3459-21 - Standard Specification for Rigid Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Exterior Profiles Used for Sound Walls
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM F964-13(2019) - Standard Specification for Rigid Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Exterior Profiles Used for Fencing and Railing
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM E2634-18(2022) - Standard Specification for Flat Wall Insulating Concrete Form (ICF) Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D7745-19 - Standard Practice for Testing Pultruded Composites
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D4000-23 - Standard Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998
• Referred By: ASTM D4396-22 - Standard Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (CPVC) Compounds for Plastic Pipe and Fittings Used in Nonpressure Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1998

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 635 – 98
Standard Test Method for
Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of
1
Plastics in a Horizontal Position
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 635; 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 * 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This fire-test-response test method covers a small-scale 2.1 ASTM Standards:
laboratory screening procedure for comparing the relative D 648 Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics
2
linear rate of burning or extent and time of burning, or both, of Under Flexural Load
2
plastics in the form of bars, molded or cut from sheets, plates, D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
or panels, and tested in the horizontal position. D 3801 Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burn-
3
ing Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position
NOTE 1—This test method, Clause 8 of IEC Draft 695-11-10 and
D 5025 Specification for a Laboratory Burner Used for
Method A of ISO 1210-1992 are technically equivalent.
4
Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materials
NOTE 2—For additional information on materials which do not burn to
the first reference mark by this test, see Test Method D 3801. D 5207 Practice for Calibration of 20 and 125-mm Test
Flames for Small-Scale Burning Tests on Plastic Materi-
1.2 This test method was developed for polymeric materials
4
als
used for parts in devices and appliances. The results are
5
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
intended to serve as a preliminary indication of their accept-
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
ability with respect to flammability for a particular application.
6
Determine the Precision of a Test Method
The final acceptance of the material is dependent upon its use
2.2 IEC Standards:
in complete equipment that conforms with the standard appli-
IEC 695-11-10 Determination of the Burning Behavior of
cable to such equipment.
Horizontal and Vertical Specimens in Contact with a 50 W
1.3 The classification system described in the appendix is
7
Nominal Ignition Source
intended for quality assurance and the preselection of compo-
2.3 ISO Standards:
nent materials for products.
ISO 1210-1992 Plastics—Determination of the Burning
1.4 The test method is not intended to cover plastics when
Behavior of Horizontal and Vertical Specimens in Contact
used as materials for building construction or furnishing.
7
with a Small-Flame Ignition Source
1.5 This test method should be used to measure and describe
the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
3. Terminology
flame under controlled laboratory conditions and should not be
3.1 Definitions:
used to describe or appraise the fire hazard for fire risk of
3.1.1 Definitions used in this test method are in accordance
materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
with Terminology D 883, unless otherwise specified. For terms
However, results of this test method may be used as elements of
relating to fire, the definitions used in this test method are in
a fire risk assessment that takes into account all of the factors
accordance with Terminology E 176.
that are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a
particular end use.
4. Summary of Test Method
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
4.1 A bar specimen of the material to be tested is supported
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
horizontally at one end. The free end is exposed to a specified
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
gas flame for 30 s. Time and extent of burning are measured
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific
hazards statements, see 9.2.1.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.03.
1 5
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
6
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal Properties Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
7
(Section D20.30.03). Publications of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and
Current edition approved July 10, 1998. Published January 1999. Originally International Organization for Standardization (ISO) are available from American
published as D 635 – 41. Last previous edition D 635 – 97. National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM Internat
...