ASTM E2965-22a

Standard Test Method for Determination of Low Levels of Heat Release Rate for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This test method is used primarily to determine the heat evolved in, or contributed to, a fire involving materials or products that emit low levels of heat release. The recommended use for this test method is for materials with a total heat release rate measured of less than 10 MJ over the first 20 min test period, and which do not give peak heat release rates of more than 200 kW/m2 for periods extending more than 10 s. Also included is a determination of the effective heat of combustion, mass loss rate, the time to sustained flaming, and (optionally) smoke production. These properties are determined on small size test specimens that are representative of those in the intended end use.  
5.2 This test method is applicable to various categories of products and is not limited to representing a single fire scenario.  
5.3 This test method is not applicable to end-use products that do not have planar, or nearly planar, external surfaces.
SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard provides a procedure for measuring the response of materials that emit low levels of heat release when exposed to controlled levels of radiant heating with or without an external igniter.  
1.2 This test method differs from Test Method E1354 in that it prescribes a different specific test specimen size, specimen holder, test specimen orientation, a direct connection between the plenum and the top plate of the cone heater assembly to ensure complete collection of all the combustion gases (Fig. 1), and a lower volumetric flow rate for analyses via oxygen consumption calorimetry. It is intended for use on materials and products that contain only small amounts of combustible ingredients or components, such as test specimens that yield a peak heat release of 2 and total heat release of 2.
Note 1: PMMA is typically used to check the general operation of a Cone Calorimeter. PMMA should not be used with this standard as the heat release rate is too high.  
1.3 The rate of heat release is determined by measurement of the oxygen consumption as determined by the oxygen concentration and the flow rate in the exhaust product stream. The effective heat of combustion is determined from a concomitant measurement of test specimen mass loss rate, in combination with the heat release rate. Smoke development (an optional measurement) is measured by obscuration of light by the combustion product stream.  
1.4 Test specimens shall be exposed to initial test heat fluxes generated by a conical radiant heater. External ignition, when used, shall be by electric spark. The test specimen testing orientation is horizontal, independent of whether the end-use application involves a horizontal or a vertical orientation.  
1.5 Ignitability is determined as a measurement of time from initial exposure to time of sustained flaming.  
1.6 This test method has been developed for use for material and product evaluations, mathematical modeling, design purposes, and development and research. Examples of material test specimens include portions of an end-use product or the various components used in the end-use product.  
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.8 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.  
1.9 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.  
1.10 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applic...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2022
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.23 - Combustibility

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:E2965 −22a An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Low Levels of Heat Release Rate for
Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption
1
Calorimeter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2965; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 1.6 Thistestmethodhasbeendevelopedforuseformaterial
and product evaluations, mathematical modeling, design
1.1 Thisfire-test-responsestandardprovidesaprocedurefor
purposes,anddevelopmentandresearch.Examplesofmaterial
measuringtheresponseofmaterialsthatemitlowlevelsofheat
test specimens include portions of an end-use product or the
release when exposed to controlled levels of radiant heating
various components used in the end-use product.
with or without an external igniter.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
1.2 ThistestmethoddiffersfromTestMethodE1354inthat
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
it prescribes a different specific test specimen size, specimen
standard.
holder, test specimen orientation, a direct connection between
the plenum and the top plate of the cone heater assembly to
1.8 This standard is used to measure and describe the
ensurecompletecollectionofallthecombustiongases(Fig.1),
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
and a lower volumetric flow rate for analyses via oxygen
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
consumption calorimetry. It is intended for use on materials
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
and products that contain only small amounts of combustible
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
ingredients or components, such as test specimens that yield a
actual fire conditions.
2
peak heat release of <200kW⁄m and total heat release of
1.9 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
2
<15MJ⁄m .
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
conducting these tests.
NOTE 1—PMMA is typically used to check the general operation of a
Cone Calorimeter. PMMA should not be used with this standard as the
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the
heat release rate is too high.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.3 The rate of heat release is determined by measurement responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
of the oxygen consumption as determined by the oxygen priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
concentration and the flow rate in the exhaust product stream. mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
The effective heat of combustion is determined from a con- For specific hazard statements, see Section 7.
comitant measurement of test specimen mass loss rate, in
1.11 This international standard was developed in accor-
combinationwiththeheatreleaserate.Smokedevelopment(an
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
optional measurement) is measured by obscuration of light by
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
the combustion product stream.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.4 Testspecimensshallbeexposedtoinitialtestheatfluxes
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
generated by a conical radiant heater. External ignition, when
used, shall be by electric spark. The test specimen testing
2. Referenced Documents
orientation is horizontal, independent of whether the end-use
application involves a horizontal or a vertical orientation.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D5865Test Method for Gross Calorific Value of Coal and
1.5 Ignitability is determined as a measurement of time
Coke
from initial exposure to time of sustained flaming.
E176Terminology of Fire Standards
1
E603Guide for Room Fire Experiments
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.23 on Combustibil-
E906Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
ity.
Rates for Materials and Products Using a Thermopile
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2022. Published November 2022. Originally
Method
approved in 2015. Last previous edition approved in 2022 as E2965-22. DOI:
10.1520/E2965-22A. E1354Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 B
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2965 − 22 E2965 − 22a An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Low Levels of Heat Release Rate for
Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption
1
Calorimeter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2965; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This fire-test-response standard provides a procedure for measuring the response of materials that emit low levels of heat
release when exposed to controlled levels of radiant heating with or without an external igniter.
1.2 This test method differs from Test Method E1354 in that it prescribes a different specific test specimen size, specimen holder,
test specimen orientation, a direct connection between the plenum and the top plate of the cone heater assembly to ensure complete
collection of all the combustion gases (Fig. 1), and a lower volumetric flow rate for analyses via oxygen consumption calorimetry.
It is intended for use on materials and products that contain only small amounts of combustible ingredients or components, such
2 2
as test specimens that yield a peak heat release of <200 kW ⁄m and total heat release of <15 MJ ⁄m .
NOTE 1—PMMA is typically used to check the general operation of a Cone Calorimeter. PMMA should not be used with this standard as the heat release
rate is too high.
1.3 The rate of heat release is determined by measurement of the oxygen consumption as determined by the oxygen concentration
and the flow rate in the exhaust product stream. The effective heat of combustion is determined from a concomitant measurement
of test specimen mass loss rate, in combination with the heat release rate. Smoke development (an optional measurement) is
measured by obscuration of light by the combustion product stream.
1.4 Test specimens shall be exposed to initial test heat fluxes generated by a conical radiant heater. External ignition, when used,
shall be by electric spark. The test specimen testing orientation is horizontal, independent of whether the end-use application
involves a horizontal or a vertical orientation.
1.5 Ignitability is determined as a measurement of time from initial exposure to time of sustained flaming.
1.6 This test method has been developed for use for material and product evaluations, mathematical modeling, design purposes,
and development and research. Examples of material test specimens include portions of an end-use product or the various
components used in the end-use product.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.23 on Combustibility.
Current edition approved April 1, 2022Nov. 1, 2022. Published May 2022November 2022. Originally approved in 2015. Last previous edition approved in 20172022 as
E2965-17.-22. DOI: 10.1520/E2965-22.10.1520/E2965-22A.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2965 − 22a
FIG. 1 Modified Cone Calorimeter
1.8 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.
1.9 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these
tests.
1.10 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section 7.
1.11 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendatio
...