ASTM E1623-03

Standard Test Method for Determination of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials, Products, and Systems Using an Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL)

SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard assesses the response of materials, products, and assemblies to controlled levels of radiant heat exposure with or without an external ignitor.
1.2 The fire-test-response characteristics determined by this test method include the ignitability, heat release rates, mass loss rates, visible smoke development, and gas release of materials, products, and assemblies under well ventilated conditions.
1.3 This test method is also suitable for determining many of the parameters or values needed as input for computer fire models. Examples of these values include effective heat of combustion, surface temperature, ignition temperature, and emissivity.
1.4 This test method is also intended to provide information about other fire parameters such as thermal conductivity, specific heat, radiative and convective heat transfer coefficients, flame radiation factor, air entrainment rates, flame temperatures, minimum surface temperatures for upward and downward flame spread, heat of gasification, nondimensional heat of gasification (1) and the Φ flame spread parameter (see Test Method E 1321). While some studies have indicated that this test method is suitable for determining these fire parameters, insufficient testing and research have been done to justify inclusion of the corresponding testing and calculating procedures.
1.5 The heat release rate is determined by the principle of oxygen consumption calorimetry, via measurement of the oxygen consumption as determined by the oxygen concentration and flow rate in the exhaust product stream (exhaust duct). The procedure is specified in 11.1. Smoke development is quantified by measuring the obscuration of light by the combustion product stream (exhaust duct).
1.6 Specimens are exposed to a constant heating flux in the range of 0 to 50 kW/m2  in a vertical orientation. Hot wires are used to ignite the combustible vapors from the specimen during the ignition and heat release tests. The assessment of the parameters associated with flame spread requires the use of line burners instead of hot wire ignitors.
1.6.1 Heat release measurements at low heat flux levels ( 10 kW/m2) require special considerations as described in Section A1.1.6.
1.7 This test method has been developed for evaluations, design, or research and development of materials, products, or assemblies, for mathematical fire modeling, or for research and development. The specimen shall be tested in thicknesses and configurations representative of actual end product or system uses.
1.8 Limitations of the test method are listed in Section .
1.9 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.10 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.
1.11 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently hazardous, and adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests. This test method may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. Specific information about hazard is given in Section 7.
1.12 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Feb-2003
• 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: E05.21 - Smoke and Combustion Products

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E1623-02b - Standard Test Method for Determination of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials, Products, and Systems Using an Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL)
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM E1623-03a - Standard Test Method for Determination of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials, Products, and Systems Using an Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL)
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2061-23 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of Rail Transportation Vehicles
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1591-20 - Standard Guide for Obtaining Data for Fire Growth Models
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E3020-22 - Standard Practice for Ignition Sources
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2058-19 - Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Material Flammability Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA)
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E3048-22a - Standard Test Method for Determination of Time to Burn-Through Using the Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL) Radiant Panel
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2067-22 - Standard Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Tests
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E176-21ae1 - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 10-Feb-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: 10-Feb-2003

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.
An American National Standard
Designation: E 1623 – 03
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials,
Products, and Systems Using an Intermediate Scale
1
Calorimeter (ICAL)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1623; 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 used to ignite the combustible vapors from the specimen during
the ignition and heat release tests. The assessment of the
1.1 This fire-test-response standard assesses the response of
parameters associated with flame spread requires the use of line
materials, products, and assemblies to controlled levels of
burners instead of hot wire ignitors.
radiant heat exposure with or without an external ignitor.
1.6.1 Heat release measurements at low heat flux levels (<
1.2 The fire-test-response characteristics determined by this
2
10 kW/m ) require special considerations as described in
test method include the ignitability, heat release rates, mass
Section A1.1.6.
loss rates, visible smoke development, and gas release of
1.7 This test method has been developed for evaluations,
materials, products, and assemblies under well ventilated
design, or research and development of materials, products, or
conditions.
assemblies, for mathematical fire modeling, or for research and
1.3 This test method is also suitable for determining many
development. The specimen shall be tested in thicknesses and
of the parameters or values needed as input for computer fire
configurations representative of actual end product or system
models. Examples of these values include effective heat of
uses.
combustion, surface temperature, ignition temperature, and
1.8 Limitations of the test method are listed in Section 5.5.
emissivity.
1.9 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
1.4 This test method is also intended to provide information
standard.
about other fire parameters such as thermal conductivity,
1.10 This standard is used to measure and describe the
specific heat, radiative and convective heat transfer coeffi-
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
cients, flame radiation factor, air entrainment rates, flame
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
temperatures, minimum surface temperatures for upward and
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
downward flame spread, heat of gasification, nondimensional
2
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
heat of gasification (1) and the F flame spread parameter (see
actual fire conditions.
Test Method E 1321). While some studies have indicated that
1.11 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently
this test method is suitable for determining these fire param-
hazardous, and adequate safeguards for personnel and prop-
eters, insufficient testing and research have been done to justify
erty shall be employed in conducting these tests. This test
inclusion of the corresponding testing and calculating proce-
method may involve hazardous materials, operations, and
dures.
equipment. Specific information about hazard is given in
1.5 The heat release rate is determined by the principle of
Section 7.
oxygen consumption calorimetry, via measurement of the
1.12 This standard does not purport to address all of the
oxygen consumption as determined by the oxygen concentra-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tion and flow rate in the exhaust product stream (exhaust duct).
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
The procedure is specified in 11.1. Smoke development is
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
quantified by measuring the obscuration of light by the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
combustion product stream (exhaust duct).
1.6 Specimens are exposed to a constant heating flux in the
2. Referenced Documents
2
range of 0 to 50 kW/m in a vertical orientation. Hot wires are
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3
D 2016 Test Methods for Moisture Content of Wood
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire
D 3286 Test Method for Gross Calorific Value of Coal and
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.21 on Smoke and
Combustion Products.
Current edition approved Feb. 10, 2003. Published April 2003. Originally
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as E 1623 - 02b.
2 3
The boldface numbers given in parentheses refer to the list of references at the Discontinued; see 1988 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09. Replaced
end of this standard. by D 4442 and D 4444
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