ISO 30021:2013

Plastics - Burning behaviour - Intermediate-scale fire-resistance testing of fibre-reinforced polymer composites

ISO 30021:2013 specifies a method of determining the fire resistance of non-load-bearing separating elements made of fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) when exposed to heating on one face. It is applicable to FRP products for which the end-use application is smaller than the full-scale fire test specimen specified in ISO 834‑1. Fire barriers in transportation applications are a common example, since the end-use dimensions of the barrier products are often smaller than those specified in ISO 834‑1. This test is, in general, applicable to FRP products which have an essentially flat surface and can have stiffening members. This includes sandwich-panel-type structures in which the skins consist of FRP.

Plastiques — Comportement au feu — Essais de résistance au feu à échelle intermédiaire des composites polymères renforcés de fibres

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 18-Sep-2013
• ICS: 13.220.40 - Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products
• ICS: 83.080.01 - Plastics in general
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 61/SC 4 - Burning behaviour
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 61/SC 4/WG 9 - Composites and semi-finished products
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 28-Nov-2024
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 30021:2013 - Plastics - Burning behaviour - Intermediate-scale fire-resistance testing of fibre-reinforced polymer composites - specifies a standardized method to evaluate the fire resistance of non-load-bearing separating elements made from fibre‑reinforced plastics (FRP) when exposed to heating on one face. The method addresses intermediate‑scale specimens smaller than full‑scale ISO 834‑1 furnaces (typical test panels ~1.5 m × 1.5 m or at least 1000 ± 30 mm each side) and is tailored to products such as transportation fire barriers, sandwich panels and flat FRP construction panels with stiffening members.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and purpose: Tests non‑load‑bearing, essentially flat FRP separating elements representative of end‑use conditions (including stiffeners and insulation).
• Specimen dimensions and number: Typical vertical/horizontal specimens about 1.5 m by 1.5 m; minimum dimensions ~1000 mm. One specimen for symmetrical constructions; two where exposure from either side is required.
• Mounting frame and linings: Frame must be non‑combustible (steel or concrete). Linings in contact with specimen should be non‑combustible (e.g., calcium silicate board, min. 50 mm thickness, oven‑dry density ~950 ± 100 kg/m3).
• Instrumentation and measurement: Plate thermometers per ISO 834‑12 for furnace control; thermocouples on the unexposed surface at the centre and each quarter of the panel; additional points if insulation or joints are present.
• Preconditioning and test environment: Specimens conditioned at 23 ± 2 °C and 50–75% RH for at least 24 h. Test room temperature 15–35 °C and 45–75% RH.
• Test procedure: Exposure follows the ISO 834‑12 time‑temperature curve or applicable EN 1363‑2 curves; test start is defined when furnace temperature rise begins. No mechanical loading is applied.
• Insulation and joints: Insulation used in end‑use must be mounted as in service, with representative vertical/horizontal joints included.
• Safety: Explicit caution about toxic smoke, hazardous gases and mechanical risks - safety assessment, written instructions and training required.

Practical applications

• Assessing fire performance of transportation fire barriers in ships, rail cars, aircraft and road vehicles.
• Evaluating sandwich panels, partition panels and flat FRP elements that are smaller than full‑scale test specimens.
• Supporting product certification, regulatory compliance, fire‑safety design and material selection for FRP components.

Who uses this standard

• FRP manufacturers and composite fabricators
• Fire‑test laboratories and certification bodies
• Marine, rail and vehicle designers and regulatory authorities
• Fire safety engineers and materials researchers

Related standards

• ISO 834‑1, ISO 834‑12 (basis for time‑temperature exposure)
• EN 1363‑2 (alternative time‑temperature curves)
• ISO 472, ISO 13943 (vocabulary)
• ISO 10295‑1 (related to penetration seals)

Keywords: ISO 30021:2013, FRP fire resistance, intermediate‑scale fire testing, fibre‑reinforced polymer composites, transportation fire barriers, ISO 834‑12, EN 1363‑2.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 30021
First edition
2013-10-01
Plastics — Burning behaviour —
Intermediate-scale fire-resistance
testing of fibre-reinforced polymer
composites
Plastiques — Comportement au feu — Essais de résistance au feu à
échelle intermédiaire des composites polymères renforcés de fibres
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
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ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 1
5 Test equipment. 2
5.1 General . 2
5.2 Specimen mounting frame . 2
6 Test specimen . 2
6.1 Number of specimen . 2
6.2 Dimensions . 2
6.3 Structure of specimen . 2
6.4 Insulation of specimen . 2
7 Conditioning . 3
8 Application of instrumentation . 3
8.1 Plate thermometer . 3
8.2 Temperature measuring points of the test specimen . 3
9 Test procedures . 4
9.1 Temperature of the test room . 4
9.2 Specimen mounting . 4
9.3 Temperature before the commencement of the test . 4
9.4 Commencement of the test . 4
9.5 Heating condition . 4
9.6 Measurement and observation . 4
9.7 Termination of test . 5
9.8 Observations after the test . 5
10 Test report . 5
Bibliography . 7
Foreword
IISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
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electrotechnical standardization.
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described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
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Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
The committee responsible for this document is ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 4, Burning
behaviour in collaboration with ISO/TC 92, Fire safety, Subcommittee SC 2, Fire containment.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
Small ships, which are normally made of fibre reinforced plastics (FRP), are required to have fire
resistance under international regulations such as The Torremolinos International Convention for the
[1]
Safety of Fishing Vessels, superseded by The 1993 Torremolinos Protocol and other national regulations.
Therefore, development of a test method to prove the fire resistance of FRP construction of such ships is
required. The construction panel of FRP in such ships would not have a height greater than 2 m.
Structures of railway passenger cars and other mass-transport media are, in many cases, made of FRP
and should have fire-resistance performance to prevent fire propagation within the car., A fire-resistance
test will be required for such structural members. In such applications, the structural dimensions are,
in many cases, smaller than the size of the test specimen specified for the full-scale fire-resistance test
in ISO 834-1.
This International Standard specifies a smaller test specimen than that specified in ISO 834-1. It has
been developed as a method for determination of the fire resistance of FRP in various intermediate-scale
non-loading applications, mainly in transport media, such as barriers and partitions in water crafts and
vessels, railway vehicles, aircraft and road vehicles.
This International Standard has been developed by ISO/TC 61/SC 4 in close cooperation with
ISO/TC 92/SC 2 and provides specific test procedures for FRP using ISO 834-12 as the basis of the
intermediate-scale fire-resistance test.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 30021:2013(E)
Plastics — Burning behaviour — Intermediate-scale fire-
resistance testing of fibre-reinforced polymer composites
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies a method of determining the fire resistance of non-load-bearing
separating elements made of fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) when exposed to heating on one face.
It is applicable to FRP products for which the end-use application is smaller than the full-scale fire test
specimen specified in ISO 834-1. Fire barriers in transportation applications are a common example,
since the end-use dimensions of the barrier products are often smaller than those specified in ISO 834-1.
This test is, in general, applicable to FRP products which have an essentially flat surface and can have
stiffening members. This includes sandwich-panel-type structures in which the skins consist of FRP.
CAUTION — The attention of all persons concerned with managing and carrying out this fire-
resistance test is drawn to the fact that fire testing is hazardous and there is a possibility of
toxic and/or harmful smoke and gases being evolved during the test. Mechanical and operational
hazards can also arise during the construction of the test elements or structures, their testing
and disposal of test residues.
It is essential that an assessment of all potential hazards and risks to health is made and safety
precautions are identified and provided. It is also essential that written safety instructions are
issued, that appropriate training is given to relevant personnel and that laboratory personnel
ensure that they follow written safety instructions at all times.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application
...