ISO 5658-4:2001

Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame — Part 4: Intermediate-scale test of vertical spread of flame with vertically oriented specimen

1.1 This part of ISO 5658 specifies an intermediate-scale method of test for measuring the vertical spread (upward and downward) of flame over a specimen of a product orientated in the vertical position. A measure of lateral spread can also be obtained. It provides data suitable for comparing the performance of materials, composites or assemblies, which are used as the exposed surfaces of walls or other vertically orientated products in construction applications. Some products with profiled surfaces can also be tested with a modified procedure representative of the end-use conditions of the product. 1.2 Upward flame spread is not limited to surfaces which are vertical. It is recognized that an enhanced form of upward, wind-aided flame spread can also occur on surfaces at an angle greater than 20° from the horizontal without any external ventilation. This type of flame spread can occur in both planar sloping surfaces and stepped surfaces such as stairs. Flame spread in these situations can become very rapid and can cause serious problems in escape ways such as staircases. When assessing stepped or sloping surface materials, it may be more appropriate to use a vertical flame spread test rather than a test in which the specimen is horizontal. 1.3 This part of ISO 5658 is applicable to the measurement and description of the properties of materials, products, composites or assemblies in response to radiative heat in the presence of non-impinging pilot flames under controlled laboratory conditions. The heat source may be considered to represent a single burning item such as a wastepaper bin or an upholstered chair within an enclosure, and this scenario would generally be considered to apply during the early developing stage of a fire (see ISO/TR 11696-1 and ISO/TR 11696-2). This part of ISO 5658 should not be used alone to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, composites or assemblies under actual fire conditions.

Essais de réaction au feu — Propagation du feu — Partie 4: Essai à échelle intermédiaire de la propagation de la flamme avec éprouvette orientée verticalement

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-May-2001
• ICS: 13.220.50 - Fire-resistance of building materials and elements
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 92/SC 1 - Fire initiation and growth
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 92/SC 1 - Fire initiation and growth
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Completion Date: 17-Jan-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 5658-4
First edition
2001-06-01
Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame —
Part 4:
Intermediate-scale test of vertical spread of
flame with vertically oriented specimen
Essais de réaction au feu — Propagation du feu —
Partie 4: Essais à échelle intermédiaire de la propagation de la flamme
avec éprouvette orientée verticalement
Reference number
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
©
ISO 2001

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
PDF disclaimer
This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but shall not
be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In downloading this
file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat accepts no liability in this
area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation parameters
were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In the unlikely event
that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.
© ISO 2001
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or ISO's member body
in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 � CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [e-mail]
Web www.iso.ch
Printed in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
Contents Page
Foreword.iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope .1
2 Normative references .1
3 Terms and definitions .2
4 Principle.3
5 Suitability of a product for testing .7
6 Test specimens.7
6.1 Exposed surface .7
6.2 Number and size of specimens.7
6.3 Construction of specimen assemblies.7
6.4 Conditioning.9
6.5 Reference lines .10
6.6 Storage of specimen assemblies.10
7 Test apparatus .12
8 Test enclosure.22
9 Setting-up and calibration procedure.22
9.1 Setting-up .22
9.2 Verification .23
9.3 Adjustment of the pilot flame .23
10 Test procedure.23
11 Derived flame spread characteristics (optional).26
11.1 General.26
11.2 Method 1 .26
11.3 Method 2a).26
11.4 Method 2b).26
11.5 Method 3 .27
12 Precision.27
13 Test report .27
Annex A (normative) Safety precautions.31
Annex B (normative) Specimen construction .32
Annex C (informative) Calibration of the working heat flux meter.33
Annex D (normative) Interpretation of results of this test procedure .34
Annex E (informative) Variability in the ignitability and flame spread measured in an
interlaboratory test .35
Bibliography.37
© ISO 2001 – All rights reserved iii

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
Foreword
ISO (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 through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has
the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in
liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this part of ISO 5658 may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO 5658-4 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 92, Fire safety, Subcommittee
SC 1, Fire initiation and growth.
ISO 5658 consists of the following parts, under the general title Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame:
— Part 1: Guidance on flame spread (Technical Report)
— Part 2: Lateral spread on building products in vertical configuration
— Part 4: Intermediate-scale test of vertical spread of flame with vertically oriented specimen
Annexes A, B and D form a normative part of this part of ISO 5658. Annexes C and E are for information only.
iv © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
Introduction
ISO/TR 5658-1 describes the development of standard tests for flame spread and explains the theory of flame
spread for various orientations.
ISO 5658-2 provides a simple method by which the lateral surface spread of flame on a vertical specimen can be
determined for comparative purposes. This method is particularly useful for research, development and quality
control purposes.
This part of ISO 5658 provides an intermediate-scale method by which the ignitability and vertical surface spread of
flame on a vertical specimen can be determined. The specimen is sufficiently large to obtain a measure of lateral
flame spread. Downward flame spread can also be examined as a wind-opposed spread on the specimen surface
or by the observation of any flaming drips.
Fire is a complex phenomenon; its behaviour and its effects depend upon a number of interrelated factors. The
behaviour of materials and products depends upon the characteristics of the fire, the method of use of the materials
and the environment in which they are exposed. The methodology of reaction-to-fire tests is explained in
ISO/TR 3814.
A test such as specified in this part of ISO 5658 deals only with a simple representation of a particular aspect of the
potential fire situation typified by a radiant heat source and flame; it cannot alone provide any direct guidance on
behaviour or safety in fire.
The attention of all users of the test is drawn to the warning given before clause 1.
© ISO 2001 – All rights reserved v

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame —
Part 4:
Intermediate-scale test of vertical spread of flame with vertically
oriented specimen
WARNING — So that suitable precautions can be taken to safeguard health, the attention of all concerned
in fire tests is drawn to the possibility that toxic or harmful gases may be evolved during exposure of test
specimens. The advice on safety given in annex A should also be noted.
1 Scope
1.1 This part of ISO 5658 specifies an intermediate-scale method of test for measuring the vertical spread
(upward and downward) of flame over a specimen of a product orientated in the vertical position. A measure of
lateral spread can also be obtained. It provides data suitable for comparing the performance of materials,
composites or assemblies, which are used as the exposed surfaces of walls or other vertically orientated products
in construction applications. Some products with profiled surfaces can also be tested with a modified procedure
representative of the end-use conditions of the product.
1.2 Upward flame spread is not limited to surfaces which are vertical. It is recognized that an enhanced form of
upward, wind-aided flame spread can also occur on surfaces at an angle greater than 20° from the horizontal
without any external ventilation. This type of flame spread can occur in both planar sloping surfaces and stepped
surfaces such as stairs. Flame spread in these situations can become very rapid and can cause serious problems
in escape ways such as staircases. When assessing stepped or sloping surface materials, it may be more
appropriate to use a vertical flame spread test rather than a test in which the specimen is horizontal.
1.3 This part of ISO 5658 is applicable to the measurement and description of the properties of materials,
products, composites or assemblies in response to radiative heat in the presence of non-impinging pilot flames
under controlled laboratory conditions. The heat source may be considered to represent a single burning item such
as a wastepaper bin or an upholstered chair within an enclosure, and this scenario would generally be considered
to apply during the early developing stage of a fire (see ISO/TR 11696-1 and ISO/TR 11696-2). This part of
ISO 5658 should not be used alone to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products,
composites or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this part of ISO 5658. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications
do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this part of ISO 5658 are encouraged to investigate the
possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated
references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC maintain
registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO 554, Standard atmospheres for conditioning and/or testing — Specifications.
ISO/TR 11696-1, Uses of reaction to fire test results — Part 1: Application of test results to predict fire performance
of internal linings and other building products.
ISO/TR 11696-2, Uses of reaction to fire test results — Part 2: Fire hazard assessment of construction products.
© ISO 2001 – All rights reserved 1

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
ISO 13943, Fire safety — Vocabulary.
ISO/TR 14697, Fire tests — Guidance rules on the choice of substrates for building products.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO 5658, the terms and definitions given in ISO 13943 apply, together with the
following.
3.1
assembly
fabrication of materials and/or composites, for example sandwich panels
NOTE The assembly may include an air gap (see 6.3.6).
3.2
backing board
board with the same dimensions as the specimen and used to back the specimen so as to represent end-use
conditions
NOTE See 7.10.
3.3
burned area
that part of the damaged area of a material which has been destroyed by either combustion or pyrolysis, under
specified test conditions
3.4
composite
combination of materials which are generally recognized in building construction as discrete entities
EXAMPLE Coated or laminated materials.
3.5
damaged area
total of the area of material affected by thermal phenomena under specified test conditions
NOTE See 10.11.
3.6
exposed surface
that surface of the specimen subjected to the heating conditions of the test
3.7
flame front
boundary of the combustion zone in the gaseous phase at the surface of a material
NOTE For vertical flames, the flame front is the tip of continuous flames, disregarding any detached transitory flame-
segments.
3.8
flashing
existence of flame on or over the surface of the specimen for periods of less than 1 s
3.9
irradiance
�at a point of a surface� quotient of the radiant heat flux incident on an infinitesimal element of surface containing
the point, and the area of that element
2 © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
3.10
material
single substance or uniformly dispersed mixture
EXAMPLES Metal, stone, timber, concrete, mineral fibre, polymers.
3.11
product
material, composite or assembly about which information is required
3.12
radiantheatflux
power emitted, transferred or received in the form of radiation
3.13
specimen
representative piece of the product which is to be tested together with any substrate or treatment
NOTE The specimen may include an air gap. The specimen may also be tested as a stand-alone product without
substrates if this is representative of end-use conditions.
3.14
spread of flame
propagation of a flame front over the surface of a product under the influence of imposed irradiance and non-
impinging pilot flames
3.15
substrate
material which is used or is representative of that used, immediately beneath a surface product in end-use
EXAMPLE Skimmed plasterboard beneath a wall-covering.
3.16
sustained flaming
existence of flame on or over the surface of the specimen for periods of more than 4 s
3.17
transitory flaming
existence of flame on or over the surface of the specimen for periods of between 1 s and 4 s
3.18
lateral flame spread
progression of the flame front in a lateral direction over the specimen width
3.19
vertical flame spread
progress of the flame front in a vertical direction (upwards or downwards) over the specimen height
4Principle
4.1 The test method consists of exposing conditioned vertically-orientated specimens to a single well-defined
field of radiant heat flux (see Figure 1) and measuring the time of ignition, vertical spread of flame and, where
appropriate, observing other fire spread effects such as flaming drips or debris and lateral spread.
4.2 A test specimen is placed in a vertical position adjacent to a gas-fired radiant panel which exposes the lower
part to a defined field of radiant heat flux. A non-impinging line pilot burner is positioned above the radiated area of
the specimen to ignite volatile gases issuing from the surface (see Figures 2 and 3).
© ISO 2001 – All rights reserved 3

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
4.3 Following ignition, any flame front which develops is noted and a record is made of the progression of the
flame front vertically over the height of the specimen in terms of the time it takes to travel to various distances.
4.4 The results are expressed in terms of ignition time and flame spread distance versus time.
Mass loss, heat release and smoke data may also be measured if required. For these measurements, the
apparatus should be positioned underneath a calibrated hood/duct facility; for example, see ISO 9705.
Figure 1 — Heat flux distribution on the calibration board
4 © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
Key
1 Test specimen
2 Pilot flame burner
3 Vertical radiant panel at an angle of 35° to the specimen
4 Supply pipe
5 Direction of rotation of supply pipe
6 Debris collection tray
Figure 2 — Test apparatus
© ISO 2001 – All rights reserved 5

---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
1 Exhaust hood 5 Debris collection tray
2 Exposed area of specimen 6 Floor level
3 Pilot flame burner 7 Specimen
4 Radiant panel
Figure 3 — Schematic of test apparatus
6 © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
5 Suitability of a product for testing
A product having one of the following surface characteristics is suitable for evaluation by this method:
a) an essentially flat exposed surface;
b) a surface irregularity which is evenly distributed over the exposed surface provided that any cracks, fissures or
holes do not exceed 8 mm in width or 10 mm in depth and the total area of such cracks, fissures or holes at
the surface does not exceed 30 % of a representative area 155 mm square of the exposed surface;
c) products with profiled surfaces (e.g. ducting, panels, pipes) may also be tested in end-use conditions but it
should be recognized that flame spread rates and distances are then not directly comparable to those obtained
from essentially flat products.
6 Test specimens
6.1 Exposed surface
The product shall be tested on that face which will normally be exposed in practice, taking account of the following.
a) For asymmetric products where it is possible for either or both of the faces to be exposed in end-use, both
faces shall be tested.
b) If the face of the product contains a surface irregularity that is specifically directional (e.g. corrugations, grain
or machine-induced orientation which may, in practice, run horizontally or vertically), the product shall be
tested in both orientations.
c) If the exposed face contains distinct areas of different surface finish or texture, then the appropriate number of
specimens shall be provided for each distinct area of such finish or texture to be evaluated.
d) If the product is a pile carpet or other surface which is compressible by the flange of the pilot burner, a check
shall be made by presenting the specimen to the pilot burner without gas in the test position. If necessary, the
flange shall be adjusted so that the distance between the burner tube and the specimen is 25 mm.
6.2 Number and size of specimens
6.2.1 Three specimens shall be tested for each potentially exposed surface or orientation.
6.2.2 The specimens shall be (1 525 � 25) mm long by (1 025 � 25) mm wide by their end-use thickness. They
shall be representative of the product. The specimens may be constructed from a number of components suitably
jointed together. For specimens containing one or more vertical joints, one joint shall be placed at a distance of
250 mm from the left (or hot) edge of the exposed specimen. For specimens containing one or more horizontal
joints, one joint shall be placed at a distance of 350 mm from the lower edge of the exposed specimen.
6.2.3 The thickness of specimens of products with irregular surfaces (see 6.1) shall be measured from the
highest point of the surface. Products of normal thickness 300 mm or less shall be tested using their full thickness.
6.3 Construction of specimen assemblies
6.3.1 For thin materials or composites used in the fabrication of an assembly, the presence of an air gap and/or
the nature of any underlying construction can significantly affect the characteristics of the exposed surface. The
influence of the underlying layers should be understood and care taken to ensure that the test result obtained on
any assembly is relevant to its use in practice. Whenever possible, the specimen should be assembled in the
specimen holder (see 7.4). However, some specimens may be particularly bulky or heavy (e.g. brick wall
substrates). In these cases, the specimen may be assembled on the floor, with the exposed surface the usual
distance above the floor and the radiant panel presented to the specimen according to the principles shown in
Figure 3.
© ISO 2001 – All rights reserved 7

---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
6.3.2 When the product is a surface coating, it shall be applied to the selected substrate (see annex B) using a
method and application rate recommended for its use.
6.3.3 When the product is a material or composite which would normally be attached to a substrate, then it shall
be tested in conjunction with the selected substrate (see annex B) using the recommended fixing technique (e.g.
bonded with the appropriate adhesive or mechanically fixed). The procedure for fixing the specimens to the
substrate shall be clearly stated in the test report [see clause 13 f)].
6.3.4 Where a product will normally be used without an air gap behind it, then after the conditioning procedures
specified in 6.4, place the specimen on a backing board and insert both in a specimen holder [see Figure 4a)].
6.3.5 Where a product will normally be used in its end use as a free-standing structural product (such as
partitioning, sandwich panels, glazing), insert the specimen alone into a specimen holder [See Figure 4b)].
6.3.6 Where a product will normally be used with an air gap behind it, after the conditioning procedures specified
in 6.4, place the specimen over conditioned spacers positioned around its perimeter and mount on a backing board
so that a (25 � 2) mm air gap is provided between the unexposed face of the specimen and the backing board.
Place the product on a backing board and insert both in a specimen holder (see Figure 5). Products containing air
gaps of <25 mm should preferably be tested under their end-use conditions.
A technique for mounting thin flexible materials is to staple the specimen closely to the backing board.
Key
1 Specimen holder 4 Specimen
2 Backing board 5 Overlap edge of specimen holder
3 Specimen (which may include a substrate) 6 Pushing frame
a) With backing board b) Without substrate or backing board
Figure 4 — Typical mounting of specimen
8 © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 13 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
Key
1 Specimen holder 4 Backing board
2 Pushing frame 5 Specimen
3 Air gap 6 Spacer
Figure 5 — Typical mounting of specimen with backing board and spacers forming an air gap
6.4 Conditioning
6.4.1 All specimens shall be conditioned before test at a temperature of (23 � 2) °C and a relative humidity of
(50 � 5) %, according to one of the following options (see ISO 554).
1�
a) Conditioning for at least 4 days, until constant mass is achieved.
b) Conditioning for at least 3 weeks. Use of this option is not allowed for wood-based products, cement-based
products and gypsum-based products.
c) Conditioning for at least 4 weeks. The final mass and the relative mass difference of two successive weighing
operations, carried out (24 � 2) h and (2 � 2) h before the test shall be reported.
6.4.2 Backing boards and spacers (see 7.10) shall be dry and maintained for at least 2 days before use under
the same conditions as the test specimens (see 6.4.1).
The specimens shall be arranged within the conditioning environment such that air can circulate around each side
of each specimen.
1� Constant mass is considered to be attained when two successive weighing operations, carried out at an interval of 24 h, do
not differ by more than 0,1 % of the mass of the specimen.
© ISO 2001 – All rights reserved 9

---------------------- Page: 14 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
6.4.3 The parts that compose a specimen (the product and the backing board on which it is fixed) shall be
conditioned separately or as a mounted specimen. Specimens that are glued to the backing board shall be glued
before conditioning.
6.4.4 The total test procedure (see clause 10) shall be carried out within 2 h after removal of the specimens from
the conditioned environment.
6.5 Reference lines
6.5.1 Mark two lines on the cut specimen to identify the lower and vertical edges of the specimen to be exposed
in the vicinity of the radiant panel [see Figure 6a)]. These lines should correspond to the specific overlap edge of
the specimen holder.
6.5.2 Mark two additional lines on the surface of the specimen to be exposed, as follows:
a) a horizontal line at 480 mm above the horizontal line drawn in 6.5.1; this will be referred to as the Y0 reference
line;
b) a vertical line at 200 mm from the vertical line drawn in 6.5.1; this will be referred to as the X0 reference line.
The intersection of the X0 and Y0 lines will be referred to as the zero point and this location shall be used to set up
software for the flame spread monitoring [see Figure 6b)].
6.5.3 Mark additional horizontal lines on the surface to be exposed at heights of 80 mm, 680 mm, 880 mm,
1 080 mm and 1 280 mm above the horizontal line drawn in 6.5.1.
6.5.4 Mark additional vertical lines on the surface to be exposed at distances of 400 mm, 600 mm and 800 mm
from the vertical line drawn in 6.5.1 [see Figure 6c)].
Care should be taken to avoid the possibility of the line influencing the performance of the specimen, for example
by damaging the surface, or increasing its absorbance.
NOTE Some materials discolour on thermal exposure so that the lines and/or marks may be obscured.
6.5.5 Other reference lines (see Figure 15) may be added to allow the flame spread to be recorded by computer
data-logging techniques. If flame spread is recorded by use of additional reference lines, an optional thermocouple
may be mounted on the lower front edge of the specimen holder and the test data-logging started automatically
when this thermocouple measures an increase in temperature of 10 �C (see Figure 16). These methods may also
allow vertical and lateral flame spread rates to be calculated (see clause 11). If the test is performed without using
any software, then the same level of repeatability and reproducibility as in the interlaboratory test (see annex E)
may not be achieved.
6.6 Storage of specimen assemblies
The assemblies of specimen, backing board and spacers prepared as specified in 6.3 shall be stored until required
for testing in the conditioning atmosphere specified in 6.4.1.
10 © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

---------------------- Page: 15 ----------------------
ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
Dimensions in millimetres
Key Key
1 Overlap edge distance 1 Exposed side edge of specimen
2 Zero point
a) Location of areas overlapped by the specimen
3 Lower exposed edge of specimen
holder on test specimen
b) Location of zero
...