ISO 871:2022

Plastics - Determination of ignition temperature using a hot-air furnace

This document specifies a laboratory method for determining the flash-ignition temperature and spontaneous-ignition temperature of plastics using a hot-air furnace. It is one of a number of methods in use for evaluating the reaction of plastics to the effects of ignition sources. NOTE Information on additional ignition methods can be found in ISO 10093. This method does not give a direct measure of the combustibility or rate of burning of a material or any definition of the safe upper limit of temperature for the plastics in use, and it is inappropriate to use it alone to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test are suitable for use as elements of a fire hazard or fire risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use. Tests made under conditions of this method are potentially of considerable value in comparing the relative ignition characteristics of different materials. Values obtained represent the lowest ambient air temperature that has the potential to cause ignition of the material under the conditions of this test. Test values are expected to rank materials according to ignition susceptibility under actual use conditions. The results of this test method are not intended for fire safety engineering calculations.

Plastiques — Détermination de la température d'allumage au moyen d'un four à air chaud

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 22-Feb-2022
• 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 8 - Ignitability and fire growth
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 23-Feb-2022
• Due Date: 15-Oct-2023
• Completion Date: 23-Feb-2022

Relations

• Revises: ISO 871:2006 - Plastics - Determination of ignition temperature using a hot-air furnace
• Effective Date: 23-Apr-2020

Overview

ISO 871:2022 - Plastics - Determination of ignition temperature using a hot‑air furnace - is a laboratory test method for establishing the flash‑ignition temperature (FIT) and spontaneous‑ignition temperature (SIT) of plastic materials. Published as the fourth edition in 2022, the standard defines furnace‑based procedures (hot‑air ignition) to determine the lowest ambient air temperature at which a plastic can emit ignitable gases (FIT) or ignite without an external pilot (SIT). ISO 871:2022 is intended for comparing relative ignition susceptibility of plastics and for use as an element in fire hazard or fire risk assessments - not as a standalone measure of combustibility or for fire engineering calculations.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Two apparatus options: the standard specifies Option 1 (Setchkin hot‑air furnace) and Option 2 (a modified ISO 1182 refractory tube furnace) with defined construction and operation features.
• Measured endpoints: determination of FIT (with a pilot flame) and SIT (without a pilot flame).
• Controlled airflow and heating: requirement for a steady, metered air supply and controlled heating (electric heating coils, winding or resistance tape) to create reproducible furnace conditions.
• Specimen positioning and holder: standardized specimen pans and placement within the furnace to ensure consistent exposure.
• Instrumentation and tolerances: thermocouples (type J or K) connected to calibrated recording equipment with specified tolerances (referenced to IEC 60584); timing devices with second‑level accuracy.
• Detailed apparatus dimensions and materials: the standard gives recommended furnace tube sizes, insulating materials and pilot‑flame arrangement to ensure reproducibility between laboratories.
• Limitations and interpretation: ISO 871:2022 explicitly states it does not measure burning rate or define safe upper operating temperatures and is not intended for fire safety engineering calculations.

Practical applications - who uses ISO 871:2022

• Materials testing laboratories performing ignition susceptibility comparisons and quality control for plastics.
• Polymer formulators and compounders evaluating the effect of additives, fillers or flame retardants on ignition behaviour.
• Product designers and manufacturers (electrical appliances, automotive, building components) using FIT/SIT data as part of a broader fire risk assessment.
• Regulatory bodies and certification agencies that reference ignition test data for classification or compliance schemes.
• Fire safety practitioners incorporating laboratory ignition data into multi‑factor hazard assessments (not as sole evidence).

Related standards and notes

• ISO 10093 - additional ignition methods and guidance
• ISO 1182 - non‑combustibility test (used for Option 2 equipment)
• ISO 291 - conditioning and testing atmospheres
• ISO 13943 - fire safety vocabulary
• IEC 60584 - thermocouple specifications

Keywords: ISO 871:2022, ignition temperature, plastics, hot‑air furnace, flash‑ignition temperature (FIT), spontaneous‑ignition temperature (SIT), Setchkin furnace, ISO 1182, laboratory test method, fire hazard assessment.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 871
Fourth edition
2022-02
Plastics — Determination of ignition
temperature using a hot-air furnace
Plastiques — Détermination de la température d'allumage au moyen
d'un four à air chaud
Reference number
© ISO 2022
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting on
the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below
or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Principle . 2
5 Apparatus . 2
5.1 Option 1 — Setchkin furnace . 2
5.2 Option 2 – ISO 1182 refractory tube furnace . 4
6 Location of thermocouples . .9
7 Test specimens . 9
8 Procedure .10
8.1 Flash-ignition temperature (FIT) . 10
8.2 Spontaneous-ignition temperature (SIT) . 11
9 Precision .12
10 Test report .12
Annex A (informative) Results obtained by interlaboratory trials using Option 1 (Setchkin
furnace).13
Annex B (informative) Typical designs of test apparatus .15
Bibliography .17
iii
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.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
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
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 4, Burning
behaviour.
This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 871:2006), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows.
— An option to use a modification of the equipment used for ISO 1182 to assess ignitability has been
added.
— Mandatory information has been provided throughout the document.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 871:2022(E)
Plastics — Determination of ignition temperature using a
hot-air furnace
1 Scope
1.1 This document specifies a laboratory method for determining the flash-ignition temperature and
spontaneous-ignition temperature of plastics using a hot-air furnace. It is one of a number of methods
in use for evaluating the reaction of plastics to the effects of ignition sources.
NOTE Information on additional ignition methods can be found in ISO 10093.
1.2 This method does not give a direct measure of the combustibility or rate of burning of a material
or any definition of the safe upper limit of temperature for the plastics in use, and it is inappropriate
to use it alone to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products or assemblies
under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test are suitable for use as elements of a fire hazard
or fire risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors pertinent to an assessment of the fire
hazard of a particular end use.
1.3 Tests made under conditions of this method are potentially of considerable value in comparing
the relative ignition characteristics of different materials. Values obtained represent the lowest ambient
air temperature that has the potential to cause ignition of the material under the conditions of this
test. Test values are expected to rank materials according to ignition susceptibility under actual use
conditions.
1.4 The results of this test method are not intended for fire safety engineering calculations.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 291, Plastics — Standard atmospheres for conditioning and testing
ISO 1182, Reaction to fire tests for products — Non-combustibility test
ISO 13943, Fire safety — Vocabulary
IEC 60584-1, Thermocouples Part 1 EMF Specifications And Tolerances
IEC 60584-2:1982, Thermocouples — Part 2: Tolerances
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 13943 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1
flash-ignition temperature
FIT
minimum temperature at which, under specified test conditions, sufficient flammable gases are emitted
to ignite momentarily on application of a pilot flame
3.2
spontaneous-ignition temperature
SIT
minimum temperature at which, under specified test conditions, ignition is obtained by heating in the
absence of any additional ignition source
3.3
glowing combustion
combustion of a material in the solid phase without flame but with emission of light from the combustion
zone
4 Principle
A specimen of the material is heated in a hot-air ignition furnace using various temperatures within the
heated chamber, and the flash-ignition temperature is determined with a small pilot flame directed at
the opening in the top of the furnace to ignite evolved gases.
The spontaneous-ignition temperature is determined in the same manner as the flash-ignition
temperature, but without the pilot flame.
NOTE The results from using Option 1 or Option 2 can potentially be different.
5 Apparatus
5.1 Option 1 — Setchkin furnace
5.1.1 Hot-air ignition furnace, similar to that shown in Figure 1, consisting primarily of an electrical
heating unit and a specimen holder.
Key
1 thermocouple TC2 10 metal fasteners
2 support rod 11 air-flow meter (not part of furnace)
3 refractory disc cover 12 air flow tangential to cylinder
4 thermocouple TC 13 specimen pan
5 gasket 14 mineral fibre wool
6 thermocouple TC 15 50 turns of No. 16 nichrome wire in heat-resistant cement
7 heater terminals 16 three refractory blocks to space inner tube and support it
8 pilot flame 17 inspection plug (removable)
9 air supply 18 thermal insulation (removable)
Figure 1 — Cross section of hot-air ignition furnace
5.1.2 Furnace tube, with an inside diameter of 100 mm ± 5 mm and a length of 240 mm ± 20 mm,
made of a ceramic that is suitable for use at a temperature of at least 750 °C. The tube shall be positioned
vertically so that it stands on the furnace floor above a plug for the removal of accumulated residue.
5.1.3 Inner ceramic tube, capable of withstanding at least 750 °C, with an inside diameter of
75 mm ± 2 mm, a length of 240 mm ± 20 mm and a thickness of approximately 3 mm, placed centrally
inside the furnace tube and positioned 20 mm ± 2 mm above the furnace floor on three small refractory
spacer blocks. The top shall be covered by a disc of heat-resistant material with a 25 mm ± 2 mm
diameter opening in the centre which is used for observations and allows the passage of smoke and
gases. The pilot flame shall be located immediately above the opening.
5.1.4 Outside air source, to supply clean air near the top of the annular space between the ceramic
tubes through a copper tube at a steady and controllable rate. The air shall be heated and circulated in
the space between the two tubes and enter the inner ceramic tube at the bottom. The air flow shall be
metered by a rotameter or other suitable device.
5.1.5 Electrical heating unit, made of 50 turns of 1,3 mm ± 0,1 mm nichrome wire or equivalent.
The wires, contained within a mineral-fibre sleeve, shall be wound around the furnace tube and shall
be embedded in heat-resistant cement.
5.1.6 Insulation, consisting of a layer of mineral-fibre wool approximately 60 mm thick, and covered
by a sheet- iron jacket.
5.1.7 Pilot igniter, consisting of a copper tube of nominal inside diameter 1,8 ± 0,3 mm attached to
a supply of 94 % minimum purity propane and placed horizontally 5 mm ± 1 mm above the top surface
of the disc cover. The pilot flame shall be adjusted to 20 mm ± 2 mm in length and centred above the
opening in the disc cover.
5.1.8 Specimen support and holder, consisting of a metal specimen pan made of 0,7 mm ± 0,3 mm
thick stainless steel and measuring 40 mm ± 2 mm in diameter by 15 mm ± 2 mm in depth, having a
rounded bottom and held in a ring of approximately 2 mm diameter stainless-steel welding rod. The
ring shall be welded to a length of the same type of rod extending through the cover of the furnace, as
shown in Figure 1. The bottom of the specimen pan shall be located 185 mm ± 2 mm down from the
lower edge of the pilot igniter.
5.1.9 Thermocouples, 0,5 mm in diameter, chromel-alumel (type K) or iron-constantan (type J),
for temperature measurement, connected to a calibrated recording instrument with a tolerance not
exceeding ±2 °C. The thermocouple tolerance shall be in accordance with IEC 60584-2:1982, Table A.1;
class 2 or better. They shall be installed as in Clause 6.
5.1.10 Heating control, consisting of a suitable variable transformer or an automatic controller
connected in series with the heating coils.
5.1.11 Timing device, having an accuracy of 1 s or better.
5.2 Option 2 – ISO 1182 refractory tube furnace
5.2.1 The apparatus shall consist of a refractory tube furnace insulated and surrounded by a
heating coil. The furnace specified in ISO 1182 shall be used. A cone-shaped airflow stabilizer shall be
attached to the base of the furnace and a draft shield to its top. Details are shown in Figure 2.
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
1 stand 11 thermocouple TC
2 insulation 12 one of the two furnace thermocouples
3 magnesium oxide powder 13 external insulating wall
4 furnace tube 14 mineral fibre cement
5 heating coils 15 seal
6 draft shield 16 stabilizer cone
7 heat resisting steel rod for insertion device 17 draft screen (metal sheet)
8 disc cover 18 pilot flame
9 thermocouple TC 19 specimen pan
10 support rod
Figure 2 — Test apparatus for Option 2 (ISO 1182 refractory tube furnace)
5.2.1.1 Two furnace thermocouples shall be provided as specified in ISO 1182 and indicated in 6.3.2.
5.2.1.2 A thermal sensor shall be used to measure the furnace temperature along its central axis.
5.2.1.3 Unless stated otherwise, all dimensions shall have a 5 % tolerance.
5.2.2 Test furnace
5.2.2.1 The furnace tube shall be constructed of a refractory material, as specified in Table 1, of
3 3
density 2 800 kg/m ± 300 kg/m . The furnace tube shall be 150 mm ± 1 mm high with an internal
diameter of 75 mm ± 1 mm and a wall thickness of 10 mm ± 1 mm.
Table 1 — Furnace tube refractory material for apparatus, Option 2 (ISO 1182 refractory tube
furnace)
Material Composition % (kg/kg mass)
Alumina (Al O ) >89
2 3
Silica and alumina (SiO , Al O ) >98
2 2 3
Ferric oxide (Fe O ) <0,45
2 3
Titanium dioxide (TiO ) <0,25
Manganese oxide (Mn O ) <0,1
3 4
Other trace oxides (sodium, potassium, calcium and The balance
magnesium oxides)
5.2.2.2 The top of the draught shield shall be covered by a disc of heat-resistant material with a
25 mm ± 2 mm diameter opening in the centre that is to be used for observation and passage of smoke
and gases. The pilot flame shall be located immediately above the opening.
5.2.2.3 The furnace tube shall be surrounded by an annular space of the following dimensions:
150 mm high and of 10 mm wall thickness.
5.2.2.4 The annular space shall be fitted with top and bottom plates, recessed internally to locate the
ends of the furnace tube.
5.2.2.5 The annular space shall be insulated with a 25 mm layer of an insulating material having a
thermal conductivity of 0,04 W/(m·K) ± 0,01 W/(m·K) at a mean temperature of 20 °C. Magnesium oxide
3 3
powder of a nominal bulk density of 170 kg/m ± 30 kg/m is a suitable material for this use.
5.2.2.6 The furnace tube shall be provided with a single winding of 80/20 nickel/chromium electrical
resistance tape, 3 mm ± 0,1 mm wide and 0,2 mm ± 0,01 mm thick.
5.2.2.7 An open-ended cone-shaped air-flow stabilizer shall be attached to the underside of the
furnace. The air-flow stabilizer shall be 500 mm long and shall be reduced uniformly from an internal
diameter of 75 mm ± 1 mm at the top to an internal diameter of 10,0 mm ± 0,5 mm at the bottom.
The air flow stabilizer shall be manufactured from 1 mm thick sheet steel, with a smooth finish on
the inside. The joint between the air flow stabilizer and the furnace shall have an airtight fit, with an
internal smooth finish. The upper half of the air flow stabilizer shall
...