ISO 12992:2017

Plastics — Vertical flame spread determination for film and sheet

ISO 12992:2017 specifies a test method for measurement of flame spread properties of vertically oriented specimens of plastics in the form of film and sheet, 3 mm or less thickness, subjected to a small igniting flame.

Plastiques — Détermination de la propagation verticale de la flamme sur films et feuilles

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Feb-2017
• 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 - Burning behaviour
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Completion Date: 09-Aug-2022

Relations

• Revises: ISO 12992:1995 - Plastics — Vertical flame spread determination for film and sheet
• Effective Date: 09-Nov-2013

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12992
Second edition
2017-03
Plastics — Vertical flame spread
determination for film and sheet
Plastiques — Détermination de la propagation verticale de la flamme
sur films et feuilles
Reference number
ISO 12992:2017(E)
©
ISO 2017

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ISO 12992:2017(E)

COPYRIGHT PROTECTED DOCUMENT
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
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ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

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ISO 12992:2017(E)

Contents  Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1  Scope . 1
2  Normative references . 1
3  Terms and definitions . 1
4  Significance of the test . 2
5  Principle . 3
6  Apparatus . 3
6.1 Laboratory fume hood . 3
6.2 Conditioning room or chamber . 3
6.3 Specimen holder . 3
6.4 Marker rods . 7
6.5 Gas burner . . 7
6.6 Fuel gas . 7
6.7 Manometer and gas flow meter . 7
6.8 Timing device . 7
6.9 Measuring scale . 7
6.10 Marker (permanent) . 8
6.11 Micrometer . 8
7  Test specimens. 8
7.1 Extended application . 8
7.2 Preparation of test specimens . 8
8  Procedure. 9
9  Calculation and expression of results .11
10  Test report .11
Annex A (informative) Precision data .12
Bibliography .13
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ISO 12992:2017(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.
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 on 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 the following URL: www . i so .org/ iso/ foreword .html
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 4, Burning
behaviour.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 12992:1995), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— Clause 2 has been updated;
— Clause 3 has been updated;
— the precision data have been moved to Annex A.
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ISO 12992:2017(E)

Introduction
Thin flexible plastic films and sheets are widely used in products for packaging, building, housing,
industries and transport media, in various applications. The burning behaviour, in particular, the
vertical flame spread of flexible plastic films and sheet, is a concern for fire safety of these applications.
This document gives a method of determination of vertical flame spread of flexible plastic films and
sheets by small flame source.
This document is also intended as a pre-selection test for materials used for parts in devices and
appliances. The final acceptance of the material would be dependent upon its use in complete equipment
that conforms with the standards applicable to such equipment.
It should be noted that the test results obtained alone by the test specified in this document cannot give
whole aspects of fire hazard of plastics films and sheets.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12992:2017(E)
Plastics — Vertical flame spread determination for film
and sheet
1  Scope
This document specifies a test method for measurement of flame spread properties of vertically
oriented specimens of plastics in the form of film and sheet, 3 mm or less thickness, subjected to a small
igniting flame.
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 11925-2, Reaction to fire tests — Ignitability of products subjected to direct impingement of flame —
Part 2: Single-flame source test
ISO 13943, Fire safety —Vocabulary
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:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http:// www .iso .org/ obp
3.1
afterglow
persistence of glowing combustion after both removal of the ignition source and the cessation of any
flaming combustion
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.8]
3.2
flame-spread time
time taken by a flame front on a burning material to travel a specified distance on the surface, or to
cover a specified surface area under specified conditions
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.144]
3.3
flaming droplet
molten material separating from a burning item and continuing to flame during a fire or fire test
[SOURCE: ISO 13943:2008, definition 4.150]
3.4
seat of flame
flame location at the leading edge of the affected area
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1.
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ISO 12992:2017(E)

a) Front view – Thermosets b) Front view – Thermoplastics
c) Side view – Thermosets d) Side view – Thermoplastics
Key
1 test specimen 5 test specimen cross section
2 top of flame 6 burnt area
3 marker line 7 shrunk area
4 seat of flame
Figure 1 — Identification of seat of flame
4  Significance of the test
4.1 Results obtained using the method described in this document can provide a sensitive measure of
the burning characteristics of material under certain controlled laboratory conditions, and hence, may
be useful for preselection or quality control purposes.
4.2 Results obtained from specimens of differing thickness, with different ignition sources and/or
by different procedures are not comparable. Correlation with flammability behaviour under other fire
conditions is not implied.
4.3 This test is not relevant for specimens which distort away from and out of reach of the test flame
without ignition. Other test methods should be explored for such specimens.
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ISO 12992:2017(E)

4.4 Results obtained by this document shall not be used alone to describe or appraise the fire hazard
presented by a particular material type or shape under actual fire conditions. The results may be used as
one element of a fire risk assessment, which takes into account all the factors which are pertinent to the
assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use for the material.
Precision data are given in Annex A.
5  Principle
5.1 A defined flame from a specified ignition source is applied to film or sheet specimens that are
vertically oriented, for a specified period of time.
5.2 The flame-spread time (3.2) is recorded and the flame spread rate between these two markings is
calculated.
5.3 Other properties relating to flame propagation, such as flaming droplets, extinguishing
characteristics and afterglow, are observed and recorded.
6  Apparatus
6.1  Laboratory fume hood
3
The laboratory fume hood shall have an inside volume of at least 0,5 m . The chamber shall permit
observation of tests in
...