ASTM International

Standard Test Method for Heat Release, Flame Spread, Smoke Obscuration, and Mass Loss Testing of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
 N D5537

Annotation

This is a fire-test-response standard.

This test method provides a means to measure the heat released and smoke obscuration by burning the electrical insulating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables when the cable specimens, excluding accessories, are subjected to a specified flaming ignition source and burn freely under well ventilated conditions. Flame propagation cable damage, by char length, and mass loss are also measured.

This test method provides two different protocols for exposing the materials, when made into cable specimens, to an ignition source (approximately 20 kW), for a 20 min test duration. Use it to determine the heat release, smoke release, flame propagation and mass loss characteristics of the materials contained in single and multiconductor electrical or optical fiber cables.

This test method does not provide information on the fire performance of materials insulating electrical or optical fiber cables in fire conditions other than the ones specifically used in this test method nor does it measure the contribution of the materials in those cables to a developing fire condition.

Data describing the burning behavior from ignition to the end of the test are obtained.

This test equipment is suitable for measuring the concentrations of certain toxic gas species in the combustion gases (see Appendix X4).

The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard (see IEEE/ASTM SI-10). The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to inch-pound units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.