BS ISO 10840:2008

Foreword
Introduction
1 Scope
2 Normative references
3 Terms and definitions
4 Enclosure fire scenarios
  4.1 General
  4.2 Initiation and early growth
  4.3 Development of fire
  4.4 Fully developed fire
  4.5 Decay
5 Categories of fire test
  5.1 Material characterization tests
  5.2 Quality-control tests
  5.3 Pre-selection tests
  5.4 End-product tests
6 Important considerations in the fire testing of plastics
  materials and products
  6.1 Influence of the chemical or physical nature of
       the test specimen
  6.2 Thermal-decomposition products
  6.3 Problems posed by specimen decomposition
  6.4 Health, safety and local environmental considerations
  6.5 Specimen size and geometry
  6.6 Characteristics of ignition sources
  6.7 Sample and test specimen preparation and
       conditioning
  6.8 Operating procedures in the event of specimen
       collapse or deformation
  6.9 Complications caused by melting effects in
       thermoplastics
  6.10 Advantages and disadvantages of scale in fire tests
  6.11 Influence of test apparatus design on the applicability
       of test data
  6.12 Calibration of the test apparatus and attainable
       precision
  6.13 Uncertainty associated with fire test measurements
7 Potentially problematical specimen behaviour
  7.1 Tests developed for materials other than plastics
  7.2 Shrinking
  7.3 Bubbling
  7.4 Intumescence
  7.5 Extinguishing of pilot flames by highly flame
       retarded plastics
  7.6 Slumping of thermoplastic sheets
  7.7 Detection of flaming drips
  7.8 Edge effects
  7.9 Profiled products
Annex A (normative) - End-use-relevant preparation of
        test specimens
Annex B (informative) - Environmental-impact assessment
Bibliography

Describes the following aspects of fire testing of plastics materials and products: - selection of appropriate tests that reflect realistic end-use conditions; - grouping of the reaction-to-fire characteristics that any given test or tests can measure; - assessment of tests as to their relevance in areas such as material characterization, quality control, pre-selection, end-product testing, environmental profiling and DfE (Design for the Environment); - definition of potential problems that may arise when plastics are tested in standard fire tests.

This International Standard covers the following aspects of fire testing of plastics materials and products:

• selection of appropriate tests that reflect realistic end-use conditions;

• grouping of the reaction-to-fire characteristics that any given test or tests can measure;

• assessment of tests as to their relevance in areas such as material characterization, quality control, pre-selection, end-product testing, environmental profiling and DfE (Design for the Environment);

• definition of potential problems that may arise when plastics are tested in standard fire tests.

The scope of this International Standard does not include the development or design of new fire tests for plastics. However, the flexibility of approach that is indicated with respect to the mounting and fixing of test specimens will be valuable when fire-testing laboratories and certification bodies are considering how to evaluate ranges of plastics that are used in different ways.