Vertical Flame Spread Tester

Test and configuration

Measured output / function

Afterflame, afterglow and damaged length

Parameters selected for the method

Vertical holder, method-specific burner and flame application time

Verification points

Burner/gas flow, geometry and timing

Listed methods are application references. Suitability is established by assessing the selected hardware, current method and calibration together.

Test parameters for the reviewed method

Values belong to the stated source edition. Test recipe, fixture and delivered instrument configuration are selected together.

TS EN ISO 15025:2006 · 6.5-6.6

• specimen template 200 × 160 mm; flame-application timer adjustable in 1 s steps with accuracy 0.2 s or better. Afterflame and afterglow are measured on separate channels with readability 0.2 s or better.

ASTM D6413-99 · 6.2-6.8, 8.2

• Vertical-flame method: burner bore 10 mm, length 76 ± 6 mm; methane purity 99% and inlet pressure 17.2 ± 1.7 kPa. Flame application 12 ± 0.2 s; burning times measured with 0.2 s readability.

ISO 6941:2003 / TS EN ISO 6941:2007 translation · 5.1, 5.4, 5.6, 8

• Specimen size is 560 by 170 mm with ±2 mm cutting tolerance. Provide separate timing channels for three marker threads, readable to 0.2 seconds or better and stopping automatically when each thread breaks. Record ignition and flame-spread procedures distinctly.

ISO 6940:2004 · 5.1-5.6

• Vertical ease-of-ignition method uses a holder with 190 × 70 mm pin spacing and a 200 × 80 mm specimen template. Flame application adjusts in 1 s steps with error no greater than 0.2 s; afterflame timing 0.2 s or better. Select the propane/butane setup separately from methane ASTM fixtures.

BS 5438:1989 + Amd.6509:1990 + Amd.8308:1994 · 3.1–3.2, 4, 5.1–5.4.2, Figures 1–2; preview ends printed p.4

• 1989 + Amd.1/2 edition: condition at least 24 h at 20 ± 5 °C and 65 ± 5% RH; start each test within 2 min of removal from conditioning or sealed storage. Test at 15–30 °C, 55 ± 20% RH; initial air movement <0.2 m/s. Restore the test atmosphere after smoke extraction.
• Test 2A/2B holder pin rectangle 190 × 150 mm; pins maximum Ø2 mm, minimum length 27 mm. Adjacent spacer stubs Ø2 mm, minimum length 20 mm. These are specimen-holder dimensions, not cabinet exterior size. Burner mounts vertical/horizontal or 30° to vertical; stand-by tip at least 50 mm in front of the specimen.
• Commercial butane to BS 4250; Figure 2 gas-jet orifice Ø0.19 ± 0.02 mm and burner-tube length 40 mm. Select this gas/burner configuration separately; no equivalence to a general Bunsen head is assumed. The 1994 amendment deleted 1A/1B and 3A/3B; verify the remaining setup and procedure for retained 2A/2B separately.

Control and recording specification

The following are method-specific software/recording requirements; delivered software modules are defined by the order scope.

• Method code and edition, specimen ID, operator and selected test parameters are linked to the record.
• The calculation and endpoint are defined by the selected method edition; instrument signals and operator assessments are kept distinct.
• Raw measurements, units, valid/invalid test flags and the reported result remain traceable.
• Calculations are checked against known inputs and an independent calculation; sensor channels are checked against calibration values.
• The BS 5438 recipe records edition/amendment, face/bottom-edge ignition, conditioning/test-start times, flame application, afterflame and afterglow separately. Deleted tests are not selectable as active recipes of this edition; dedicated fixtures and delivered modules depend on order scope.

Historical method references (current method and fixture require separate review): BS 5438