ASTM_E_1623_-_14.pdf

Designation:E162314An American National StandardStandard Test Method forDetermination of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials,Products,and Systems Using an Intermediate ScaleCalorimeter(ICAL)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1623;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope*1.1 This fire-test-response standard assesses the response ofmaterials,products,and assemblies to controlled levels ofradiant heat exposure with or without an external ignitor.1.2 The fire-test-response characteristics determined by thistest method include the ignitability,heat release rates,massloss rates,visible smoke development,and gas release ofmaterials,products,and assemblies under well ventilatedconditions.1.3 This test method is also suitable for determining manyof the parameters or values needed as input for computer firemodels.Examples of these values include effective heat ofcombustion,surface temperature,ignition temperature,andemissivity.1.4 This test method is also intended to provide informationabout other fire parameters such as thermal conductivity,specificheat,radiativeandconvectiveheattransfercoefficients,flame radiation factor,air entrainment rates,flametemperatures,minimum surface temperatures for upward anddownward flame spread,heat of gasification,nondimensionalheat of gasification(1)2and the flame spread parameter(seeTest Method E1321).While some studies have indicated thatthis test method is suitable for determining these fireparameters,insufficient testing and research have been done tojustify inclusion of the corresponding testing and calculatingprocedures.1.5 The heat release rate is determined by the principle ofoxygen consumption calorimetry,via measurement of theoxygen consumption as determined by the oxygen concentra-tion and flow rate in the exhaust product stream(exhaust duct).The procedure is specified in 11.1.Smoke development isquantified by measuring the obscuration of light by thecombustion product stream(exhaust duct).1.6 Specimens are exposed to a constant heating flux in therange of 0 to 50 kW/m2in a vertical orientation.Hot wires areused to ignite the combustible vapors from the specimen duringthe ignition and heat release tests.The assessment of theparameters associated with flame spread requires the use of lineburners instead of hot wire ignitors.1.6.1 Heat release measurements at low heat flux levels(10 kW/m2)require special considerations as described inSection A1.1.6.1.7 This test method has been developed for evaluations,design,or research and development of materials,products,orassemblies,for mathematical fire modeling,or for research anddevelopment.The specimen shall be tested in thicknesses andconfigurations representative of actual end product or systemuses.1.8 Limitations of the test method are listed in Section 5.5.1.9 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.10 This standard is used to measure and describe theresponse of materials,products,or assemblies to heat andflame under controlled conditions,but does not by itselfincorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire riskassessment of the materials,products,or assemblies underactual fire conditions.1.11 Fire testing is inherently hazardous.Adequate safe-guards for personnel and property shall be employed inconducting these tests.Specific information about hazards isgiven in Section 7.1.12 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is the1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on FireStandards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.21 on Smoke andCombustion Products.Current edition approved Oct.1,2014.Published November 2014.Originallyapproved in 1994.Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E1623-11.DOI:10.1520/E1623-14.2The boldface numbers given in parentheses refer to the list of references at theend of this standard.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3D5865 Test Method for Gross Calorific Value of Coal andCokeE84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics ofBuilding MaterialsE176 Terminology of Fire StandardsE662 Test Method for Specific Optical Density of SmokeGenerated by Solid MaterialsE691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study toDetermine the Precision of a Test MethodE800 Guide for Measurement of Gases P