ASTM_F_2731_-_11.pdf

Designation:F273111Standard Test Method forMeasuring the Transmitted and Stored Energy of FirefighterProtective Clothing Systems1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2731;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.Scope1.1 This test method provides procedures for measuring thecombination of transmitted and stored energy that occurs infirefighter protective clothing material systems as the result ofexposure to prolonged,relatively low levels of radiant heat.1.1.1 This test method applies a predetermined compressiveload to a preheated specimen to simulate conductive heattransfer.1.1.2 This test method is not applicable to protective cloth-ing systems that are not flame resistant.1.1.3 DiscussionFlame resistance of the material systemshall be determined prior to testing according to the applicableperformance and/or specification standard for the materialsend-use.1.2 This test method establishes procedures for moisturepreconditioning of firefighter protective clothing material sys-tems.1.3 The second-degree burn injury used in this standard isbased on a limited number of experiments on forearms ofhuman subjects.1.3.1 DiscussionThe length of exposures needed to gen-erate a second-degree burn injury in this test method exceedsthe exposures times found in the limited number of experi-ments on human forearms.1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to English units or other units commonly used forthermal testing.1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe theproperties of materials,products,or assemblies in response toradiant heat under controlled laboratory conditions but doesnot by itself incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard orfire-risk assessment of the materials,products,or assembliesunder actual fire conditions.1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility 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.Specific precau-tionary information is found in Section 7.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D123 Terminology Relating to TextilesD1777 Test Method for Thickness of Textile MaterialsD3776 Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area(Weight)ofFabricF1494 Terminology Relating to Protective ClothingF1930 Test Method for Evaluation of Flame Resistant Cloth-ing for Protection Against Fire Simulations Using anInstrumented Manikin2.2 AATCC Test Methods:3AATCC 70 Test Method for Water Repellency:Tumble JarDynamic Absorption TestAATCC 135Dimensional Changes in Automatic HomeLaundering of Durable Press Woven or Knit Fabrics2.3 NFPA Standard:4NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for StructuralFire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 break-open,nin testing thermal protective materials,a material response evidence by the formation of a hole in thetest specimen.3.1.1.1 DiscussionThe specimen is considered to exhibitbreak-open when a hole is produced as a result of the thermalexposure that is at least 3.2 cm2(0.25 in.2)in area or at least 2.51This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F23 on PersonalProtective Clothing and Equipment and is the direct responsibility of SubcommitteeF23.80 on Flame and Thermal.Current edition approved July 1,2011.Published July 2011.Originally approvedin 2010.Last previous edition approved in 2010 as F2731-10.DOI:10.1520/F2731-11.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists(AATCC),P.O.Box 12215,Research Triangle Park,NC 27709,http:/www.aatcc.org.4Available from National Fire Protection Association(NFPA),1 BatterymarchPark,Quincy,MA 02169-7471,http:/www.nfpa.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 cm(1.0 in.)in any dimension.Single threads across theopening or hole do not reduce the size of the hole for purposesof this test method.3.1.2 charring,nthe formation a carbonaceous residue asthe result of pyrolysis or incomplete combustion.3.1.3 dripping,na material response evidenced by flowingof the polymer.3.1.4 embrittlement,nthe formation of brittle residue as aresult of pyrolysis or incomplete combustion.3.1.5 heat flux,nthe thermal intensity indicated by theamount of energy transmitted per unit area and per unit time;kW/m2(cal/cm2-s).3.1.6 ignition,nthe initiation