1、BRITISH STANDARD BS 5438:1989 Incorporating Amendment Nos. 1 and 2 Methods of test for Flammability of textile fabrics when subjected to a small igniting flame applied to the face or bottom edge of vertically oriented specimens UDC 677.014.27:614.841.411:536.468:543.874BS5438:1989 This British Stand
2、ard, having been prepared under the directionof the Textile and Clothing Standards Policy Committee, was published underthe authority of the Board of BSI and comes into effect on 29September1989 BSI 01-2000 First published November 1976 The following BSI references relate to the work on this standar
3、d: Committee reference TCM/30 Draft for comment 87/45459 DC ISBN 0 580 17341 0 Committees responsible for this British Standard The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Textiles and Clothing Standards Policy Committee (TCM/-) to Technical Committee TCM/30, upon which the followi
4、ng bodies were represented: Association of Heavy Textile Proofers of Great Britain Bolton Institute of Higher Education British Burn Association British Carpet Manufacturers Association Ltd. British Clothing Industry Association British Plastics Federation British Steel Corporation British Textile E
5、mployers Association Chemical Industries Association Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association City of Bradford Conditioning House Consumer Policy Committee of BSI Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment) Department of the Environment (The Crown Suppliers) Department
6、 of Trade and Industry (Consumer Safety Unit, CA Division) Design Council Home and Contract Furnishing Textiles Association Home Office International Wool Secretariat Lambeg Industrial Research Association London Scientific Services Man-made Fibres Producers Committee Ministry of Defence Soap and De
7、tergent Industry Association Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd. Textile Institute Textile Research Council Warrington Fire Research Centre Amendments issued since publication Amd. No. Date of issue Comments 6509 June 1990 8308 December 1994 Indicated by a sideline in the marginBS5438:19
8、89 BSI 01-2000 i Contents Page Committees responsible Inside front cover Foreword ii Section 1. General 1 Scope 1 2 Definitions 1 3 Conditioning and testing atmospheres and location 1 4 Health and safety of operators 2 5 Apparatus 2 6 Setting up the apparatus 6 Section 2. Methods of test 7 Text dele
9、ted 8 8 Text deleted 8 9 Test 2A. Limited flame spread: face ignition 8 10 Test 2B. Limited flame spread: bottom edge ignition 8 11 Text deleted 9 12 Text deleted 9 Appendix A Measurement of damaged length 10 Appendix B Suggested test report formats 11 Appendix C Advice on the choice of test method
10、and acceptance criteria 12 Figure 1 Test specimen holder and burner ignition location 3 Figure 2 Gas burner 4 Figure 3 Test specimen holders and location of specimens 5 Figure 4 Flame position and adjustment 7 Table 1 Comparison of marker thread heights and marker thread severance times 15 Publicati
11、ons referred to Inside back coverBS5438:1989 ii BSI 01-2000 Foreword This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Textiles and Clothing Standards Policy Committee. It supersedes BS5438:1976, which will be withdrawn when legislation which relates to BS5438:1976 has been amended.
12、 BS5438 was introduced in1976 and described three test methods for observing and measuring aspects of the flammability of textile fabrics when subjected to a small igniting flame applied to the face of a vertically oriented specimen. These test methods were subsequently specified in British Standard
13、 performance specifications for sleepwear, blankets, curtains and drapes, industrial protective clothing, tentage etc. In some instances modifications to the original test procedures have been introduced in these performance specifications, notably reduced pinning. This reduced pinning has been foun
14、d to give more realistic, although less reproducible results. In 1994 BS5438 was amended as a result of the publication of BSEN26940 and BSEN26941, which together partially superseded it. Tests1A and1B were deleted (superseded by the tests in clause8 of BSEN26940) as were tests3A and3B (superseded b
15、y the tests in clause8 of BSEN26941). It should be noted that the procedure in clause9 (test2a), although retained for the time being, has been adopted in EN532. In due course EN26940, EN26941 and EN532 will be replaced by a new set of International/European Standards that will correspond to the six
16、 test methods in BS5438:1989, which will then be withdrawn. Advice on the choice of test method and acceptance criteria is given inAppendix C. Attention is also drawn to PD2777:1994 which provides additional information on the development of BS5438 and related standards. A British Standard does not
17、purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application. Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations. Summary of pages This document comprises a front cover, an inside fro
18、nt cover, pagesi andii, pages1 to16, an inside back cover and a back cover. This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the inside front cover.BS5438:1989 BSI 01-2000 1 Section 1. General 1 Scope This
19、British Standard describes methods of test for flammability of textile fabrics by observing and measuring the limited flame spread and of vertically oriented test specimens when subjected to a small igniting flame applied to the face or bottom edge. Test specimens can be of a single fabric or any co
20、mbination of materials representative of the product in use, e.g.coated, multi-layered fabrics. NOTE 1Wherever practical, trimmings should be tested as part of the fabric assembly on which they are or will be used. NOTE 2The titles of the publications referred to in this standard are listed on the i
21、nside back cover. 2 Definitions For the purposes of this British Standard the following definitions apply. 2.1 glowing combustion of a material in the solid phase without flame but with emission of light from the combustion zone (Extracted from BSISO4880.) 2.2 ignition flaming of the test specimen f
22、or a period of 1s or more after removal of the igniting flame, unless otherwise specified in performance requirements 2.3 flaming debris material separating from the specimen during the test procedure and falling below the initial lower edge of the specimen and continuing to flame as it falls 2.4 ho
23、le a break in the fabric at least2mm 2mm in size caused by melting, glowing or flaming. If the hole is crossed by any material it is described as discontinuous NOTEThis definition applies only to face ignition tests. 2.5 duration of flame the length of time for which a material continues to flame, u
24、nder specified test conditions, after the ignition source has been removed (Extracted from BSISO4880.) NOTE 1Also called afterflame time. NOTE 2Flaming debris is not included in this definition. 2.6 afterglow time the time for which a material continues to glow, under specified test conditions, afte
25、r cessation of flaming or after removal of the ignition source, ignoring glowing debris (Extracted from BSISO4880.) NOTEAlso called duration of afterglow. 2.7 flame application time the time for which the igniting flame is applied to the test specimen 2.8 minimum ignition time the minimum flame appl
26、ication time required to cause ignition (2.2) of the test specimen 2.9 flame spread time the time taken by a flame on a burning material to travel a specified distance under specified test conditions, measured from when the igniting flame is applied 2.10 damaged length the maximum extent of damaged
27、material measured in a vertical or a horizontal direction, whichever is the greater, on each test specimen NOTEMethods for measurement of damaged length are given inAppendix A. 2.11 surface flash rapid spread of flame over the surface of a material without ignition of its basic structure (Extracted
28、from BSISO4880. See also BS4569.) 3 Conditioning and testing atmospheres and location 3.1 Conditioning. Condition the test specimens for at least24h in an atmosphere having a temperature of20 5 C and a relative humidity of655%. If testing is not carried out immediately after conditioning place the c
29、onditioned test specimens in a sealed container. Begin testing each specimen within2min of removing it from either the conditioning atmosphere or the sealed container.BS5438:1989 2 BSI 01-2000 3.2 Testing atmosphere. Perform the tests in an atmosphere having a temperature of15C to30C, relative humid
30、ity of55 20% and air movement which is less than0.2m/s at the commencement of the test and is not influenced further by mechanical devices operating during the test, and where the volume of air surrounding the test location is such that the test will be unaffected by any reduction of oxygen concentr
31、ation. Where test3 is to be performed in an open-fronted cabinet, make provision for mounting the specimen at least300mm from any wall. NOTE 1Draught shields may be required to restrict air movement in the region of the flame application. NOTE 2The testing location should be provided with means of r
32、emoving smoke and fumes. 4 Health and safety of operators There is a considerable risk with these tests and suitable precautions shall be taken. NOTEBetween tests, the atmosphere of the testing location, which should be of adequate dimensions to avoid endangering the health of operators, should be c
33、leared of smoke and fumes by an extractor fan or other means of ventilation. It should be ensured that the required atmosphere and air movement for testing are restored (see3.2) after evacuation of smoke and fumes. 5 Apparatus NOTESince some products of combustion are corrosive, it is essential that
34、 the equipment should be constructed of material which will not be adversely affected by the fumes. 5.1 Mounting frame capable of holding the burner, test specimen holders and marker threads in the desired positions described inclause6 and11.4.2 seeFigure 1 andFigure 3(c). 5.2 Gas burner 1)having th
35、e dimensions given inFigure 2 and capable of being fixed vertically, horizontally or inclined at 30 to the vertical and capable of being moved quickly from stand-by positions, where the tip of the burner is at least50mm in front of the test specimen, to the operating positions described in6.1.2 and6
36、.2.2 (seeFigure 4). NOTESmall differences in the design and dimensions of the burner can influence the configuration of the burner flame and so affect the results of the tests. 5.3 A supply of commercial butane complying with the requirements of BS4250. 5.4 Test specimen holders 5.4.1 Text deleted 5
37、.4.2 Test specimen holder for tests 2A and 2B consisting of a rectangular metal frame having a test specimen support pin of maximum diameter2mm and minimum length27mm at each corner of a rectangle of length190mm and width150mm. Spacer stubs of diameter2mm and minimum length20mm are provided adjacent
38、 to the test specimen support pins. The distance from the centre of a test specimen support pin to the edge of the frame is5mm and the distance from the centre of a test specimen support pin to the centre of the adjacent spacer stub is6mm seeFigure 3(b). NOTEThe dimensions of the test specimen are g
39、iven in9.3 and10.3. 5.4.3 Text deleted 1) For information on the availability of such a burner apply to BSI Enquiries, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK146LE.BS5438:1989 BSI 01-2000 3 Figure 1 Test specimen holder and burner ignition locationBS5438:1989 4 BSI 01-2000 Figure 2 Gas burnerBS5438:1989 BSI
40、 01-2000 5 5.5 Templates 5.5.1 Text deleted 5.5.2 A flat rigid template for tests2A and2B of length200mm and width160mm having holes approximately2mm in diameter in each corner so positioned that centres of the holes correspond to the centres of the test specimen support pins on the test specimen ho
41、lder for tests2A and2B (5.4.2), i.e.at each corner of a rectangle of length190mm and width150mm. 5.5.3 Text deleted 5.6 Timing devices 5.6.1 A timing device accurate to0.2s or better. NOTEThis is used in all tests to measure the flame application time. 5.6.2 Timing devices accurate to0.2s or better
42、started automatically when the igniting flame is removed from the test specimen and capable of being stopped manually. NOTEThese devices are used in tests1A, 1B, 2A and2B to measure the afterflame and/or afterglow time. Their use is optional in tests3A and3B. 5.6.3 Text deleted 5.7 A rule graduated
43、in millimetres. NOTEThis is required for tests2A and2B only. 5.8 Text deleted (a) Text deleted (b) Text deleted (c) Test 3. Flame spread time All dimensions in millimetres. Figure 3 Test specimen holders and location of test specimensBS5438:1989 6 BSI 01-2000 6 Setting up the apparatus 6.1 Procedure
44、 A (face ignition) 6.1.1 Mounting of test specimen. Place the test specimen on the pins of the test specimen holder, making certain that the pins pass through the points marked off from the template and that the test specimen is at least20mm away from the rectangular metal frame of the test specimen
45、 holder. Fit the test specimen holder to the mounting frame with the specimen vertical. 6.1.2 Operating position of burner. Position the burner perpendicular to the surface of the test specimen such that the axis of the burner is20mm above the line of the lower pins and is aligned with the vertical
46、centreline of the face of the test specimen seeFigure 4(a). Ensure that the tip of the burner is17mm from the face of the test specimen. 6.1.3 Flame height adjustment. Set the burner in the vertical stand-by position. Light the burner and preheat it for2min. Adjust the flame height to402mm, measured
47、 as the distance between the tip of the burner tube and the top of the yellow part of the flame when the burner is vertically oriented and the flame is viewed in dim light seeFigure 4(c). 6.1.4 Flame check: horizontal reach. Return the burner to the horizontal stand-by position and check that the ho
48、rizontal reach of the flame is a minimum of21mm seeFigure 4(d). NOTE 1It is essential that the horizontal reach of the flame obtained from the jet incorporated in the burner is at least this minimum length. NOTE 2If the apparatus does not have a horizontal stand-by position, the test specimen should
49、 be removed before carrying out this check. 6.1.5 Flame position. Move the burner from a stand-by position to the horizontal operating position (see6.1.2). Check that the flame impinges on the test specimen in the correct position seeFigure 4(a). 6.1.6 Adjustment of burner operating position. Check the burner position and readjust if necessary for different fabrics. NOTEThe flame height and reach should be checked regularly. 6.2 Procedure B (bottom edge ignition) 6.2.1 Mounting of test specimen. Place the test specimen on the pins of
