ASTM D6413/D6413M-22

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it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6413/D6413M − 15 D6413/D6413M − 22
Standard Test Method for
Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6413/D6413M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method is used to measure the vertical flame resistance of textiles.
1.1.1 As a part of the measure of flame resistance, afterflame and afterglow characteristics are evaluated.
1.2 This standard shall be is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame
under controlled laboratory conditions and shall not be used to describe or appraise theconditions, but does not by itself incorporate
all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.3 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these
tests.
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
D1776 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles
D3776/D3776M Test Methods for Mass Per Unit Area (Weight) of Fabric
D4391 Terminology Relating to The Burning Behavior of Textiles
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D13 on Textiles and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D13.52 on Flammability.
Current edition approved June 1, 2015Aug. 15, 2022. Published July 2015November 2022. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 20132015 as
D6413/D6413M – 13b.D6413/D6413M – 15. DOI: 10.1520/D6413_D6413M-15.10.1520/D6413_D6413M-22.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
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D6413/D6413M − 22
2.2 ISO Standard
ISO 13943 Fire safety
3. Terminology
3.1 char length—in measuring flame resistance of textiles, the distance from the fabric edge, which is directly exposed to the flame
to the furthest point of visible fabric damage after a specified tearing force has been applied.
3.2 The following terms are relevant to this standard: afterflame, after-flame time, afterglow time, flame application time, melting.
3.3 For terms relatingrelated to the burning behavior of textiles, see Terminology D4391.
3.1.1 The following terms are relevant to this standard.
3.1.1.1 afterflame, n—persistent flaming of a material after the ignition source has been removed.
3.1.1.2 after-flame time, n—the length of time for which a material continues to flame after the ignition source has been removed.
3.1.1.3 afterglow time, n—the time afterglow continues after the removal of the ignition source and the cessation of flaming.
3.1.1.4 char length, n—in measuring flame resistance of textiles, the distance from the fabric edge, which is directly exposed to
the flame to the furthest point of visible fabric damage after a specified tearing force has been applied.
3.1.1.5 flame application time, n—the time interval for which the ignition flame is applied to a material.
3.1.1.6 melting, n—a liquification of material under the influence of heat.
3.4 For terminology related to fire issues other than burning behavior of textiles, see Terminology E176 and ISO 13943. In case
of conflict, the terminology in E176 will prevail.
3.5 For all terminologyother terms related to textiles, refer to see Terminology D123.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A specimen is positioned vertically above a controlled flame and exposed for a specified period of time. The flame then is
removed, and afterflame time and afterglow time are measured.
4.2 Char length is measured under a specified force.
4.3 Any evidence of melting or dripping is noted.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method determines the response of textiles to a standard ignition source, deriving measurement values for afterflame
time, afterglow time, and char length.
5.2 The vertical flame resistance, as determined by this test method, only relates to a specified flame exposure and application
time.
5.3 This test method maintains the specimen in a static, draft-free, vertical position and does not involve movement except that
resulting from the exposure.
Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO Central Secretariat, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier, Geneva, Switzerland,
https://www.iso.org.
D6413/D6413M − 22
5.4 Test Method D6413 has been adopted from Federal Test Standard No. 191A method 5903.1, which has been used for many
years in acceptance testing. The between-laboratory precision of this test method has not been established. Refer to Section 14 for
single-laboratory precision.
5.4.1 If there are differences or practical significance between reported test results for two laboratories (or more), comparative tests
should be performed to determine if there is a statistical bias between them, using competent statistical assistance. As a minimum,
the test samples used should be as homogeneous as possible, that are drawn from the material from which the disparate test results
are obtained, and that are assigned randomly in equal numbers to each laboratory for testing. Other materials with established test
values may be used for this purpose. The test results from the two laboratories should be compared using a statistical test for
unpaired data, at a probability level chosen prior to the testing series. If a bias is found, either its cause must be found and corrected,
or future test results must be adjusted in consideration on the known bias.
6. Apparatus
6.1 Test Cabinet and Accessories, fabricated in accordance with the requirements specified in Figs. 1-6. Galvanized sheet metal
or other suitable metal can be used. The entire inside back wall of the cabinet shall be painted black to facilitate the viewing of
the test specimen and pilot flame.
6.1.1 The test cabinet shall be set up in a laboratory hood or with comparable equipment so that combustion gases can be removed
from the test lab environment. Precautions must be taken to minimize the draft through the laboratory hood while testing. Open
doors or windows are examples of unnecessary causes of drafts and must be avoided. A ventilation smoke tube kit may be used
to check for the presence of drafts.
6.2 Burner, equipped with a needle valve to adjust flame height (see Fig. 4).
6.2.1 The burner shall be constructed by combining a 10 mm [0.38 in.] inside diameter barrel 76 mm 6 6 mm [3 in. 6 0.25 in.]
long with a base from an adjustable valve burner. A Tirrill burner is recommended, but a Bunsen burner modified to conform to
this test method also will suffice.
6.2.2 The pilot light tube shall have an inside diameter of approximately 1.5 mm [0.06 in.] and shall be spaced 3 mm [0.12 in.]
away from the burner edge.
6.2.2.1 The pilot light tube shall be located vertically next to the burner as shown in Fig. 4.
6.2.3 Gas controls and connections shall be as specified in Fig. 5. The solenoid valve shall be capable of being fully opened or
fully closed in less than 0.2 s and activated by an adjustable timer. Position the solenoid valve as close to the burner as possible
using a 50 mm 6 13 mm [2 in. 6 0.5 in.] length of 6.5 mm [0.25 in.] inside diameter, 13 mm outside diameter [0.5 in. outside
diameter] methane safe hose (Fig. 6). In older cabinets where the solenoid valve is located outside the test chamber a retrofit can
be done to accommodate this change. (See Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.)
6.2.4 On the side of the barrel of the burner, opposite the burner pilot light there shall be a flame height gagegauge constructed
of metal spaced approximately 13 mm [0.50 in.] from the barrel and extending above the burner. The gagegauge shall have two
prongs approximately 8 mm [0.32 in.] long marking the distances of 19 mm [0.75 in.] and 38 mm [1.50 in.] above the top of the
burner.
6.2.5 The burner shall be movable when placed in the cabinet and capable of adjustments to center the burner directly below the
center bottom edge of the specimen when performing the tests.
6.3 Gas Regulator Valve System, a control system with a delivery rate designed to furnish gas to the burner under a pressure of
2 2
17.2 kPa 6 1.7 kPa [2.5 lbf/in. 6 0.25 lbf/in. ] at the burner inlet. The manufacturer’s recommend delivery rate for the valve
system shall include the required pressure.
6.4 Gas Mixture, methane, 99 % pure.
A ventilation smoke tube kit is available from A-Line Safety Appliance Company, Pittsburgh, PA 15230.
D6413/D6413M − 22
FIG. 1 Test Apparatus
6.5 Test Specimen Holder, constructed as shown in Fig. 3. The assembly is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
6.6 Specimen Holder Clamps, capable of firmly holding the test specimen in the test specimen holder.
6.7 Laboratory Hood, in which to carry out the test.
6.8 Stop Watch, or other device to measure the burning time to 0.2 s.
6.9 Measuring Scale, graduated in increments of at least 3 mm [0.12 in.] to measure the length of char.
6.10 Metal Hooks and Weights—Metal hooks and a range of weights to produce a series of total loads, which will be used to
D6413/D6413M − 22
FIG. 2 a Test Apparatus Construction Details
determine char length. The metal hooks shall consist of 1-mm [0.04-in.] 1 mm [0.04 in.] diameter steel wire, 76 mm [3 in.] long.
The hook is formed by bending the wire to 45° angle forming a hook 3 mm [0.5 in.] from one end. This hook is used for puncturing
the fabric.
6.11 Flame Impingement Timer, a timer and electrical gas solenoid used to control the interval, which gas is supplied to the burner.
7. Hazards
7.1 Normal precautions applicable to pressurized flammable gases, open flames, hot flames, hot surfaces, burning fabrics and
combustion, off gases and solid residue shall be employed.
7.2 Conduct the tests in a hood to contain the gases evolved during testing and for exhaust of the gases after each test.
8. Preparation of Apparatus
2 2
8.1 Adjust gas pressure to 17.2 kPa 6 1.7 kPa [2.506 [2.50 lbf/in. 6 0.25 lbf/in. ] and ignite pilot flame. Adjust the pilot flame
to a height of approximately 3 mm [0.12 in.] when measured from its lowest point. Be sure that the tip does not alter shape of the
test flame during the 12 s exposure time.
8.1.1 Adjust the burner flame using the needle valve in the base of the burner to achieve a flame height of 38 mm [1.50 in.]. This
height is achieved by fully closing the air opening on the burner tube base and fully opening the solenoid valve.
NOTE 1—Tape may be used to close off the air openings on the burner.
D6413/D6413M − 22
FIG. 2 b Test Apparatus Construction Details (continued)
8.1.1.1 The 38-mm 38 mm [1 ⁄2- in.] flame height is obtained by adjusting the flame level with the top of the metal prong. (See
Fig. 7.) It is important that the flame height be adjusted with the tip of the flame level with the tip of the metal prong. The tip of
the methane flame is blue, transparent, and difficult to see; it is more easily seen if there is no light on the flame, for example in
a darkened room. An easy way to accomplish this is by turning off all nearby lights.
8.1.2 Position the burner so that the middle of the lower edge of the specimen holder is centered 19 mm [0.75 in.] above the burner.
NOTE 2—It may be necessary to turn off nearby
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