ASTM F1358/F1358M-20

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Designation: F1358 − 16 F1358/F1358M − 20
Standard Test Method for
Effects of Flame Impingement on Materials Used in
Protective Clothing Not Designated Primarily for Flame
Resistance
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1358;F1358/F1358M; 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 establishes a small-scale laboratory screening procedure for comparing the ignition resistance and burning
characteristics of materials used in protective clothing where flame resistance is not the primary form of protection provided by
the clothing.
1.1.1 This test method shall not be used in applicationapplications where flame resistance is the primary form of protection offered
by the protective clothing. Other flammability test methods are more appropriate for those materials.
1.1.2 This test method provides a means for comparing ease of ignition and burning behavior of materials which include plastic
or elastomeric films, coated fabrics, flexible laminates, multilayer-material multilayer material systems, or other protective clothing
materials that are not designated for offering flame resistance as their primary form of protection.
1.2 This test method is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
controlled conditions, 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 SI units or other units shall be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not
exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may
result in non-conformancenonconformance 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.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F23 on Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
F23.80 on Flame and Thermal.
Current edition approved March 1, 2016Oct. 1, 2020. Published April 2016October 2020. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 20082016 as
F1358 – 08.F1358 – 16. DOI: 10.1520/F1358-16.10.1520/F1358_F1358M-20.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F1358/F1358M − 20
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
D4391 Terminology Relating to The Burning Behavior of Textiles
D4723 Classification Index of and Descriptions of Textile Flammability Test Methods (Withdrawn 2016)
D6413D6413/D6413M Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test)
F1494 Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test method, related to the combustion of textiles, refer to the terminology
contained in Terminology D4391. For definitions of terms used in this test method, related to protective clothing, refer to the
terminology contained in Terminology F1494. For definitions of terms used in this test method, related to textile issues, refer to
the terminology contained in Terminology D123.
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method related to the combustion of textiles, refer to the terminology contained in
Terminology D4391. For definitions of terms used in this test method related to protective clothing, refer to the terminology
contained in Terminology F1494. For definitions of terms used in this test method related to textile issues, refer to the terminology
contained in Terminology D123.
3.1.2 afterflame, n—persistent flaming of a material after the ignition source has been removed.
3.1.3 afterflame time, n—the length of time for which a material continues to flame after the ignition source has been removed.
3.1.4 afterglow, n—a glow in a material after the removal of an external ignition source or after the cessation (natural or induced)
of flaming of the material (see also glow).
3.1.5 anisotropic, adj—having different values for a specific property in different directions.
3.1.5.1 Discussion—
When this test method is used to evaluate textile-based materials, this term refers to warp (wale) and filling (course) directions.
When this test method is used for nonwoven materials, this term refers to machine and cross-machine directions.
3.1.6 burning behavior, n—all the changes that take place when materials or products are exposed to a specified ignition source.
3.1.7 burn distance, n—the measurement from the folded bottom edge of the specimen to the farthest point that shows evidence
of damage due to combustion.
3.1.7.1 Discussion—
In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, this measurement applies to the folded
material specimen when pressed flat and includes all areas partially burned, charred, embrittled, or melted, but not including areas
sooted, stained, distorted, or discolored. Damage due to mechanical delamination or splitting of the specimen is not included in
the burn distance unless the delaminated or split area includes damage due to combustion.
3.1.8 charring, n—the formation of carbonaceous residue as the result of pyrolysis or incomplete combustion.
3.1.9 combustion, n—a chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat and usually light either as
glow or flames.
3.1.10 dripping, n—in testing thermal protective material, a material response evidenced by flowing of the polymer.
3.1.10.1 Discussion—
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.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
F1358/F1358M − 20
In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, dripping may be the formation of liquid
droplets from melted surface or substrate material during flame impingement.
3.1.11 embrittlement, n—the formation of a brittle residue as the result of pyrolysis or incomplete combustion.
3.1.12 flame, n—as related to ignition of textiles, a controlled hot luminous zone of gas or matter in gaseous suspension, or both,
of constant size and shape that is undergoing combustion as evidenced by a low-intensity heat source of less than 1 kW, such as
a candle flame or match flame.
3.1.12.1 Discussion—
The burner flame in this test method produces relatively low heat flux and should be constant in size and shape.
3.1.13 flame impingement, n—direct contact between a flame and a material.
3.1.13.1 Discussion—
In testing flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, the flame is of a specified type and duration.
3.1.14 flammability, n—those characteristics of a material that pertain to its ignition and support of combustion.
3.1.14.1 Discussion—
In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, flammability is based on the relative
number of specimens that ignite when exposed to flame either for a period of 3 or 12 s.
3.1.15 glow, n—visible, flameless combustion of the solid phase of a material.
3.1.15.1 Discussion—
Although a solid may glow, it can also produce combustible discharge that will cause a flame. These two phenomena are not
necessarily interdependent.
3.1.16 ignition, n—the initiation of combustion.
3.1.16.1 Discussion—
In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of material used in protective clothing, ignition is determined by the presence of
afterflame after the removal of the burner flame.
3.1.17 melting, n—in testing thermal protective material, a material response evidenced by softening of the polymer.
3.1.17.1 Discussion—
In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, melting may occur at surface layers or in
combination with the substrate fabric(s) or other polymer layers. Melting may be observed for protective clothing materials which
involve a polymer coating or laminate combined with a normally flame-resistant fabric or substrate.
3.1.18 protective clothing, n—an item of clothing that is specifically designed and constructed for the intended purpose of isolating
all or part of the body from a potential hazard; or, isolating the external environment from contamination by the wearer of the
clothing.
3.1.18.1 Discussion—
In this test method, the potential hazard is flame impingement on protective clothing where flame resistance is not the primary form
of protection offered by that clothing.
3.1.19 shrinkage, n—a decrease in one or more dimensions of an object or material.
3.1.19.1 Discussion—
In evaluating the effects of flame impingement, these changes in dimension are caused by heat from the flame source.
3.2 afterflame,n—persistent flaming of a material after the ignition source has been removed.
3.3 after-flame time, n—the length of time for which a material continues to flame after the ignition source has been removed.
3.4 afterglow, n—a glow in a material after the removal of an external ignition source or after the cessation (natural or induced)
of flaming of the material (see also glow).
3.5 anisotropic, adj—having different values for a specific property in different directions.
F1358/F1358M − 20
3.5.1 Discussion—When this test method is used to evaluate textile-based materials, this term refers to warp (wale) and filling
(course) directions. When this test method is used for nonwoven materials, this term refers to machine and cross-machine
directions.
3.6 burning behavior, n—all the changes that take place when materials or products are exposed to a specified ignition source.
3.7 burn distance, n—the measurement from the bottom edge of the specimen to the farthest point that shows evidence of damage
due to combustion.
3.7.1 Discussion—In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, this measurement
applies to the folded material specimen when pressed flat and includes all areas partially burned, charred, embrittled, or melted,
but not including areas sooted, stained, distorted, or discolored. Damage due to mechanical delamination or splitting of the
specimen is not included in the burn distance unless the delaminated or split area includes damage due to combustion.
3.8 charring, n—the formation of carbonaceous residue as the result of pyrolysis or incomplete combustion.
3.9 combustion, n—a chemical process of oxidation that occurs at a rate fast enough to produce heat and usually light either as
glow or flames.
3.10 dripping, n—in testing thermal protective material, a material response evidenced by flowing of the polymer.
3.10.1 Discussion—In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, dripping may be the
formation of liquid droplets from melted surface or substrate material during flame impingement.
3.11 embrittlement, n—the formation of a brittle residue as the result of pyrolysis or incomplete combustion.
3.12 flame, n—as related to ignition of textiles, a controlled hot luminous zone of gas or matter in gaseous suspension, or both,
of constant size and shape that is undergoing combustion as evidenced by a low-intensity heat source of less than 1 kW, such as
a candle flame or match flame.
3.12.1 Discussion—The burner flame in this test method produces relatively low heat flux and should be constant in size and
shape.
3.13 flame impingement, n—direct contact between a flame and a material.
3.13.1 Discussion—In testing flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, the flame is of a specified type and
duration.
3.14 flammability, n—those characteristics of a material that pertain to its ignition and support of combustion.
3.14.1 Discussion—In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, flammability is based
on the relative number of specimens that ignite when exposed to flame either for a period of 3 or 12 s.
3.15 glow, n—visible, flameless combustion of the solid phase of a material.
3.15.1 Discussion—Although a solid may glow, it can also produce combustible discharge that will cause a flame. These two
phenomena are not necessarily interdependent.
3.16 ignition, n—the initiation of combustion.
3.16.1 Discussion—In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of material used in protective clothing, ignition is determined
by the presence of after-flame after the removal of the burner flame.
F1358/F1358M − 20
3.17 melting, n—in testing thermal protective material, a material response evidenced by softening of the polymer.
3.17.1 Discussion—In evaluating the effects of flame impingement of materials used in protective clothing, melting may occur at
surface layers or in combination with the substrate fabric(s) or other polymer layers. Melting may be observed for protective
clothing materials which involve a polymer coating or laminate combined with a normally flame-resistant fabric or substrate.
3.18 protective clothing, n—an item of clothing that is specifically designed and constructed for the intended purpose of isolating
all or part of the body from a potential hazard; or, isolating the external environment from contamination by the wearer of the
clothing.
3.18.1 Discussion—In this test method the potential hazard is flame impingement on protective clothing where flame resistance
is not the primary form of protection offered by that clothing.
3.19 shrinkage, n—a decrease in one or more dimensions of an object or material.
3.19.1 Discussion—In evaluating the effects of flame impingement, these changes in dimension are caused by heat from the flame
source.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 A conditioned specimen of a protective clothing material is folded in half and placed in a sample holder with the folded edge
suspended overin a gas flame.
4.2 The specimen is exposed to the flame for a 3-s interval.
4.2.1 If the material ignites during this exposure, the after-flameafterflame time, afterglow time, and burn distance of the specimen
are measured and reported. Any observations of burning behavior are also reported. The test is then terminated.
4.3 If the material does not ignite after the first exposure, the same specimen is exposed to the flame for a 12-s interval. The
after-flameafterflame time, afterglow time, and burn distance of the specimen are measured and reported. Any observations of
burning behavior are also reported.
4.4 Alternative procedures are provided for conducting the 3-s or 12-s exposures only.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method is intended to determine the ignition resistance and burning characteristics of materials used in protective
clothing,clothing where flame resistance is not the primary form of protection designated.
5.1.1 Flame resistance is a distinctive property of clothing items designated for isolating parts of the body from anticipated flame
hazards. It is possible that protective clothing designated for isolation from other hazards, such as those for chemical or biological
protection, neither have flame resistance nor isolate the wearer from flame hazards. This test method can be used to evaluate the
effects of flame impingement on protective clothing where flame resistance is not the primary objective of protection.
5.1.2 When flame resistance is the primary protection offered by the protective clothing, alternative test methods can be used. A
test method that is useful for evaluating flame resistance of textiles is Test Method D6413D6413/D6413M. Classification Index
D4723 contains descriptions and guidance on other flammability test methods for textiles.
5.1.3 This test method is useful to determine the ignition resistance and burning characteristics of materials used in protective
clothing not designated for flame resistance when the outer material surface is exposed to the flame. As such, it is particularly suited
to protective clothing materials that are composed of different layers such as coated fabrics, laminates, or multilayer clothing
systems.
5.2 Alternative procedures for conducting either a 3-s or 12-s exposure are provided where one or the other flame application
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