ASTM F2894-11

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Designation:F2894–11
Standard Test Method for
Evaluation of Materials, Protective Clothing and Equipment
for Heat Resistance Using a Hot Air Circulating Oven
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2894; 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 D1776 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Textiles
E145 Specification for Gravity-Convection and Forced-
1.1 This test method covers quantitative measurements and
Ventilation Ovens
subjective observations that characterize the performance for
F1494 Terminology Relating to Protective Clothing
evaluating the heat resistance of materials, protective clothing
2.2 AATCC Standard:
and equipment when exposed in a hot air circulating oven.
Test Method 135 Dimensional Changes inAutomatic Home
1.2 This test method is intended to evaluate physical
Laundering of Woven and Knit Fabrics
changes in materials, protective clothing and equipment at a
2.3 NFPA Standards:
specified heat exposure.
NFPA 1975 Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire
1.2.1 The specified heat exposure in the hot air circulating
and Emergency Services
oven is a combination of convective heat and radiant heat.
1.3 Materials, protective clothing and equipment are evalu-
3. Terminology
ated for visible changes or subjected to a material property
3.1 Definitions of Terms
measurement following a specified heat exposure.
3.2 For definitions of terms used in this test method, use the
1.4 This test method enables the quantitative measurement
followingdocuments:Ifthetermsarerelatedtotextilesreferto
of shrinkage that occurs as a result of a specified heat exposure
Terminology D123; if the terms are related to protective
in a hot air circulating oven.
clothing refer to Terminology F1494.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.2.1 convective heat, n—heat transferred by the motion of
standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
a fluid.
conversions to other units that are commonly used for thermal
3.2.2 degradation, n—a deleterious change in one or more
testing.
properties of a material.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.2.1 Discussion—In thermal testing of materials, protec-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
tiveclothingandequipment,degradationisamaterialresponse
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
evidenced by a change in either or both the visual properties
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
and the performance properties of the test specimen.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.2.2 Discussion—Degradation generally is associated
NOTE 1—Flame resistant and heat resistant materials are described in a
with a chemical composition change that can result in a change
range of different standards and meet a range of different requirements.
in a visual property, for example, color, or it can result in a
For materials tested in accordance with this test method, the applicable
change in a performance property including but not limited to
standard shall be used to establish preconditioning, conditioning and
strength, hand, flammability, penetration resistance, water
testing conditions and requirements.
repellencyandairpermeability.Atestspecimenthatchangesin
2. Referenced Documents
one property does not necessarily change in other properties.
Evidence of degradation in performance properties usually
2.1 ASTM Standards:
requires additional measurements related to properties of
D123 Terminology Relating to Textiles
specific interest. Discoloration is a visible material response
related to degradation. When discoloration is observed, it shall
be reported.
This is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F23 on Personal Protective
3.2.3 ignition, n—the initiation of combustion.
Clothing and Equipment and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F23.80 on
Flame and Thermal.
Current edition approved July 1, 2011. Published July 2011. DOI:10.1520/
F2894-11. Available from American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or (AATCC), P.O. Box 12215, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, http://
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM www.aatcc.org.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
the ASTM website. Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F2894–11
3.2.4 melting, n—in thermal testing of materials, protective 3.3.7 separation, n—in thermal testing of materials, protec-
clothing and equipment, the liquefaction of material under the tive clothing and equipment, a material response evidenced by
influence of heat. splitting or delaminating.
3.3.8 splitting, n—in thermal testing of materials, protective
3.2.5 protective clothing, n—an item of clothing that is
clothing and equipment, a material response evidenced by the
specifically designed and constructed for the intended purpose
test specimen breaking into two or more pieces in whole or in
of isolating all or part of the body from a potential hazard; or,
part.
isolating the external environment from contamination by the
3.3.9 sticking, n—in thermal testing of materials, protective
wearer of the clothing.
clothing and equipment, a material response evidenced by the
3.2.6 protective equipment, n—a non-clothing item of
test specimen adhering to itself or to other surfaces.
equipment that is specifically designed and constructed for the
3.3.9.1 Discussion—This test method is conducted in a
intended purpose of isolating all or part of the body from a
manner that avoids the contact of test specimens with oven
potential hazard; or, isolating the external environment from
surfaces or with adjacent test specimens. However, it is still
contamination by the user of the equipment.
possible for test specimens to stick to the mounting hooks or
3.2.7 radiant heat, n—heat communicated by energy propa-
clamps and this observation shall be reported. Another evalu-
gatedthroughspaceandtransmittedbyelectromagneticwaves.
ation of sticking specific to fabrics is described in 7.2.1 and 8.3
3.2.8 shrinkage, n—a decrease in one or more dimensions
of NFPA 1975.
of an object or material.
4. Summary of Test Method
3.3 Definitions of Terms Related to Thermal Testing of
4.1 The test method evaluates the heat resistance of mate-
Materials, Protective Clothing and Equipment:
rials, protective clothing and equipment using a hot air circu-
3.3.1 deformation, n—in thermal testing of materials, pro-
lating oven.
tective clothing and equipment, a material response evidenced
4.2 Specimens shall be exposed in the test oven at a
by a change in shape of the test specimen that is irreversible at
specified temperature for a specified oven exposure time as
room temperature.
required by the applicable material or product specification.
3.3.1.1 Discussion—Achange in shape caused by the speci-
4.2.1 If no material or end product specification require-
fied heat exposure such as distortion of woven or non woven
ments for the oven temperature and oven exposure time are
fabrics or curling of knit fabrics shall not be identified as
provided, the oven temperature shall be 260 +8/-0°C (500
deformation as long as these changes are reversible at room
+14/-0°F) and the oven exposure time shall be 5 minutes
temperature.
+15/-0 seconds.
3.3.2 delamination, n—in thermal testing of materials, pro-
4.3 Following heat exposure, the test specimen is removed
tective clothing and equipment, a material response evidenced
and examined for evidence of one or more of the following
by the separation of two of more layers of the test specimen in
phenomena: ignition, melting, dripping, separation, etc., see
whole or in part.
11.5.
3.3.3 dripping, n—in thermal testing of materials, protec-
4.4 If specified, test specimens are evaluated for shrinkage
tive clothing and equipment, a response evidenced by flowing
as a result of the convective heat exposure.
of the polymer and by the formation of droplets from the
5. Significance and Use
flowing material.
5.1 This test method is used to evaluate the heat resistance
3.3.4 flaking, n—in thermal testing of materials, protective
of materials, clothing and equipment when exposed to combi-
clothing and equipment, a material response evidenced by the
nation of convective heat and radiant heat in a hot air
unassisted loss of visible particles of material from the test
circulating oven.
specimen when the test specimen is removed from the oven for
5.2 Ifspecified,thistestmethodisusedforthemeasurement
inspection.
of material shrinkage following a convective heat exposure in
3.3.4.1 Discussion—The specimen shall not be abraded,
a hot air circulating oven.
flexed or impacted to generate flaking.
5.3 This test method is not intended to simulate the actual
3.3.5 hole formation, n—in thermal testing of materials,
exposure of material, clothing or equipment in high heat
protective clothing and equipment, the appearance of a visible
conditions such as a fire environment.
aperture during the test exposure.
6. Apparatus
3.3.5.1 Discussion—The specimen is considered to exhibit
hole formation when a visible hole is produced as a result of
6.1 Test Oven—The test oven shall be a horizontal-flow
the thermal exposure that is approximately 3 mm (0.12 in.) in
circulating oven with minimum interior dimensions of 610 mm
diameter or greater, or if the hole is rectangular in shape
by 610 mm by 610 mm such that a specimen can be suspended
approximately 3 mm (0.12 in.) in width and length or greater.
and be positioned at least 50 mm (2 in.) from any interior oven
Singlethreadsacrosstheholedonotreducethesizeofthehole
surface or other specimen.
for the purposes of this test method.
6.1.1 The test oven shall have an air velocity of 0.5 m/s to
3.3.6 melting, n—in thermal testing of materials, protective 1.5 m/s at the standard temperature and pressure of 21°C at
clothing and equipment, the liquefaction of material under the local atmospheric pressure, measured at the geometric center
influence of heat. point of the oven.
F2894–11
6.1.2 The test oven shall be equipped with an oven sensing according to the temperature, relative humidity and condition-
thermocouple which is used as part of the oven temperature ing time required by Practice D1776.
control mechanism. 8.2.2 If the test specimen form is not included in Practice
6.1.2.1 The oven sensing thermocouple shall be positioned D1776, condition the test specimen at 21 6 1°C (70 6 2°F)
so that it is level with the horizontal centerline of a mounted and 65 6 2 % RH for eight hours.
sample specimen, and the oven sensing thermocouple shall be
9. Preparation of Test Specimens
equidistant between the vertical centerline of a mounted
9.1 After preconditioning cut test specimens to the specified
specimen positioned in the middle of the oven and the oven
size for testing.
wall where the airflow enters the oven test chamber.
9.1.1 Cut each material test specimen from the material
6.1.2.2 The oven sensing thermocouple shall be an exposed
sample or from the protective clothing complete item to a size
bead, Type J or Type K, No. 30 AWG thermocouple.
of 380 6 13 mm by 380 6 13 mm (15 6 0.5 in. by 15 6 0.5
6.2 Specimen Mounting—Metal hooks or clamps shall be
in.).
used to suspend the specimens in the oven.
9.1.2 Smaller size material test specimens of 150 66mm
6.2.1 If the specimens are too large to be suspended, a
by 150 66mm(6 6 0.25 in. by 6 6 0.25 in.) shall be
suitable insulating form shall be placed in the center of the
oven and the specimen shall rest on the insulating form. acceptable for materials that are not to be subjected to
shrinkage measurement.
Ceramic has been found to be an effective material for this
form. 9.1.3 For specimens (such as straps) narrower than 150 mm
in one dimension, use specimens at their normal width and cut
6.3 Optional Stretching Frame—The optional stretching
frame consists of a board with uniformly spaced pins along the to 150 mm in length. Suspend these specimens with their long
axis in a vertical direction.
perimeter at intervals of 25 mm (1 in.) to secure knit materials.
Construct the stretching frame to accommodate the test speci- 9.1.4 Protective clothing test specimens are permitted to be
tested in the form and size of the complete items.
mensizespecifiedin9.1.1and9.1.2sothatthepinsarelocated
9.1.5 Test protective equipment specimens in the form and
approximately 50 mm (2 in.) inward from the edges of the test
size of the complete items.
specimen.
9.2 Test a minimum of three test specimens from each
6.3.1 The optional stretching frame is permitted to be used
preconditioned sample. Testing a greater number of specimens
before the knit specimen is placed in the oven for marking the
is permitted to improve precision of test results.
specimen for shrinkage determination. The stretching frame is
9.3 Mark test specimens to be evaluated for shrinkage in
not used while the knit specimen is exposed in the oven. The
accordance with AATCC Test Method 135.
optional stretching frame is also permitted to be used for a
9.3.1 The optional stretching frame shall be permitted to be
specified period of time after heat exposure in the oven to
used to mark knit fabric specimens for shrinkage determina-
return knit specimens to their original dimensions. See 9.3.1
tions.
and 11.6.1.
9.4 Room Temperature Conditioning—Condition test speci-
7. Hazards
mens, including nonwoven specimens, at a temperature of 21
7.1 Normal precautions shall be taken for working around 6 1°C (70 6 2°F) and 65 6 2 % relative humidity, until
hot surfaces and flaming, melting or dripping test specimens. equilibrium is reached, as determined in accordance with
7.2 Theovenshallbeproperlyventedtoensurethatharmful Practice D1776, or for eight hours, whichever results in the
vapors and gases are evacuated from the laboratory. shorter conditioning time. Test specimens within five minutes
after removal from conditioning.
8. Preconditioning of Test Samples
10. Preparation and Calibration of Apparatus
8.1 Material samples not obtained from garments for pre-
2 2
conditioning shall be at least 1 m (1.2 yd ) to ensure sufficient 10.1 At least once every twelve months, determine the
material for the test s
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