ISO/TS 15791-2:2022

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 15791-2
Second edition
2022-11
Plastics — Development and use
of intermediate-scale fire tests for
plastics products —
Part 2:
Use of intermediate-scale tests for
semi-finished and finished products
Plastiques — Développement et utilisation des essais au feu à une
échelle intermédiaire pour les produits plastiques —
Partie 2: Utilisation des essais à une échelle intermédiaire pour les
produits semi-finis et les produits finis
Reference number
© ISO 2022
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Published in Switzerland
ii
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Different applications of intermediate-scale fire tests . 2
4.1 General . 2
4.2 Pre-selection tests on semi-finished products . 3
4.3 End-product tests . 3
5 Types of plastics and typical products . 4
5.1 Generic types . 4
5.2 Typical products . . 4
5.2.1 General . 4
5.2.2 Complex products ready for assembly for an end-use application . 4
5.2.3 Profiled products . 5
6 Method of preparation and mounting of test specimens . 5
6.1 General method of preparation and mounting of test specimens . 5
6.1.1 Finished products . 5
6.1.2 Substrates . 5
6.1.3 Backing boards . 5
6.1.4 Joint . 6
6.1.5 Fixing of test specimens to substrates . 6
6.1.6 Air gap between test specimen and backing board . 6
6.2 Preparation and mounting method for specific types of products . 7
6.2.1 Boards/sheets . 7
6.2.2 Surface coatings . 7
6.2.3 Joints and sealing materials for joints and other arrangements . 7
6.2.4 Insulation materials . 7
6.2.5 Composites . 8
6.2.6 Pipe and pipe insulation . 8
6.2.7 Roof lights and light diffusers . 9
6.2.8 Curtain walling . 9
7 Matters relevant for semi-finished or finished plastic products .9
7.1 Sample conditioning and test specimen preparation . 9
7.2 Practical advice on operating procedures in the event of test specimen collapse or
deformation on exposure to heat from standard ignition sources . . 9
7.3 Problem–solving approaches to complications caused by melting effects in
thermoplastics . 10
7.4 Intumescence . 10
7.5 Slumping of the thermoplastic sheets . 10
7.6 Flaming debris . 10
7.7 Profiled products . 11
Annex A (normative) Preparation and use of test specimens with relevance to product end-
use conditions .12
Bibliography .14
iii
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 4, Burning
behaviour.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/TS 15791-2:2017), which has been
technically revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— technical update in Clause 4 has been updated;
— the following references have been added:
— ISO 14697 (as a normative reference);
— ISO/TS 17431 (as an informative reference).
A list of all parts in the ISO 15791 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
iv
Introduction
The major benefit in intermediate-scale testing is the ability to reflect more accurately the fire
conditions of real fires than small-scale tests. For example:
— Specimen mounting. Specimens can incorporate end-use fixings, joints and air-gaps (see Annex A)
in the larger test apparatus. In addition, thick and/or profiled products may be accommodated. This
capability is valuable for testing thick multilayer composites (such as sandwich structures). It is
also useful for testing profiled product such as pipes, pipe insulations, cable trays, GRP frames and
similar products.
— Test specimen size and orientation. Intermediate-scale tests allow to evaluate fire growth. The
ability to measure flame spread beyond the impingement zone of the ignition source is a desirable
feature.
— Observation of actual phenomena of products (especially thermoplastics) exposed to ignition
sources. Representative behaviour may be observed with intermediate-scale test specimens.
[11]
The test results may be useful to the manufacturers of the products and regulation authorities .
However, intermediate-scale tests may have the following disadvantages because of their large scale.
— Intermediate-scale tests may develop an increased amount of fire effluent.
— Intermediate-scale tests may require higher cost.
— An intermediate-scale test may limit the fire scenario and cannot realize a wide range of fire
behaviours.
An intermediate-scale test can be used as a screening test for large-scale tests for the purpose of
research and product development.
In addition to the usage mentioned above, this document has been prepared for manufacturers of
semi-finished plastics products. These semi-finished products may be tested for production control or
developmental reasons. They cannot always be tested in the end-use conditions (such as mounting and
fixing) that are appropriate for finished products.
This document is intended to support the information that product manufacturers may require as part
of a quality assurance scheme. In addition, it should be recognized that this document is not intended
to replace finished product technical specifications for products containing a semi-finished plastics
component.
The information given in this document is in accordance with the principles recommended in ISO 10840,
which was established to develop a general policy and philosophy for the development and use of fire
tests for plastics.
v
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 15791-2:2022(E)
Plastics — Development and use of intermediate-scale fire
tests for plastics products —
Part 2:
Use of intermediate-scale tests for semi-finished and
finished products
1 Scope
This document provides guidelines and specifies requirements for the development and use of
inter
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