ISO 5658-4:2001

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 5658-4
First edition
2001-06-01
Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame —
Part 4:
Intermediate-scale test of vertical spread of
flame with vertically oriented specimen
Essais de réaction au feu — Propagation du feu —
Partie 4: Essais à échelle intermédiaire de la propagation de la flamme
avec éprouvette orientée verticalement
Reference number
©
ISO 2001
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ii © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword.iv
Introduction.v
1 Scope .1
2 Normative references .1
3 Terms and definitions .2
4 Principle.3
5 Suitability of a product for testing .7
6 Test specimens.7
6.1 Exposed surface .7
6.2 Number and size of specimens.7
6.3 Construction of specimen assemblies.7
6.4 Conditioning.9
6.5 Reference lines .10
6.6 Storage of specimen assemblies.10
7 Test apparatus .12
8 Test enclosure.22
9 Setting-up and calibration procedure.22
9.1 Setting-up .22
9.2 Verification .23
9.3 Adjustment of the pilot flame .23
10 Test procedure.23
11 Derived flame spread characteristics (optional).26
11.1 General.26
11.2 Method 1 .26
11.3 Method 2a).26
11.4 Method 2b).26
11.5 Method 3 .27
12 Precision.27
13 Test report .27
Annex A (normative) Safety precautions.31
Annex B (normative) Specimen construction .32
Annex C (informative) Calibration of the working heat flux meter.33
Annex D (normative) Interpretation of results of this test procedure .34
Annex E (informative) Variability in the ignitability and flame spread measured in an
interlaboratory test .35
Bibliography.37
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.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 3.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this part of ISO 5658 may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO 5658-4 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 92, Fire safety, Subcommittee
SC 1, Fire initiation and growth.
ISO 5658 consists of the following parts, under the general title Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame:
— Part 1: Guidance on flame spread (Technical Report)
— Part 2: Lateral spread on building products in vertical configuration
— Part 4: Intermediate-scale test of vertical spread of flame with vertically oriented specimen
Annexes A, B and D form a normative part of this part of ISO 5658. Annexes C and E are for information only.
iv © ISO 2001 – All rights reserved

Introduction
ISO/TR 5658-1 describes the development of standard tests for flame spread and explains the theory of flame
spread for various orientations.
ISO 5658-2 provides a simple method by which the lateral surface spread of flame on a vertical specimen can be
determined for comparative purposes. This method is particularly useful for research, development and quality
control purposes.
This part of ISO 5658 provides an intermediate-scale method by which the ignitability and vertical surface spread of
flame on a vertical specimen can be determined. The specimen is sufficiently large to obtain a measure of lateral
flame spread. Downward flame spread can also be examined as a wind-opposed spread on the specimen surface
or by the observation of any flaming drips.
Fire is a complex phenomenon; its behaviour and its effects depend upon a number of interrelated factors. The
behaviour of materials and products depends upon the characteristics of the fire, the method of use of the materials
and the environment in which they are exposed. The methodology of reaction-to-fire tests is explained in
ISO/TR 3814.
A test such as specified in this part of ISO 5658 deals only with a simple representation of a particular aspect of the
potential fire situation typified by a radiant heat source and flame; it cannot alone provide any direct guidance on
behaviour or safety in fire.
The attention of all users of the test is drawn to the warning given before clause 1.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 5658-4:2001(E)
Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame —
Part 4:
Intermediate-scale test of vertical spread of flame with vertically
oriented specimen
WARNING — So that suitable precautions can be taken to safeguard health, the attention of all concerned
in fire tests is drawn to the possibility that toxic or harmful gases may be evolved during exposure of test
specimens. The advice on safety given in annex A should also be noted.
1 Scope
1.1 This part of ISO 5658 specifies an intermediate-scale method of test for measuring the vertical spread
(upward and downward) of flame over a specimen of a product orientated in the vertical position. A measure of
lateral spread can also be obtained. It provides data suitable for comparing the performance of materials,
composites or assemblies, which are used as the exposed surfaces of walls or other vertically orientated products
in construction applications. Some products with profiled surfaces can also be tested with a modified procedure
representative of the end-use conditions of the product.
1.2 Upward flame spread is not limited to surfaces which are vertical. It is recognized that an enhanced form of
upward, wind-aided flame spread can also occur on surfaces at an angle greater than 20° from the horizontal
without any external ventilation. This type of flame spread can occur in both planar sloping surfaces and stepped
surfaces such as stairs. Flame spread in these situations can become very rapid and can cause serious problems
in escape ways such as staircases. When assessing stepped or sloping surface materials, it may be more
appropriate to use a vertical flame spread test rather than a test in which the specimen is horizontal.
1.3 This part of ISO 5658 is applicable to the measurement and description of the properties of materials,
products, composites or assemblies in response to radiative heat in the presence of non-impinging pilot flames
under controlled laboratory conditions. The heat source may be considered to represent a single burning item such
as a wastepaper bin or an upholstered chair within an enclosure, and this scenario would generally be considered
to apply during the early developing stage of a fire (see ISO/TR 11696-1 and ISO/TR 11696-2). This part of
ISO 5658 should not be used alone to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products,
composites or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
2 Normative references
The following normative documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of
this part of ISO 5658. For dated references, subsequent amendments to, or revisions of, any of these publications
do not apply. However, parties to agreements based on this part of ISO 5658 are encouraged to investigate the
possibility of applying the most recent editions of the normative documents indicated below. For undated
references, the latest edition of the normative document referred to applies. Members of ISO and IEC maintain
registers of currently valid International Standards.
ISO 554, Standard atmospheres for conditioning and/or testing — Specifications.
ISO/TR 11696-1, Uses of reaction to fire test results — Part 1: Application of test results to predict fire performance
of internal linings and other building products.
ISO/TR 11696-2, Uses of reaction to fire test results — Part 2: Fire hazard assessment of construction products.
ISO 13943, Fire safety — Vocabulary.
ISO/TR 14697, Fire tests — Guidance rules on the choice of substrates for building products.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this part of ISO 5658, the terms and definitions given i
...