ISO/TR 20118:2019

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 20118
First edition
2019-04
Plastics — Guidance on fire
characteristics and fire performance
of PVC materials used in building
applications
Plastiques — Lignes directrices relatives aux caractéristiques et
aux performances au feu des matériaux en PVC utilisés dans les
applications de construction
Reference number
©
ISO 2019
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© ISO 2019
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ii © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

Contents  Page
Foreword .v
Introduction .vi
1  Scope . 1
2  Normative references . 1
3  Terms and definitions . 1
4  PVC building materials and products . 3
4.1 Definition and description . 3
4.1.1 General. 3
4.1.2 PVC-U based products . 4
4.1.3 PVC-P based products . 4
4.1.4 PVC-C based products . 5
4.1.5 Flame retardants . . 5
4.2 Product standards . 6
5  Fire safety strategy . 8
5.1 Fire safety objectives . 8
5.1.1 General. 8
5.1.2 Safety of life . 9
5.1.3 Conservation of property . 9
5.1.4 Continuity of business or service operations .10
5.1.5 Protection of the environment .10
5.1.6 Preservation of heritage .11
5.2 Fire scenarios .11
6  Fire test methods — Description and relevance .13
6.1 General .13
6.1.1 Reaction to fire tests applicable to plastics construction products .13
6.1.2 Intermediate scale plastics reaction to fire tests .14
6.1.3 Fire stage and fire tests .14
6.1.4 Assessment of the fire threat to people .14
6.2 Relevance of results and studies comparisons .15
7  Material fire characteristics relevant for PVC construction products .16
7.1 Combustibility .16
7.2 Ignitability .18
7.2.1 Ignition temperature .18
7.2.2 Ignitability measured by the cone calorimeter test .19
7.3 Oxygen index.20
7.4 Heat release and heat release rate .21
7.4.1 General.21
7.4.2 Heat release data .22
7.5 Flame spread .24
7.5.1 General.24
7.5.2 Flame spread by flame propagation.26
7.5.3 Flame spread by flaming droplets .26
7.6 Smoke generation .27
7.6.1 Smoke obscuration.27
7.6.2 Smoke toxicity .28
7.6.3 Smoke corrosivity .31
7.6.4 HCl decay .32
7.7 Char formation and intumescence .33
Annex A (informative) Example of reaction to fire performance — PVC-U pipe .34
Annex B (informative) Example case history — Plastimet accident .35
Bibliography .36
iv © ISO 2019 – All rights reserved

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
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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.
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.
Introduction
Fire safety is an essential consideration in building design regardless of the type and nature of products
used. Effective measures should be taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of fires that may result in
casualties, injuries or property damage.
National codes and regulations are the basis of such fire safety measures. Technical details are given
in standards and related documents, referred to as specific documents or incorporated in the said
codes or regulations. Such details are particularly important when performance-based behaviour
[77]
is concerned. A specific case is the European Construction Products Regulation , which specifies
that products need to be tested and classified regarding their fire performance according to the EU
harmonized classification systems for reaction to fire and for resistance to fire.
The construction industry makes significant efforts to protect society from the dramatic consequences
of fires. As a result, 1 % to 8 % of total construction costs are spent on fire safety measures. These costs
are directly dependent on the type of building and can increase considerably for sensitive buildings like
schools and theatres. In the case of shopping centres, fire safety measures can amount to 10 % of total
building costs.
Plastic products are increasingly specified by architects and used by builders. They contribute to
greater energy efficiency, cost savings and to a more comfortable and safer environment. The role
of plastics in fire safety should be addressed despite the fact that they are considered as a major
combustible contributor only in less than 15 % of fires.
Plastic materials or products can be tailored to meet specific needs and to reduce their contribution
to the propagation of a fire. Some families of plastics, such as halogen containing polymers like PVC,
inherently have superior fire performa
...