SIST-TS ISO/TS 5658-1:2018

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 5658-1
First edition
2006-10-01
Reaction to fire tests — Spread of
flame —
Part 1:
Guidance on flame spread
Essais de réaction au feu — Propagation du feu —
Partie 1: Lignes directrices sur la propagation de la flamme

Reference number
©
ISO 2006
PDF disclaimer
This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but
shall not be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In
downloading this file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat
accepts no liability in this area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation
parameters were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In
the unlikely event that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.

©  ISO 2006
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Principles of flame spread . 1
3 Characteristics of flame-spread modes . 2
3.1 General. 2
3.2 Horizontal, facing upward. 3
3.3 Vertical or inclined. 4
3.4 Horizontal, facing downward. 6
4 History of surface spread of flame tests . 7
5 Small-scale tests. 9
5.1 Method given in ISO 5658-2 . 9
5.2 LIFT method . 10
5.3 Method given in ISO 9239-1 . 10
5.4 Method given in ISO 9239-2 . 12
6 Intermediate-scale tests. 12
6.1 Corner tests. 12
6.2 Method given in ISO 5658-4 . 12
6.3 Method given in ISO/TR 14696:1999 . 13
7 Large-scale tests. 14
7.1 Room corner test (ISO 9705) . 14
7.2 Room/corridor scenarios . 17
7.3 Façade scenarios. 20
7.4 Large-scale vertical flame-spread tests . 20
8 Flame spread within assemblies. 22
9 Flame spread by flaming droplets/particles . 24
9.1 Description of flame spread process with flaming droplets/particles . 24
9.2 Test methods to characterise flaming droplets/ particles. 24
9.3 Typical fire scenarios involving flaming droplets/ particles . 25
Bibliography . 26

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 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. 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.
In other circumstances, particularly when there is an urgent market requirement for such documents, a
technical committee may decide to publish other types of normative document:
— an ISO Publicly Available Specification (ISO/PAS) represents an agreement between technical experts in
an ISO working group and is accepted for publication if it is approved by more than 50 % of the members
of the parent committee casting a vote;
— an ISO Technical Specification (ISO/TS) represents an agreement between the members of a technical
committee and is accepted for publication if it is approved by 2/3 of the members of the committee casting
a vote.
An ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is reviewed after three years in order to decide whether it will be confirmed for a
further three years, revised to become an International Standard, or withdrawn. If the ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is
confirmed, it is reviewed again after a further three years, at which time it must either be transformed into an
International Standard or be withdrawn.
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.
ISO/TS 5658-1 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 92, Fire safety, Subcommittee SC 1, Fire
initiation and growth.
This first edition of ISO/TS 5658-1 cancels and replaces ISO/TR 5658-1:1997, which has been technically
revised.
ISO 5658 consists of the following parts, under the general title Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flames:
⎯ Part 1: Guidance on flame spread (Technical Specification)
⎯ Part 2: Lateral spread on building and transport products in vertical configuration
⎯ Part 4: Intermediate-scale test of vertical spread of flame with vertically oriented specimens
iv © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The rate and extent of flame spread are important properties to be characterized when evaluating the reaction
to fire hazards of products that can be used in diverse applications such as in buildings, transport, furniture,
electrical enclosures, etc. Historically, there have been many approaches taken to the measurement of flame
spread and most of these have evolved with little fundamental justification. This Technical Specification
describes different modes of flame spread and proposes some theoretical principles to assist with the relevant
application of the data obtained from flame spread tests.
This guidance document is about flame spread and as such it fits within the scope of ISO/TC 92/SC 1. Flames
are a major cause of fires being initiated (usually described as ignitability) and fire growth (usually physically
observed as flames spreading from the initial seat of the fire where the ignition source was applied). Also,
within the scope of ISO/TC 92/SC 1, it is generally assumed that fire growth applies up to the point of a
developed fire after which the fire can spread (for example) from one compartment to another. This concept is
usually covered by the scope of ISO/TC 92/SC 2 (fire containment).
Many flame-spread tests measure the rate and extent of the flame front as the flame moves over the surface
of a large area, flat products such as linings on walls, ceilings and floors. Usually the orientation of the test
specimen is related to the end-use application (for example, exposed face upwards for floor-coverings). This
requirement for end-use relevance is satisfied by ISO 5658-2 and ISO 5658-4 when wall linings are evaluated.
Flame spread over construction and transport products is related to the fire scenario. ISO/TC 92/SC 1 have
initially concentrated on the development of tests to simulate flame spread in rooms and along corridors.
Other important scenarios where flame spread data are required are façades (both front and behind), shafts,
stairs and roofs; much of the theoretical guidance given in this Technical Specification can be applied to these
scenarios even though ISO test procedures might not be available as of the date of publication of this
Technical Specification.
Flame spread can also occur over non-planar products (e.g. pipes) and within assemblies (e.g. along joints or
inside air-gaps). Whilst this Technical Specification concentrates on the theory pertinent to flat products, some
of the theory outlined can be applied to improve the understanding of these more complex situations.
[1] [2]
The results of small-scale flame-spread tests (e.g. ISO 5658-2 and ISO 9239-1 ) and large-scale tests
[3]
(e.g. ISO 9705 ) can be used as components in a total hazard analysis of a specified fire scenario. The
theoretical basis of these tests is explained so that relevant conclusions or derivations can be made from the
test results.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 5658-1:2006(E)

Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame —
Part 1:
Guidance on flame spread
1 Scope
This Technical Specification provides guidance on flame spread tests. It describes the principles of flame
spread and classifies different flame-spread mechanisms.
2 Principles of flame spread
Flame-spread tests are designed to quantify the flaming process outside of the zone heated by the ignition
source (flaming, radiant or overheating) and as such, they help our understanding of how fire grows away
from the initial seat of the fire. This concept is relevant to flame spread within the compartment or cavity where
the fire originates (that is, the point/area of fire initiation/ignition). Flame-spread tests differ considerably in the
conditions that are specified for characterization of the flame-spread process. These conditions include the
following:
⎯ intensity and area of thermal attack of ignition source;
⎯ orientation of test specimen (for example, vertical, horizontal and inclined are normally defined);
⎯ ventilation in the vicinity of the test specimen;
⎯ mode of flame spread (see Table 1).
Flammability of surfaces is a major concern of many regulations. The primary room surfaces in buildings, for
example, are any combustible linings used on the walls or ceilings, along with floor coverings. Similar flame-
spread effects can also occur over the surfaces of transport vehicles (such as ships, trains, aircraft and buses).
To understand the role of bench-scale tests in assessing this hazard, the dominant fire effects shall be placed
in context.
The ceiling can show a very rapid fire spread and a high contribution to hazard. The least combustible
materials should generally be positioned on the ceiling in order to minimize fire hazard. There is not universal
[4]
agreement on this point and some studies conclude the opposite. For almost any fire scenario, flame
spread along the ceiling is wind-aided, which means that the air-flow and the flame spread are both in the
same direction.
For common fire scenarios, flame spread on walls is upward (wind-aided) in the vicinity of the fire source. In
other parts of the walls, the flame spread is downward (opposed-flow), since entrained air is moving upwards,
opposite to the direction of flame motion. Much of the wall can, however, be directly ignited by submersion into
the layer of hot gases forming below the ceiling
...

TECHNICAL ISO/TS
SPECIFICATION 5658-1
First edition
2006-10-01
Reaction to fire tests — Spread of
flame —
Part 1:
Guidance on flame spread
Essais de réaction au feu — Propagation du feu —
Partie 1: Lignes directrices sur la propagation de la flamme

Reference number
©
ISO 2006
PDF disclaimer
This PDF file may contain embedded typefaces. In accordance with Adobe's licensing policy, this file may be printed or viewed but
shall not be edited unless the typefaces which are embedded are licensed to and installed on the computer performing the editing. In
downloading this file, parties accept therein the responsibility of not infringing Adobe's licensing policy. The ISO Central Secretariat
accepts no liability in this area.
Adobe is a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
Details of the software products used to create this PDF file can be found in the General Info relative to the file; the PDF-creation
parameters were optimized for printing. Every care has been taken to ensure that the file is suitable for use by ISO member bodies. In
the unlikely event that a problem relating to it is found, please inform the Central Secretariat at the address given below.

©  ISO 2006
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the address below or
ISO's member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope . 1
2 Principles of flame spread . 1
3 Characteristics of flame-spread modes . 2
3.1 General. 2
3.2 Horizontal, facing upward. 3
3.3 Vertical or inclined. 4
3.4 Horizontal, facing downward. 6
4 History of surface spread of flame tests . 7
5 Small-scale tests. 9
5.1 Method given in ISO 5658-2 . 9
5.2 LIFT method . 10
5.3 Method given in ISO 9239-1 . 10
5.4 Method given in ISO 9239-2 . 12
6 Intermediate-scale tests. 12
6.1 Corner tests. 12
6.2 Method given in ISO 5658-4 . 12
6.3 Method given in ISO/TR 14696:1999 . 13
7 Large-scale tests. 14
7.1 Room corner test (ISO 9705) . 14
7.2 Room/corridor scenarios . 17
7.3 Façade scenarios. 20
7.4 Large-scale vertical flame-spread tests . 20
8 Flame spread within assemblies. 22
9 Flame spread by flaming droplets/particles . 24
9.1 Description of flame spread process with flaming droplets/particles . 24
9.2 Test methods to characterise flaming droplets/ particles. 24
9.3 Typical fire scenarios involving flaming droplets/ particles . 25
Bibliography . 26

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 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. 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.
In other circumstances, particularly when there is an urgent market requirement for such documents, a
technical committee may decide to publish other types of normative document:
— an ISO Publicly Available Specification (ISO/PAS) represents an agreement between technical experts in
an ISO working group and is accepted for publication if it is approved by more than 50 % of the members
of the parent committee casting a vote;
— an ISO Technical Specification (ISO/TS) represents an agreement between the members of a technical
committee and is accepted for publication if it is approved by 2/3 of the members of the committee casting
a vote.
An ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is reviewed after three years in order to decide whether it will be confirmed for a
further three years, revised to become an International Standard, or withdrawn. If the ISO/PAS or ISO/TS is
confirmed, it is reviewed again after a further three years, at which time it must either be transformed into an
International Standard or be withdrawn.
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.
ISO/TS 5658-1 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 92, Fire safety, Subcommittee SC 1, Fire
initiation and growth.
This first edition of ISO/TS 5658-1 cancels and replaces ISO/TR 5658-1:1997, which has been technically
revised.
ISO 5658 consists of the following parts, under the general title Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flames:
⎯ Part 1: Guidance on flame spread (Technical Specification)
⎯ Part 2: Lateral spread on building and transport products in vertical configuration
⎯ Part 4: Intermediate-scale test of vertical spread of flame with vertically oriented specimens
iv © ISO 2006 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The rate and extent of flame spread are important properties to be characterized when evaluating the reaction
to fire hazards of products that can be used in diverse applications such as in buildings, transport, furniture,
electrical enclosures, etc. Historically, there have been many approaches taken to the measurement of flame
spread and most of these have evolved with little fundamental justification. This Technical Specification
describes different modes of flame spread and proposes some theoretical principles to assist with the relevant
application of the data obtained from flame spread tests.
This guidance document is about flame spread and as such it fits within the scope of ISO/TC 92/SC 1. Flames
are a major cause of fires being initiated (usually described as ignitability) and fire growth (usually physically
observed as flames spreading from the initial seat of the fire where the ignition source was applied). Also,
within the scope of ISO/TC 92/SC 1, it is generally assumed that fire growth applies up to the point of a
developed fire after which the fire can spread (for example) from one compartment to another. This concept is
usually covered by the scope of ISO/TC 92/SC 2 (fire containment).
Many flame-spread tests measure the rate and extent of the flame front as the flame moves over the surface
of a large area, flat products such as linings on walls, ceilings and floors. Usually the orientation of the test
specimen is related to the end-use application (for example, exposed face upwards for floor-coverings). This
requirement for end-use relevance is satisfied by ISO 5658-2 and ISO 5658-4 when wall linings are evaluated.
Flame spread over construction and transport products is related to the fire scenario. ISO/TC 92/SC 1 have
initially concentrated on the development of tests to simulate flame spread in rooms and along corridors.
Other important scenarios where flame spread data are required are façades (both front and behind), shafts,
stairs and roofs; much of the theoretical guidance given in this Technical Specification can be applied to these
scenarios even though ISO test procedures might not be available as of the date of publication of this
Technical Specification.
Flame spread can also occur over non-planar products (e.g. pipes) and within assemblies (e.g. along joints or
inside air-gaps). Whilst this Technical Specification concentrates on the theory pertinent to flat products, some
of the theory outlined can be applied to improve the understanding of these more complex situations.
[1] [2]
The results of small-scale flame-spread tests (e.g. ISO 5658-2 and ISO 9239-1 ) and large-scale tests
[3]
(e.g. ISO 9705 ) can be used as components in a total hazard analysis of a specified fire scenario. The
theoretical basis of these tests is explained so that relevant conclusions or derivations can be made from the
test results.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION ISO/TS 5658-1:2006(E)

Reaction to fire tests — Spread of flame —
Part 1:
Guidance on flame spread
1 Scope
This Technical Specification provides guidance on flame spread tests. It describes the principles of flame
spread and classifies different flame-spread mechanisms.
2 Principles of flame spread
Flame-spread tests are designed to quantify the flaming process outside of the zone heated by the ignition
source (flaming, radiant or overheating) and as such, they help our understanding of how fire grows away
from the initial seat of the fire. This concept is relevant to flame spread within the compartment or cavity where
the fire originates (that is, the point/area of fire initiation/ignition). Flame-spread tests differ considerably in the
conditions that are specified for characterization of the flame-spread process. These conditions include the
following:
⎯ intensity and area of thermal attack of ignition source;
⎯ orientation of test specimen (for example, vertical, horizontal and inclined are normally defined);
⎯ ventilation in the vicinity of the test specimen;
⎯ mode of flame spread (see Table 1).
Flammability of surfaces is a major concern of many regulations. The primary room surfaces in buildings, for
example, are any combustible linings used on the walls or ceilings, along with floor coverings. Similar flame-
spread effects can also occur over the surfaces of transport vehicles (such as ships, trains, aircraft and buses).
To understand the role of bench-scale tests in assessing this hazard, the dominant fire effects shall be placed
in context.
The ceiling can show a very rapid fire spread and a high contribution to hazard. The least combustible
materials should generally be positioned on the ceiling in order to minimize fire hazard. There is not universal
[4]
agreement on this point and some studies conclude the opposite. For almost any fire scenario, flame
spread along the ceiling is wind-aided, which means that the air-flow and the flame spread are both in the
same direction.
For common fire scenarios, flame spread on walls is upward (wind-aided) in the vicinity of the fire source. In
other parts of the walls, the flame spread is downward (opposed-flow), since entrained air is moving upwards,
opposite to the direction of flame motion. Much of the wall can, however, be directly ignited by submersion into
the layer of hot gases forming below the ceiling
...