Useful information on: UL 94: Test for Flammability of Plastic Materials

for Parts in Devices and Appliances

UL intends this standard to serve as a preliminary indication of a plastics acceptability for use as part of a device or appliance
with respect to its flammability. It is not intended to reflect the hazards of a material under actual fire conditions.
UL 94 flammability testing is the first step toward obtaining a plastic recognition and subsequent listing in the "Plastics
Recognized Component Directory" (former known as "Yellow Cards"). UL 94 contains the following tests: 94HB, 94V, 94VTM,
94-5V, 94HBF, 94HF and Radiant Panel.
The 94HB test describes the Horizontal Burn method. Methods 94V and 94VTM are used for Vertical Burn, a more stringent
test than 94HB. The 94-5V test is for enclosures for products that are not easily moved or are attached to a conduit system.
The 94HBF and HF are used for nonstructural foam materials i.e., acoustical foam. Radiant panel test is an ASTM (E162) test
to determine the flame spread of a material that may be exposed to fire.
The following is a brief description of three tests that apply to stock shape products (sheet, rod, tube and film) and how the
rating system works. This is not meant as a procedure for running the tests nor as a way of determining the acceptability of a
material for a particular application. Those who would like more details should contact UL or obtain a copy of this and other UL
Standards by visiting the UL's Standards Department web site, at http://ulstandardsinfonet.ul.com/.

UL 94 Flammability Ratings Summary

Burning stops within 60 seconds after five applications of five seconds each of a flame (larger than
5VA
that used in Vertical Burn testing) to a test bar. Test specimens MAY NOT have a burn-through (no
Surface Burn hole).
This is the highest (most flame retardant) UL94 rating.
Burning stops within 60 seconds after five applications of five seconds each of a flame (larger than
5VB
that used in Vertical Burn testing) to a test bar. Test specimens MAY HAVE a burn-through (a
Surface Burn
hole).
V-0
Burning stops within 10 seconds after two applications of ten seconds each of a flame to a test bar.
Vertical Burn NO flaming drips are allowed.
V-1
Burning stops within 60 seconds after two applications of ten seconds each of a flame to a test bar.
Vertical Burn NO flaming drips are allowed.
Burning stops within 60 seconds after two applications of ten seconds each of a flame to a test bar.
V-2
Vertical Burn Flaming drips ARE allowed.
H-B
Horizontal
Burn

Slow horizontal burning on a 3mm thick specimen with a burning rate is less than 3"/min or stops
burning before the 5" mark. H-B rated materials are considered "self-extinguishing".
This is the lowest (least flame retardant) UL94 rating.

94HB Horizontal Burning Test

This is generally considered the easiest test
to pass and materials that pass any of the V
or VTM tests will usually be accepted by UL
for applications that require 94HB. To be
sure, check with the UL representative
assigned to the device in which the film will
be used. The 94HB rating would typically
be acceptable for portable, attended,
intermittent-duty, household-use appliance
enclosures (i.e., hair dryers) or for
decorative parts.
The test uses a " 5" specimen held at one end in a horizontal position with marks at 1" and 5" from the free end. A flame is
applied to the free end for 30 seconds or until the flame front reaches the 1" mark (see Fig. 2.1). If combustion continues the
duration is timed between the 1" mark and the 5" mark. If combustion stops before the 5" mark, the time of combustion and the
damaged length between the two marks are recorded. A set of three specimens are tested.
A material that is less than 0.118" in thickness will be classified 94HB if it has a burning rate of less than 3" per minute or stops
burning before the 5" mark. If one specimen from the set of three fails to comply, then a second set of three are tested. All
three of this second set must comply.

94V Vertical Burning Test

This test includes three classifications
94V-0, 94V-1 and 94V-2 and would
typically be acceptable for portable,
unattended, intermittent-duty, householduse appliances (i.e., coffee makers). Which
classification applies to a particular
application depends on many factors,
including:

Size and thickness of part.

Distance from uninsulated live
parts.
Hot wire ignition.
High current arc ignition.
High voltage arc tracking rate.

Table 1. Material Classification

Criteria Conditions
94V-0

94V-1

94V-2

Total flaming combustion for each specimen

10s

30s

30s

Total flaming combustion for all 5 specimens of

any set

50s

250s 250s

Flaming and glowing combustion for each

specimen after second burner flame application

30s

60s

60s

Cotton ignited by flaming drips from any specimen

NO

NO

YES

Glowing or flaming combustion of any specimen to

holding clamp

NO

NO

NO

This test uses a " 5" specimen which is

held at one end in the vertical position (see
Fig. 3.1). A burner flame is applied to the
free end of the specimen for two 10 second
intervals separated by the time it takes for
flaming combustion to cease after the first
application. Two sets of 5 specimens are
tested. The following are recorded for each
specimen:

Duration of flaming combustion

after the first burner flame
application.
Duration of flaming combustion
after second burner flame
application.
Duration of glowing combustion
after second burner flame
application.
Whether or not flaming drips ignite
cotton placed below specimen.
Whether or not specimen burns up
to holding clamp.

94V Thin Material Vertical Burning Test

This test includes three classifications 94V-0, 94V-1 and 94V-2 Materials that are thin gauge typically 10 mil, or very
flexible may distort, shrink or flex during the 94V test. These materials can be tested using 94VTM the thin material version of
the vertical burning test. This differs in several ways from the 94V test:

The specimen size is 8" 2".

The specimen is rolled longitudinally around a " dia. mandrel and taped on one end. When the mandrel is removed
the specimen forms a cone shape, which provides rigidity to the length of the specimen (see Fig. 3.1)
The two flame applications have duration of three seconds instead of ten.

Although this test was designed for thinner gauge materials, any material can be tested using 94VTM as long as can be formed
around a " mandrel. The test is performed in the same manner as 94V with the above mentioned differences. The Material
Classification criteria is also the same as 94V (see Table 1.) except that no specimens shall have flaming or glowing
combustion up to a mark 5" from the bottom (free end) of the specimen.
It is usually advantageous to test materials using 94VTM instead of 94V because it is usually easier to pass or get a better
rating as long as the material can be bent around the " mandrel.
Note: UL will generally accept a 94VTM rating of similar level where a 94V material is required (i.e., 94VTM-0 = 94V-0, 94VTM1 = 94V-1, etc.. UL does, however, reserve the right to make a determination on which rating a material should have based on
the application.

UL Flame Rating - UL 94

UL flame ratings group materials into categories based on their flammability. UL 94 covers two types of testing: vertical burn
and horizontal burn.

Horizontal Testing (HB)

Procedure: A specimen is supported in a horizontal position and is tilted at 45. A flame is applied to the end of the specimen
for 30 seconds or until the flame reaches the 1 inch mark. If the specimen continues to burn after the removal of the flame,
the time for the specimen to burn between the 1 and 4 inch marks are recorded. If the specimen stops burning before the
flame spreads to the 4 inch mark, the time of combustion and damaged length between the two marks is recorded. Three
specimens are tested for each thickness.

Horizontal Flame Test

Horizontal
Rating

Requirements

HB

Specimens must not have a burning rate greater than 1.5 inches/minute for thicknesses between
0.120 and 0.500 inches and 3 inches/minute for thicknesses less than 0.120 inches.
Specimens must stop burning before the flame reaches the 4 inch mark.

UL 94 HBF

Vertical Testing (V-0, V-1, V-2)

Procedure: A specimen is supported in a vertical position and a flame is applied to the bottom of the specimen. The flame is
applied for ten seconds and then removed until flaming stops at which time the flame is reapplied for another ten seconds
and then removed. Two sets of five specimens are tested. The two sets are conditioned under different conditions.

Vertical Flame Test

Vertical
Ratings

Requirements

V-0

V-1

V-2

Specimens must not burn with flaming combustion for more than 10 seconds after either test flame
application.
Total flaming combustion time must not exceed 50 seconds for each set of 5 specimens.
Specimens must not burn with flaming or glowing combustion up to the specimen holding clamp.
Specimens must not drip flaming particles that ignite the cotton.
No specimen can have glowing combustion remain for longer than 30 seconds after removal of the
test flame.

Specimens must not burn with flaming combustion for more than 30 seconds after either test flame
application.
Total flaming combustion time must not exceed 250 seconds for each set of 5 specimens.
Specimens must not burn with flaming or glowing combustion up to the specimen holding clamp.
Specimens must not drip flaming particles that ignite the cotton.
No specimen can have glowing combustion remain for longer than 60 seconds after removal of the
test flame.
Specimens must not burn with flaming combustion for more than 30 seconds after either test flame
application.
Total flaming combustion time must not exceed 250 seconds for each set of 5 specimens.
Specimens must not burn with flaming or glowing combustion up to the specimen holding clamp.
Specimens can drip flaming particles that ignite the cotton.
No specimen can have glowing combustion remain for longer than 60 seconds after removal of the
test flame.

Vertical Testing (5V, 5V-A, 5V-B)

Testing is done on both bar and plaque specimens. Procedure for Bars: A bar specimen is supported in a vertical position
and a flame is applied to one of the lower corners of the specimen at a 20 angle. The flame is applied for 5 seconds and is
removed for 5 seconds. The flame application and removal is repeated five times. Procedure for Plaques: The procedure for
plaques is the same as for bars except that the plaque specimen is mounted horizontally and a flame is applied to the center
of the lower surface of the plaque.

Vertical Flame (5V Type) Test

Vertical

Requirements

Rating

5V

5V-A

5V-B

Specimens must hot have any flaming or glowing combustion for more than 60 seconds after the five
flame applications.
Specimens must not drip.
Specimens must not be destroyed in the area of the flame.
Specimens must hot have any flaming or glowing combustion for more than 60 seconds after the five
flame applications.
Specimens must not drip flaming particles that ignite the cotton.
Plaque specimens must not exhibit burnthrough (a hole).
Specimens must hot have any flaming or glowing combustion for more than 60 seconds after the five
flame applications.
Specimens must not drip flaming particles that ignite the cotton.
Plaque specimens may exhibit burnthrough (a hole).

Vertical Testing of Thin Materials (VTM-0, VTM-1, VTM-2)

This test is used for materials that are thin, or are too flexible or may distort, shrink or flex during ordinary vertical testing.
Procedure: An 8x2 in specimen is rolled longitudinally around a 1/2 in diameter mandrel and taped on one end. When the
mandrel is removed the specimen forms a cone. The cone is supported in a vertical position and a flame is applied to the
bottom of the specimen. The flame is applied for three seconds and then removed until flaming stops at which time the flame
is reapplied for another three seconds and then removed. Two sets of five specimens are tested. The two sets are
conditioned under different conditions.

Vertical Flame Test for Thin Materials

Vertical Rating for Thin

Requirements

Materials

VTM-0

VTM-1

VTM-2

Similar Standards

IEC 60695-11-10

Specimens must not burn with flaming combustion for more than 10 seconds after either
test flame application.
Total flaming combustion time must not exceed 50 seconds for each set of 5 specimens.
Specimens must not burn with flaming or glowing combustion up to the specimen holding
clamp.
Specimens must not drip flaming particles that ignite the cotton.
No specimen can have glowing combustion remain for longer than 30 seconds after
removal of the test flame.
No specimen shall have flaming or glowing combustion up to a mark 5 inches from the
bottom of the specimen.
Specimens must not burn with flaming combustion for more than 30 seconds after either
test flame application.
Total flaming combustion time must not exceed 250 seconds for each set of 5
specimens.
Specimens must not burn with flaming or glowing combustion up to the specimen holding
clamp.
Specimens must not drip flaming particles that ignite the cotton.
No specimen can have glowing combustion remain for longer than 60 seconds after
removal of the test flame.
No specimen shall have flaming or glowing combustion up to a mark 5 inches from the
bottom of the specimen.
Specimens must not burn with flaming combustion for more than 30 seconds after either
test flame application.
Total flaming combustion time must not exceed 250 seconds for each set of 5
specimens.
Specimens must not burn with flaming or glowing combustion up to the specimen holding
clamp.
Specimens can drip flaming particles that ignite the cotton.
No specimen can have glowing combustion remain for longer than 60 seconds after
removal of the test flame.
No specimen shall have flaming or glowing combustion up to a mark 5 inches from the
bottom of the specimen.