DC 620.22 : 620.193.9 : 636.

46 DEUTSCHE NORM June 198

‘Testing of combustible materials

DIN
Response to ignition by a small flame
Surface ignition 53,438
Prüfung von brennbaren Werkstoffen; Verhalten beim Beflammen mit einem Brenner; Supersedes April 1917 edition
Flächenbeflammung

In keeping with currentpractice in Standards published by the International Organization for Standardization IISOJ,
a comnm has been used throughout as the dezimal marker.

Dimensions in mm

1 Field of application
This Standard specifies the method of test for determi-
ning the response of maferials tO surface ignition, refer-
red tO in brief es method F. See DIN 53 438 Part 1,
DIN 50 050 and DIN 50 051 for general information,
erplanatory “oter, concepts and apparatus. See
DIN 53 438 Part 2 for edge ignition (methcd K).
2 Test pieces
2.1 Take or prepare 10 tert pieces (sec subclause 4.1)
from the product tO be tested. In the case of anisotropic
products, take note of the direction of rampling and
include this information in the test report.
2.2 The test pieces shall be 230 mm in length by 90 mm
in width. Their thickness Shell depend on the rpecifice-
tions for the product concerned or shall be agreed upon.
Use only test pieces the thickness of which does not de-
viate from the thickness of all other tert pieces by more
than * 10% at any Point. If the given permissible devi-
ation is exceeded. the fest report shall contain a nute to
that effect.
4.2 In the tert area (laboratorv) and exhaust hood, the
ambient temperafure shall, at least at the Stert of each
test, lie between 18 and 28”Cas specified in DIN 50 014.
4.3 Measure the thickness of the test pieces on the
central longitudinal axir et distances of 40, 100 and
160 mm from their lower edges to * 0.1 mm, or tO
* 0.01 i-nm in the case of test pieces lesr than 1 mm thick.
Lay the test piece in the two-part frame (sec DIN 53 438
Part 1, June 1984 edition, subclause 4.1.3) so that the
lower edge of the test piece coincides with the lower
edge of the frame (sec figure). Join the two Parts of the
frame using threaded or rpring Clips and suspend the
frame vertically from the suspension device positio&d in
the test chamber.
With the burner (sec DIN 53 438 Part 1, June 1984
edition, subclaure 4.1.1) set in the vertical position. ad-
just the flame tO a height of 20 mm. With the flame et
this height. leave the burner t~ burn for et least ooe
minute Prior tO commencing the test, readjusting the
height, if necessary, et the end of this period. Then incline
the burner through 45’ and close the test chamber.

2.3 Make gauge markr on each of the test pieces et the 4.4 Slide the burner towards the test piece so that the
following distances from what will be the lower edge flame impinges on the test piece in the centre of the
when the test piece is in the test Position: 40 mm (lower lower gauge mark. The distance between the front edge
gauge mark) and 190mm (upper gauge mark). of the stabilizer and the surface of the test piece shall be
5mm (See figurel.
3 Conditioning of test pieces
Prior tO testing. the tert pieces shall be rtored in a
DIN 50 014 - 23/50-2 Standard atmosphere. The dura-
tion of the conditioning period shall depend on the spec-
ification for the product under tert. or shall be agreed
upon. If noother rpecificationobtainr. thenconditioning
shall last for not less than 24 h.

4 Procedure
4.1 The tert shall be carried Out on five tert pieces. If
noclear classification in accordance with subclause 5.2
ie possible, the test shall be repeated on five further test
pieces. Figure.

Continued on pages 2 and 3

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Page 2 DIN 53 438 Part 3
Apply the flame to the test piece for 15 seconds and
then withdraw the burner. Take particular care to ensure
that no disturbing draughts arc created ss a result.
Measure the burning time (sec DIN 53 438 Pait 1 for
concept) from the initial application of the flame until
the flame on the test piece ceases to burn, or until the
tip of the flame on the burning fest piece reaches the
upper gauge mark. If the fest piece continues to glow
after the flame is extinguished. mearure the afterglow
time (sec DIN 53 438 Part 1 for concept) from the ex-
tinction of the flame on the test piece until gtowing
ceases. Any particular observations during the course of
the test shall be noted in the test report: these may in-
clude formation of smoke and soot. material falling and
dripping from the test piece and whether such material
continues to burn on reaching the floor of the chamber,
appearance of the malten edge (e.g. whether a frame-
work is leftl, burning on both sides or just on one,
shrinkage of the test piece away from the flame. burn-
ing of a hole through the test piece. extent of burning.
Then assessthe tert piece in accordance with clause 5
and assign it to a class.
4.5 The frame and the supension device shall have
cooled to an ambient fernpersture of 18 to 28OC. aS
specified in DIN 50 014, before a subsequent test rnay
be commenced.
5 Assessment and evaluation
5.1 Esch of the test pieces tested as described in sub-
clause 4.4 shall be assessed in accordance with rhe table
below:
Evaluation Cl%
The flame tip on the burning test piece.does
notwach the upper gauge mark (the flame is F 1
extinguished beforehand)
The flame tip on the burning test piece
reaches the upper gauge mark in 20 seconds F2
or langer
The flame tip on the burning test piece
F3
waches the upper gauge mark in less than
20 secondr
The mean thickness of the test piece shall be suffixed
to the indication of the class, the two values being se-
parated by an oblique stroke. Thicknesses 1 mm or
greater shall be rounded to within 0.1 mm, and thick-
nesses less than 1 mm shall be rounded to within 0.01 mm.
(For example: F 1/3,5 mm signifies class F 1 (face igni.
tion) for a test piece with an average thickness of 3.5 mm.)
5.2 Evaluation in accordance with subclause 5.1 shall
be subject to the following specifications:
1 If all test pieces of a material tan be astigned to the
same class, the material shall be said to belang to that
Cl%S.
2 If two of <he five test pieces of a material arc to be
assigned to an inferior class, the material shall be said
to belang to the inferior class.
3 If one of the five test pieces is tobe assigned to an
inferior class. the tert shall be repeated on five new
test pieces of the sarne material. If retesting results in
one or more test pieces being assigned to an inferior
class, the material nhall be Said to belang to the in-
ferior class.
5.3 Average the burning times of the tost pieces tested
in accordance with rubclause 4.4, and stste the mean
value. in seconds, rounded to the nearest second, in the
test report as the mean burning time of the material.
Average the afterglow times of the test pieces tested in
accordance with subclause 4.4 and state the mean value,
in seconds, rounded to the nearest second. in the test
report as the mean afterglow time of the material.
6 Test report
The test report shall refer to this Standard and include
the following particulars:
al type and designation of the product (material)
tested;
bl method and date of production of the fest pieces.
indicating the direction of sampling, if relevant;
cl conditioning of the tost pieces:
d) statement of which surface was tested, or whether
both were tested;
e) mean thickness obtained from measuring all tost
pieces in accordance with subclause 4.3; minimum
and maximum thicknesses measured;
f) mean burning time;
gl mean afterglow time;
h) class. indicating the mean measured thickness, as
specified in subclause 5.1;
iJ Point of flame impingence in the case of test pieces
thicker than 3 mm:
jl particular observations made during the test es de-
scribed in subclause 4.4;
kl date of test.
 DIN 53 438 Part 3 Page 3

Standards referred to
DIN 50014 Atmospherer and fheir technical application; Standard atmorpherer
DIN 50 050 Materials testing; burning behaviour of materials; flame test chamber
DIN 50 051 Materials testing; burning behaviour of materials; burner
DIN 51 622 Liquid gases; propane, propene. butane. butene and their mixtures; quality requirements
DIN 53 436 Part 1 Testing of comburtible materials; response to ignition by a small flame; general data
DIN 53 439 Part 2 Testing of combustible materials; response to ignition by a small flame; edge ignition

Other relevant Standards

DIN 54332 Terting of textiles; determination of the burning behaviour of textile floor coverings
DIN 54 336 Terting of textiles: determination of the burning behaviour, vertical method; edge ignition

Previous editions
DIN 53 436: August 1970
DIN 63 436 Part 3: April 1977

Amendments
The following amendments have been made in comparison with the April 1977 edition:
a) the requirements in subclaures 4.3 and 5.2 have been made more precise;
bl a new subclause. subclause 5.3, has been incorporated;
cl the Standard has been editorially revised.

Explanatory notes
Experience har confirmed that it is necessary to define both edge and surface ignition in order to eszess combustibility
characteristics. After careful consideration, it har been decided not to include in the present Standard methodr for the
determination and evaluation of the loss of flaming material through dripping, rince a clarsification of materials in this
respect may prerent rerious Problems or even be misleading.
The test procedures specified in this Standard were initially developed for plastics and have been tested experimentally.
The method is, however. also appropriate for other materials, such es wood, paper etc. Similar Standards have been drawn
up for textiles lsee DIN 54 332 and DIN 54 336).
Since test Standards arc intended to serve es a suitable basis for legal requirements, for production control and for testing
products during development and in “ne, both methods of test have been given a classification system.
lt is now internationally accepted that the results of combustibility tests performed on products or materials under
controlled laboratory conditions arc not directly indicative of the general fire hazard. Thor, conclusions drawn from the
results of testing in accordance with DIN 53 438 Part 2 or Part 3 in respect of the fire behaviour fo the product tested
under conditions differing from those specified in the test method arc only permirrible with considerable reservations.
Working Group FNK 104 is prepared to make its full technical experience available to authorities issuing rules and
regulations etc.

International Patent Classification

G 01 N 26.36