Unlike the ASTM E84 test, which requires a 25-foot-long sample and costly testing equipment, the ASTM E162 surface flammability test is a much more affordable option that only requires six-inch by 18-inch samples.
Designed to help manufacturers meet safety standards in the construction of buses, trains, recreational vehicles and more, the ASTM E162 test is a convenient and trusted method to learn how flames can spread across a material in environments like those found in a real fire.
In ASTM E162, the test material’s qualities are determined based upon two quantifiable measurements. First, the flame spread factor (Fs) represents the rate at which the test material spreads flames. Second, the heat evolution factor (Q) represents the quantity of fuel contained in the material. Finally, these two factors are combined to find the radiant panel index (Is) as in the following equation:
Fs x Q = Is
Once determined, the radiant panel index is helpful in assessing the overall fire hazard of the given material.
The test is conducted by placing the material at a 30-degree angle to a radiant heat source, which is a porous panel that steadily burns a mixture of natural gas and air at 1238 degrees Fahrenheit. Above the material are a series of thermocouples mounted in a chimney, or stack, which measures the produced heat against known fuel sources. The test is completed when flames spread 15 inches down the material’s face, or when 15 minutes have elapsed.
For quick, affordable and reliable surface flame spread testing of coatings, building products, materials and textiles used in railroad, transportation, and military applications, VTEC Laboratories is your number one choice.
Once all samples and paperwork are received, we can complete the test for flame spread and have your results in just two weeks. That represents the fastest turnaround time in the flammability testing industry.