Appendix 3 - Test Methods and Criteria for Flame Spread, Smoke Generation and Toxicity of Plastic Piping

 Flame spread, smoke generation and toxicity of plastic piping should be determined by the 2010 FTP Code, annex 1, parts 2 and 5 with the modifications listed below.

Tests should be made for each pipe material and should take into account differences in wall thickness.

When conducting testing of plastic piping, testing need not be conducted on every pipe size. Testing should be conducted on pipe sizes with the maximum and minimum wall thicknesses intended to be used. This will qualify all piping sizes for a specific piping material provided that the wall thickness falls within the tested range.

1 Test Specimen Preparation

1.1 For homogenous thermoplastic pipes, the test specimens may be produced as flat plates in the required wall thickness(es).

1.2 The test sample should be fabricated by cutting pipes lengthwise into individual sections and then assembling the sections into a test sample as representative as possible of a flat surface. A test sample should consist of at least two sections. All cuts should be made normal to the pipe wall. The test sample should be 800 mm ± 5 mm long for tests to 2010 FTP Code, annex 1, part 5. The test sample should be 75 mm ± 1 mm square for tests to 2010 FTP Code, annex 1, part 2.

1.3 The number of sections that must be assembled together to form a test sample should be that which corresponds to the nearest integral number of sections which should make a test sample (with an equivalent linearized surface width between 155 mm and 180 mm). The surface width is defined as the measured sum of the outer circumference of the assembled pipe sections that are exposed to the flux from the radiant panel.

1.4 The assembled test sample should have no gaps between individual sections.

1.5 The assembled test sample should be constructed in such a way that the edges of two adjacent sections should coincide with the centreline of the test holder.

1.6 For testing flame spread the individual test sections should be attached to the backing calcium silicate board using wire (No.18 recommended) inserted at 50 mm intervals through the board and tightened by twisting at the back.

1.7 The individual pipe sections should be mounted so that the highest point of the exposed surface is in the same plane as the exposed flat surface of a normal surface.

1.8 The space between the concave unexposed surface of the test sample and the surface of the calcium silicate backing board should be left void.

1.9 The void space between the top of the exposed test surface and the bottom edge of the sample holder frame should be filled with a high temperature insulating wool if the width of the pipe segments extend under the side edges of the sample holding frame.

2 Test Methods

Flame spread of plastic piping should be determined by the 2010 FTP Code, annex 1, part 5. The smoke density and toxicity of gases produced by plastic pipes should be determined by the 2010 FTP Code, annex 1, part 2.

3 Criteria

Flame Spread

Smoke and Toxicity

Smoke: the D_m value shall not exceed 400 in any test condition

Toxicity: the average value of the gas concentration measured under each test condition shall not exceed the following limits:

4 Exemption of the test in accordance with part 2 of the 2010 FTP Code

Piping with both the total heat release (Q_t) of not more than 0.2 MJ and the peak heat release rate (Q_p) of not more than 1.0kW (both values determined in accordance with the 2010 FTP Code, annex 1, part 5) are considered to comply with the requirements the 2010 FTP Code, annex 1, part 5 without further testing (see the 2010 FTP Code, annex 2, paragraph 2.2).