scope:

This International Standard provides the general principles of a test method for evaluating the performance of complete garments or protective clothing ensembles in a flash fire or other short duration fire exposure. This test method characterizes the thermal protection provided by garments, based on the measurement of heat transfer to a full-size manikin exposed to a laboratory simulation of a fire with controlled heat flux, duration and flame distribution. The heat transfer data is summed over a prescribed time to give the total transferred energy. The heat transfer measurements can also be used to calculate the predicted skin burn injury resulting from the exposure. In addition, observations are recorded on the overall behaviour of the test specimen during and after the exposure. This method is useful for three types of evaluation: a) comparison of garment or ensemble materials; b) comparison of garment or ensemble design; c) evaluation of any garment or ensemble prototype for a particular application or to a specification. Each type of evaluation has different garment or ensemble requirements because the test results are dependent on the test material performance, on the garment size, on the garment design and on the use of ensemble components. The results obtained apply only to the particular garments or ensembles, as tested, and for the specified conditions of each test, particularly with respect to the heat flux, duration and flame distribution. For the purposes of this test method, the incident heat flux is limited to a nominal level of 84 kW/m2 and limited to exposure durations of less than 20 s. This International Standard is intended to be used to measure and describe the behaviour of complete garments or protective clothing ensembles in response to convective and radiant energy under controlled laboratory conditions, with the results used to optimize garment combinations and designs. This test method does not simulate high radiant exposures such as those found in arc flashes exposures, some types of fire exposures where liquid or solid fuels are involved, nor exposure to nuclear explosions. This International Standard is not intended to be used to compare the properties of garment materials or combinations of materials unless the test specimens are absolutely identical in size and design. However, as the interaction of material behaviour and garment design may require specific design considerations for a specific material, the design used should be a "good" design for all the materials to be compared. Furthermore, this International Standard is not intended to be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk under actual fire conditions. However, the results of this test can be used as elements of a fire risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors that are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use. Considerations for the use of this test method are provided in Annex A. Interlaboratory data for the test method are provided in Annex B. NOTE 1 - This test method provides information on material behaviour and a measurement of garment performance on a stationary upright manikin. The relative size of the garment and the manikin and the fit of the garment on the shape of the manikin have an important influence on the performance. The effects of body position and movement are not addressed in this test method. NOTE 2 - This test method does not apply to the evaluation of protection for the hands or the feet NOTE 3 - This test method is complex and requires a high degree of technical expertise in both the test setup and operation. NOTE 4 - Deviations from the instructions in this test method can lead to significantly different test results. Technical knowledge concerning fabric behaviour and the theory of heat transfer and testing practices is needed in order to evaluate which deviations are significant with respect to the instructions given in this test method. (...)