scope:

This International Standard specifies a method for determining the temperature at which plastics begin to decompose appreciably to flammable gaseous products. The method is one of a number of methods of use in evaluating the resistance of plastics to the effects of high temperatures. The test provides an assessment of the evolution of combustible gases from a small sample of a pulverized material when exposed to high temperatures for 5 min. It does not, however give a direct measure of the flammability or rate of burning of a material or any definition of the safe upper limit of temperature for the plastics in use.