NFPA 705-2018 Recommended Practice for a Field Flame Test for Textiles and Films

NFPA 705-2018 Recommended Practice for a Field Flame Test for Textiles and Films. 4.3.3 After 12 seconds of exposure, the match is to be removed gently away from the sample. 4.4 Requirements. During the exposure, faming should not spread over the complete length of the sample or, in the case of larger samples, in excess of 101.6 mm (4 in.) from the bottom of the sample. 4.4.1 There should be not more than 2 seconds of afterfame. 4.4.2 Materials that break or drip faming particles should be rejected if the materials continue to burn after they reach the foor. Chapter 5 Summary 5.1 Limitations. The defciencies and limitations of the feld test method can lead to misleading or erroneous results, and the error can be in both directions. It is quite possible to have a too-small sample show several seconds of afterfaming, causing the material to be rejected. It is equally possible for improper or inadequate feld procedures to incorrectly indicate satisfac‐ tory fame resistance. This can result in dangerous errors. 5.2 Precautions. Field procedures are useful, but they must be used with good judgment and their limitations should be recognized. Field tests should not be relied on as the sole means for ensuring adequate fame resistance of decorative materials. They are, however, useful in augmenting a compre‐ hensive regulatory program. A.1.3.1.1 By far, the greatest beneft can be derived from the feld test method when the inspector has had the opportunity to practice and experiment on a variety of decorative materials and particularly to make comparisons between the results of laboratory tests performed in accordance with NFPA 701 and the less-precise feld test method. Experience is the best teacher, and it is strongly recommended that inspectors who may be involved in this activity familiarize themselves with a wide variety of treated and inherently fame-resistant fabrics and the typical behavior of those fabrics under a variety of test conditions. With this background, the inspector possesses a greater capability for properly interpreting feld test results. Δ A.1.3.2 For many years, codes have used the statement that “materials shall be fame retardant.” When that statement applies to textiles or flms, it is intended to mean that the textile or flm meets the fame propagation performance crite‐ ria contained in NFPA 701. Δ A.1.3.3 The fre performance of textile wall coverings and that of ceiling wall coverings is affected to a signifcant extent...