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Designation: D 1929 – 96
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Test Method for

Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 1929; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards4

1.1 This fire test response test method2 covers a laboratory 2.2 International Standards:5
determination of the flash ignition temperature and spontane- ISO 871-1996 Plastics—Determination of Ignition Tem-
ous ignition temperature of plastics using a hot-air furnace. perature Using a Hot-Air Furnace
1.2 Caution—During the course of combustion, gases or ISO 5725 Precision of Test Methods—Determination of
vapors, or both, are evolved that may be hazardous to person- Repeatability and Reproducibility for Standard Test Meth-
nel. Adequate precautions should be taken to protect the ods by Interlaboratory Tests
operator. IEC 584-2 Thermocouples—Part 2: Tolerances
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 3. Terminology
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only. 3.1 Definitions: For definitions of terms relating to fire, see
1.4 This standard should be used to measure and describe Terminology E 176.
the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
to heat and flame under controlled laboratory conditions and 3.2.1 flash ignition temperature (FIT)—the minimum tem-
should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or perature at which, under specified test conditions, sufficient
fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire flammable gases are emitted to ignite momentarily upon
conditions. However, results of this test may be used as application of a small external pilot flame.
elements of a fire risk assessment which takes into account all 3.2.2 glowing combustion—combustion of a material in the
of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire solid phase without flame but with emission of light from the
hazard of a particular end use. combustion zone, caused by slow decomposition and carbon-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the ization at various points in the specimen, without general
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the ignition occurring.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 3.2.3 spontaneous ignition temperature or self-ignition tem-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- perature (SIT)—the minimum temperature at which the self-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precau- heating properties of the specimen lead to ignition or ignition
tionary statements are given in 1.2 and 1.4. occurs of itself, under specified test conditions, in the absence
of any additional flame ignition source.
NOTE 1—This test method and ISO 871-1996 are identical in all
technical details. 4. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents 4.1 Tests made under conditions herein prescribed can be of
considerable value in comparing the relative ignition charac-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
teristics of different materials. Values obtained represent the
D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing3
lowest ambient air temperature that will cause ignition of the
material under the conditions of this test. Test values are
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics expected to rank materials according to ignition susceptibility
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal Properties under actual use conditions.
(Section D20.30.03). 4.2 This test is not intended to be the sole criterion for fire
Current edition approved July 10, 1996. Published September 1996. Originally
published as D 1929 – 62 T. Last previous edition D 1929 – 91a.
hazard. In addition to ignition temperatures, fire hazards
In 1996, this test method was totally revised to be technically equal to ISO include other factors such as burning rate or flame spread,
871-1996, and a specific air velocity is specified, which eliminates the need for intensity of burning, fuel contribution, products of combustion,
approximations. and others.
2
The following reference may be of interest in connection with this test method:
Stetchkin, N. P., “A Method and Apparatus for Determining the Ignition Charac-
4
teristics of Plastics,” Journal of Research, National Institute of Standards and Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
5
Technology, Vol 43, No. 6, December 1949 (RP 2052), p. 591. Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01. Floor, New York, NY 10036.

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 D 1929
5. Apparatus stand at least 750°C, with an inside diameter of 75 6 5 mm,
5.1 Hot-Air Ignition Furnace6—A furnace similar to that length of 2306 20 mm, and thickness of approximately 3 mm,
shown in Fig. 1, consisting primarily of an electrical heating placed inside the furnace tube and positioned 20 6 2 mm

FIG. 1 Cross Section of Hot-Air Ignition Furnace

unit and specimen holder. above the furnace floor on three small spacer blocks. The top
5.2 Furnace Tube—A vertical tube with an inside diameter is covered by a disk of heat-resistant material with a 25 6
of 100 6 5 mm and a length of 230 6 20 mm, made of a 2-mm diameter opening in the center that is used for observa-
ceramic that will withstand at least 750°C. The vertical tube tion and passage of smoke and gases. The pilot flame is located
stands on the furnace floor, fitted with a plug for the removal of immediately above the opening.
accumulated residue.
NOTE 2—Fire resistant materials such as silica glass and stainless steel
5.3 Inner Ceramic Tube—A ceramic tube that will with- have also been found suitable for this application.
5.4 Air Source—An outside air source to supply clean air
6
Model SS1, a furnace available from Atlas Electric Devices Co., 4114 North near the top of the annular space between the ceramic tubes,
Ravenswood Ave., Chicago, IL 60613, has been found suitable for this purpose. through a copper tube at a steady and controllable rate. Air

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 D 1929
shall be heated and circulated in the space between the two may be used, but it is essential that the form be described fully
tubes and enter the inner furnace tube at the bottom. Air shall in the test report.
be metered by a rotameter or other suitable device.
NOTE 6—Specimens containing high levels of inorganic fillers are
5.5 Electrical Heating Unit, contained within the mineral difficult to evaluate.
fiber sleeve and constructed of 50 turns of 1.3 6 0.1 mm NOTE 7—The same material tested in different forms may give different
Nichrome V alloy wire, wound around the furnace tube and results.
embedded in heat-resistant cement. 7.2 A specimen mass of 3.0 6 0.2 g shall be used for
NOTE 3—Other constructions such as finely coiled wire embedded in materials having a density greater than 100 kg/m3. Materials
molded ceramic fiber have also been found to be acceptable. may be tested in the form of pellets or powder, normally
5.6 Insulation, consisting of a layer of mineral fiber, ap- supplied for molding. For sheet materials, cut the sheet into
proximately 60-mm thick, and covered by a metal jacket. squares of 20 6 2 by 20 6 2 mm maximum size, and stack
5.7 Pilot Igniter, consisting of a nominal 1.8 6 0.3-mm these to a height that gives the required specimen mass. For
inside diameter (ID) copper tubing attached to a gas supply of film materials, roll a strip 20 6 2-mm wide and of length
94 % minimum purity propane and placed horizontally 5 6 1 sufficient to give the required specimen mass.
mm above the top surface of the disk cover. The pilot flame 7.3 For cellular materials having a density less than 100
shall be adjusted to 20 6 2 mm in length and centered above kg/m3, remove any outer skin and cut the specimens in the
the opening in the disk cover. form of a block measuring 20 6 2 by 20 6 2 by 50 6 5 mm.
5.8 Specimen Support and Holder—The specimen pan con- 7.4 Sufficient material is required for at least two determi-
sists of a metal container of approximately 0.5-mm thick steel nations.
measuring 406 2 mm in diameter by 15 6 2 mm in depth. It 7.5 The test specimens shall be conditioned at 23 6 2°C and
is held in a ring of approximately 2.0-mm diameter stainless 50 6 5 % relative humidity for not less than 40 h prior to test,
steel welding rod. The ring is welded to a length of the same in accordance with Practice D 618.
type of rod extending through the cover of the furnace, as 8. Procedure
shown in Fig. 1. The bottom of the specimen pan shall be 8.1 Flash Ignition Temperature (FIT):
located 185 6 5 mm down from the top of the inner furnace 8.1.1 Set the air velocity to 25 mm/s by adjusting the actual
tube. air flow rate through the full section of the inner tube at the
5.9 Thermocouples, 0.5-mm diameter, Chromel-Alumel furnace temperature, using the following formula:
(Type K) or Iron-Constantan (Type J), for temperature mea-
293
surement connected to a calibrated recording instrument with a Qv 5 6.62 3 T
tolerance not exceeding 62°C. The thermocouple tolerance
shall be in accordance with IEC 584-2, Table 1, Class 2 or where:
better. Qv 5 air flow rate, L/min, and
5.10 Heating Control—A suitable variable transformer or T 5 temperature, K, at T2.
an automatic controller connected in series with the heating Ensure that the air flow rate is maintained at 610 % of the
coils. calculated value.
5.11 Timing Device, having an accuracy of at least 1 s. 8.1.2 Adjust the electric current supplied to the heating coil
6. Location of Thermocouples by means of the variable transformer or automatic controller,
by reference to temperature T3 until the air temperature, T2,
6.1 Thermocouple TC1 measures the temperature, T1, of the remains constant at the desired initial test temperature.
specimen. It is located as close as possible to the center of the
upper surface of the specimen when the specimen is in place NOTE 8—The temperature of 400°C is used when no prior knowledge
within the furnace. The thermocouple wire is attached to the of the probable flash ignition temperature range is available. Other starting
temperatures may be selected if information on the material indicates a
specimen support rod.
better choice.
6.2 Thermocouple TC2 gives some indication of the tem-
perature, T2, of the air traveling past the specimen. It is located 8.1.3 Raise the specimen pan to the cover opening, and
10 6 2 mm below the center of the specimen pan. The place the specimen on the pan. Lower the pan into the furnace,
thermocouple wire is attached to the specimen support rod. ensuring that thermocouples TC1 and TC2 are in their correct
position (see 6.1 and 6.2). Start the timer, ignite the pilot flame,
NOTE 4—Thermocouple TC2 may be installed through a hole drilled and watch for evidence of a flash or mild explosion of
adjacent to the inspection plug below the specimen pan.
combustible gases that may be followed by continuous burning
6.3 Thermocouple TC3 measures the temperature, T3, of the of the specimen. Flaming or glowing combustion can also be
heating coil. It is located adjacent to the furnace heating coil observed by a rapid rise in temperature T1, as compared with
and is used as a reference for temperature adjustment purposes temperature T2.
because of its faster response. 8.1.4 At the end of 10 min, depending on whether ignition
NOTE 5—Thermocouple TC3 may be a 1.6 6 0.1-mm diameter metallic has or has not occurred, lower or raise the temperature T2 by
sheathed thermocouple. 50°C accordingly, and repeat the test with a fresh specimen.
8.1.5 When the range within which the flash ignition tem-
7. Test Specimens perature lies has been determined, begin the test 10°C below
7.1 Materials supplied in any form, including composites, the highest temperature within this range, and continue by

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 D 1929
dropping the temperature in 10°C steps until the temperature is 9.1.7 Spontaneous ignition temperature (SIT), °C;
reached at which there is no ignition during a 10 min period. 9.1.8 Whether the combustion observed was flaming or
8.1.6 Record the lowest air temperature, T2, at which a flash glowing;
is observed, during the 10 min period, as the flash ignition 9.1.9 Observations regarding the behavior of the specimen
temperature. during the test (how ignition occurred, the formation of soot or
8.2 Spontaneous Ignition Temperature (SIT): smoke, excessive foaming, melting, bubbling, smoking, etc.);
8.2.1 Follow the same procedure as described in 8.1, but and
without the pilot flame. 9.1.10 The following statement:
8.2.2 Ignition will be evidenced by flaming or glowing “These test results relate only to the behavior of test
combustion of the specimen. It may be difficult, with some specimens under the particular conditions of the test. They are
materials, to detect spontaneous ignition visually when burning not intended to be used, and shall not be used, to assess the
is by glowing combustion rather than flaming. In such cases, a potential fire hazards of a material in use.”
rapid rise in temperature T1 above that of T2 accompanied by a
visual observation is the more reliable reference. 10. Precision and Bias
8.2.3 Record the lowest air temperature, T2, at which the
specimen burns, during the 10 min period, as the spontaneous 10.1 The precision and bias of this test method is being
ignition temperature. developed internationally through ISO/TC61/Sc4. Relative
precision data based on a preliminary interlaboratory study
9. Test Report conducted in 1994, using ISO/DIS 871 as protocol, is indicated
9.1 Report the following information: in Appendix X1. Findings from this interlaboratory study
9.1.1 Reference to this test method; resulted in changes to the procedure; therefore, another inter-
9.1.2 Designation of the material, including the name of the laboratory study was considered necessary and will be started
manufacturer and composition; in 1996.
9.1.3 Form of the material (granules, sheet, etc.);
9.1.4 Mass of the test specimen, g; 11. Keywords
9.1.5 Density of the cellular test specimens, kg/m3 ; 11.1 flash ignition temperature; ignition temperature; spon-
9.1.6 Flash ignition temperature (FIT), °C; taneous ignition temperature

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. RESULTS OBTAINED BY INTERLABORATORY TRIALS

X1.1 An interlaboratory study was conducted in 1994 using X1.4 Reproducibility, in the normal and correct operation
ISO/DIS 871.1 protocol for the testing criteria. of the test method, is the difference between two independent
X1.2 These precision data were determined from interlabo- averages (determined from three specimens) found by two
ratory tests involving seven laboratories, on six polymeric operators working in different laboratories on identical test
materials, with three replicates of each material. The resulting material. The values of reproducibility will not exceed those
data were analyzed in accordance with ISO 5725 and are given in Table X1.1 and Table X1.2.
summarized in Table X1.1 and Table X1.2.
X1.5 Two averages (determined from three specimens) are
X1.3 Repeatability, in the normal and correct operation of
to be considered suspect and not equivalent if they differ by
the test method, is the difference between two averages
more than the repeatability and reproducibility given in Table
(determined from three specimens) using identical test material
and the same apparatus by one analyst within a short time X1.1 or Table X1.2. Any judgment per X1.3 or X1.4 would
interval. The values of repeatability will not exceed those given have an approximate 95 % (0.95) probability of being correct.
in Table X1.1 and Table X1.2.

TABLE X1.1 Flash Ignition Temperature (FIT)

Physical Form Average FIT,° C Repeatability Reproducibility
High-impact polystyrene granulated 378 10 27
High-impact FR polystyrene granulated 370 13 52
Polyamide 6 granulated 413 8 38
Polyvinyl chloride film 0.15 mm in thickness 327 11 45
Flexible polyurethane foam 25 mm thickness 349 12 66
Phenol-formaldehyde resin solid bars 430 9 117

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 D 1929
TABLE X1.2 Spontaneous Ignition Temperature (SIT)
Physical Form Average SIT,° C Repeatability Reproducibility
High-impact polystyrene granulated 458 12 59
High-impact FR polystyrene granulated 422 14 47
Polyamide 6 granulated 439 31 56
Polyvinyl chloride film 0.15 mm in thickness 438 13 64
Flexible polyurethane foam 25 mm thickness 370 11 61
Phenol-formaldehyde resin solid bars 482 14 103

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