ASTM D5424-14
Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration

Standard No.

ASTM D5424-14

Release Date

2014

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM D5424-18

Latest

ASTM D5424-23a

Scope

5.1 This test method provides a means to measure a variety of fire-test-response characteristics associated with smoke obscuration and resulting from burning the electrical insulating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables. The specimens are allowed to burn freely under well ventilated conditions after ignition by means of a propane gas burner.

5.2 Smoke obscuration quantifies the visibility in fires.

5.3 This test method is also suitable for measuring the rate of heat release as an optional measurement. The rate of heat release often serves as an indication of the intensity of the fire generated.

5.4 Other optional fire-test-response characteristics that are measurable by this test method are useful to make decisions on fire safety. The most important gaseous components of smoke are the carbon oxides, present in all fires. They are major indicators of the toxicity of the atmosphere and of the completeness of combustion, and are often used as part of fire hazard assessment calculations and to improve the accuracy of heat release measurements. Other toxic gases, which are specific to certain materials, are less crucial for determining combustion completeness.

5.5 Test Limitations: 

5.5.1 The fire-test-response characteristics measured in this test method are a representation of the manner in which the specimens tested behave under certain specific conditions. Do not assume they are representative of a generic fire performance of the materials tested when made into cables of the construction under consideration.

5.5.2 In particular, it is unlikely that this test method is an adequate representation of the fire behavior of cables in confined spaces, without abundant circulation of air.

5.5.3 This is an intermediate-scale test, and the predictability of its results to large scale fires has not been determined. Some information exists to suggest that it has been validated against some large-scale scenarios.

1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.

1.2 This test method provides a means to measure the smoke obscuration resulting from burning electrical insulating materials contained in electrical or optical fiber cables when the cable specimens, excluding accessories, are subjected to a specified flaming ignition source and burn freely under well ventilated conditions.

1.3 This test method provides two different protocols for exposing the materials, when made into cable specimens, to an ignition source (approximately 20 kW), for a 20 min test duration. Use it to determine the flame propagation and smoke release characteristics of the materials contained in single and multiconductor electrical or optical fiber cables designed for use in cable trays.

1.4 This test method do......

ASTM D5424-14 Referenced Document

• ASTM D1711 Standard Terminology Relating to Electrical Insulation
• ASTM E1354 Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
• ASTM E176 Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• ASTM E800 Standard Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Generated During Fires
• ASTM E84 Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• IEEE 1202 IEEE Standard for Flame-Propagation Testing of Wire and Cable
• IEEE/ASTM SI 10 American National Standard for Metric Practice
• ISO 13943 Fire safety — Vocabulary

ASTM D5424-14 history

• 2023 ASTM D5424-23a Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• 2023 ASTM D5424-23 Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• 2018 ASTM D5424-18 Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• 2014 ASTM D5424-14 Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• 2010 ASTM D5424-10 Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• 2005 ASTM D5424-05 Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• 1999 ASTM D5424-99 Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration