Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
D4804-23 – Standard Test Method Technical Guide
📐 Specimen Requirements and Test Setup
Test Method D4804-23 specifically addresses the small-scale flammability testing of nonrigid solid plastics. These materials, typically thin films or flexible sheets, are defined by their tendency to distort, shrink, or be consumed up to the holding clamp when evaluated under the standard vertical test, D3801. The test setup requires a standardized laboratory burner, a vertical specimen holder, and a conditioned testing environment.
| 🟦 Parameter | 📏 Specification / Requirement | 📐 Governing Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Specimen Type | Thin, nonrigid solid plastics (flexible films, textiles, etc.) | D4804 |
| Specimen Orientation | Vertical (long axis aligned with flame) | D4804 |
| Ignition Source | Laboratory burner (e.g., Tirrill type) | D5025 |
| Flame Characteristics | 20 mm nominal height (50 W) | D5207 |
| Fuel Gas | Methane (≥98% purity) or equivalent calorific gas | D5207 |
💡 Key Technical Note: Standard D4804-23 is technically equivalent to ISO 9773, IEC 60695-11-10, and UL 94 (Section 11), facilitating international product compliance and quality assurance.
⚙️ Test Procedure and Classification
The test flame is applied to the bottom edge of the vertically mounted specimen for two separate 10-second flame applications. The afterflame times (t1 and t2) and any afterglow time (t3) are meticulously recorded. The procedure also monitors for flaming drips that ignite a dry surgical cotton pad placed beneath the specimen. Based on these observations, materials are classified according to the criteria defined in Appendix X1.
| 🎯 Classification | ⚡ Individual Afterflame (t1 / t2) | 🟦 Total Afterflame (t1 + t2 for 5 specimens) | 🔥 Cotton Ignition by Drips |
|---|---|---|---|
| VTM-0 © 2026 TNLab — This article is a technical interpretation for reference only. The original standard as published by ASTM International takes precedence. 📥 Standard Documents Download |