Directive 95/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (repealed)Show full title

ANNEX V U.K. TEST TO DETERMINE THE MELTING BEHAVIOUR OF MATERIALS

1. Principle U.K.

A sample is placed in a horizontal position and is exposed to an electric radiator. A receptacle is positioned under the specimen to collect the resultant drops.

Some cotton wool is put in this receptacle in order to verify if any drop is flaming.

2. Apparatus U.K.

The apparatus shall consist of (figure 1):

(a)

an electric radiator;

(b)

a support for the sample with grill;

(c)

a receptacle (for resultant drops);

(d)

a support (for the apparatus).

2.1. The source of heat is an electric radiator with a useful output of 500 W. The radiating surface must be made of a transparent quartz plate with a diameter of 100 ± 5 mm. U.K.

The radiated heat from the apparatus, measured on a surface which is situated parallel to the surface of the radiator at a distance of 30 mm, shall be 3 W/cm².

2.2. Calibration U.K.

For calibration of the radiator, a heat flux meter (radiometer) of the Gardon (foil) type with a design range not exceeding 10 W/cm² shall be used.

The target receiving radiation, and possibly to a small extent convection, shall be flat, circular, not more than 10 mm in diameter and coated with a durable matt black finish. The target shall be contained within a watercooled body the front face of which shall be of highly polished metal, flat, coinciding with the plane of the target and circular, with a diameter of about 25 mm.

Radiation shall not pass through any window before reaching the target. The instrument shall be robust, simple to set up and use, insensitive to draughts, and stable in calibration. The instrument shall have an accuracy of within ± 3 % and a repeatability within 0,5 %.

The calibration of the heat flux meter shall be checked whenever a recalibration of the radiator is carried out, by comparison with an instrument held as a reference standard and not used for any other purpose. The reference standard instrument shall be fully calibrated at yearly intervals in accordance with a national standard.

2.2.1. Calibration check U.K.

The irradiance produced by the power input which the initial calibration has shown to correspond to an irradiance of 3 W/cm² shall be frequently checked (at least once every 50 operating hours) and the apparatus shall be recalibrated if such a check reveals a deviation greater than 0,06 W/cm².

2.2.2. Calibration procedure U.K.

The apparatus shall be placed in an environment essentially free of air currents (not more than 0,2 m/s).

Place the heat flux meter in the apparatus in the specimen position so that the target of the heat flux meter is located centrally within the radiator surface.

Switch on the electricity supply and establish the power input of the controller required to produce irradiance at the centre of the radiator surface of 3 W/cm². Adjustment to the power unit to record 3 W/cm² should be followed by a five minute-period without further adjustment to ensure equilibrium.

2.3. The support for the samples shall be a metallic ring (figure 1). On top of this support a grill, made of stainless steel-wire, is placed with the following dimensions: U.K.

• interior diameter: 118 mm,

• dimension of the holes: 2,10 mm square,

• diameter of the steel-wire: 0,70 mm.

2.4. The receptacle shall consist of a cylindrical tube with an interior diameter of 118 mm and a depth of 12 mm. U.K.

The receptacle shall be filled with cotton wool.

2.5. A vertical column shall support the items specified in paragraph 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4. U.K.

The radiator is placed on top of the support in a manner such that the radiating surface is horizontal and the radiation is downwards.

A lever/pedal shall be provided in the column to lift the support of the radiator slowly. It shall also be provided with a catch in order to ensure that the radiator can be brought back in its normal position.

In their normal position, the axes of the radiator, the support for the sample and the receptacle must coincide.

3. Samples U.K.

The test samples shall measure: 70 mm x 70 mm.

Samples shall be taken in the same way from finished products, when the shape of the product permits. When the thickness of the product is more than 13 mm, it shall be reduced to 13 mm by a mechanical process applied to the side which does not face the occupant compartment. If it is impossible, the test shall be carried out, in accordance with the Technical Service, on the initial width of the material which shall be mentioned in the test report.

Composite materials (see 2.8 of Annex I) shall be tested as if they were of uniform construction.

In the case of materials made of superimposed layers of different composition which are not composite materials, all the layers of material included within a depth of 13 mm from the surface facing towards the passenger compartment shall be tested individually.

The total mass of the sample to be tested shall be at least 2 g. If the mass of one sample is less, a sufficient number of samples shall be added.

If the two faces of the material differ, both faces must be tested, which means that eight samples are to be tested.

The samples and the cotton wool shall be conditioned for at least 24 hours at a temperature 23 ± 2 ° C and a relative humidity of 50 ± 5 % and shall be maintained under these conditions until immediately prior to testing.

4. Procedure U.K.

The sample is placed on the support and the latter is so positioned that the distance between the surface of the radiator and the upperside of the sample is 30 mm.

The receptacle, including the cotton wool, is placed beneath the grill of the support at a distance of 300 mm.

The radiator is put aside, so that it cannot radiate on the sample, and switched on. When it is on full capacity it is positioned above the sample and timing is started.

If the material melts or deforms, the height of the radiator is modified to maintain the distance of 30 mm.

If the material ignites, the radiator is put aside three seconds afterwards. It is brought back in position when the flame has extinguished and the same procedure is repeated as frequently as necessary during the first five minutes of the test.

After the fifth minute of the test:

(i)

If the sample has extinguished (whether or not it has ignited during the first five minutes of the test) leave the radiator in position even if the sample reignites.

(ii)

If the material is flaming, await extinction before bringing the radiator into position again.

In either case, the test must be continued for an additional five minutes.

5. Results U.K.

Observed phenomena shall be noted in the test-report, such as:

• the fall of drops, if any, whether flaming or not,

• if ignition of the cotton wool has taken place