ISO Standards for testing flammability of polyester fibers
To measure the flammability of polyester fibers, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides specific standards focused on textile burning behavior. These standards help assess the ease of ignition, flame spread, after-flame time, and damage characteristics of polyester and other synthetic fibers in fabric or raw form.
- ISO 6940:2004: Textiles burning behavior — Measurement of ease of ignition of vertically oriented specimens
This method assesses how easily a vertically oriented fabric (like polyester) ignites when exposed to a small flame. It is applied to test the flammability of woven, knitted or nonwoven fabrics including polyester. This test method measures the time taken to ignite and whether the fabric continues to burn.
- ISO 6941:2003: Textiles burning behavior — Measurement of flame spread properties of vertically oriented specimens
This test method determines the rate and characteristics of flame spread. It adopts the vertical flame vertical flame test where flame spread time and damage length are recorded. It determines whether the polyester fabrics meet flammability requirements for clothing or interior furnishings.
- ISO 15025:2016: Protective clothing, protection against flame — Method of test for limited flame spread
Though commonly used for protective this method is commonly used for protective textiles. However, it is also applicable to test flame behavior of treated/untreated polyester fabrics.
This method involves Procedure A (surface ignition) and Procedure B (edge ignition). It assesses the spread of the flame, after-flame time, after-low and the existence of holes I, n the fabric.
- ISO 9185:2007: Determination of the resistance to molten metal splash
This is relevant for measuring protective workwear polyester fabrics in high-heat environments. It uses test for thermal damage from molten metal splashes.
- ISO 1210:2022: Determination flammability characteristics of plastics
Although designed for plastics, this test method also applies to polyester in raw form (fibers or resins). It provides flammability classification (like V-0, V-1, V-2 for vertical burning)
Due to their synthetic nature, polyester fibers tend to melt and drip rather than burn cleanly, which is accounted for in these tests. Their testing typically involves standard specimen sizes, flame exposure for a set duration, and measuring residual burning behavior.