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ASTM D6413/D6413M
ASTM D6413/D6413M is a critical test method used to evaluate the flame resistance of textiles, especially those intended for use in environments where protection against flash fire hazards is necessary.
Purpose and Overview
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Objective: This test determines whether a textile material will continue to burn after the source of ignition (a controlled methane flame) is removed.
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Test Setup: A 12-inch specimen of fabric is vertically suspended in an enclosed chamber and secured on three sides. The bottom edge of the fabric is exposed to a controlled methane flame for 12 seconds.
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Testing Protocol: Five individual tests are conducted per material sample. The results are averaged and reported to determine compliance with applicable flame-resistance standards.
Measurements
After flame exposure, the following characteristics are measured:
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Afterflame time – The duration the fabric continues to burn after the flame is removed.
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Afterglow time – The time the fabric glows after flaming stops.
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Char Length – The length of a tear in a burned sample when a specified weight is applied to one corner.
Note: This does not refer to the length of visible char residue, but instead evaluates the structural integrity of the fabric post-exposure.
Standards and Compliance
Applications: ASTM D6413/D6413M is commonly used to assess whether fabrics comply with standards that require flame resistance, particularly in industrial and occupational safety settings.
Limitations and Considerations
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Char Length ≠ Protection Level: Char length is measured but does not directly correlate with a garment's thermal protective performance in real-world flash fire events.
For example, some fabrics with low char lengths may still show high body burn percentages in ASTM F1930 manikin tests.
Standard Availability
The official ASTM D6413/D6413M standard can be purchased and downloaded from the ASTM website, which includes full procedural details.