Flame test EN 15025 (A1 - Horitzontal flame)

How do we know that a fabric is “flame resistant” and valid to be used as PPE? The regulation EN ISO 11612 is the one which allow us to make such affirmation, but what exactly checks? 
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Flame test EN 15025
Flame test EN 15025

The EN ISO 11612 checks different aspects of the fabric, which basically are fire and flames behaviour and physical strengths. In the flame and flames behaviour, the regulation checks the radiant heat, contact heat, convective heat, heat resistance (air) and limited flame spread.

In this post, we will focus in the basic requirement to pass the “limited flame spread”, which is defined by the regulation EN 15025.This regulation consists in 2 parts, A1 (horizontal flame) and A2 (vertical flame). 

The A2 is optional. So, what is the A1 test about?
 The test consists in apply an horizontal gas flame (propane) during 10 seconds (where all the measures, distances, materials and gas flow are given by the regulation) and check the behaviour of the fabric

 

. To say that a test has been successful, the “must-to-pass” are:

  • No specimen shall give hole formation.
  • No specimen shall give flaming to the top or either side edge.
  • No specimen shall melt or give flaming or molten debris.
  • The mean value of after-flame time shall be ≤ 2 s.
  • The mean value of after-glow time shall be ≤ 2 s.
  • Seams shall continue to hold the panels of fabrics together.

If the fabric pass the test fulfilling the above points, we have the first “green light” to say that the fabric is flame resistant.