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EU A.10: Flammability (solids)

Knowledge of the flammability of a substance is an important safety consideration. Special precautions need to be taken during the handling, use and storage of flammable substances to avoid fires or explosions.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the flammability. It is useful to have preliminary information on potentially explosive properties of the substance before.

Study Design

Course of the test

Test Condition - The test will be performed at room temperature in a laboratory fume hood (carefully removing the smoke). A draught screen will be erected around the apparatus.

The substance is formed into an unbroken strip or powder train about 250 mm long and a preliminary

screening test performed to determine if, on ignition by a gas flame, propagation by burning with flame or smouldering occurs. If propagation over 200 mm of the train occurs within a specified time then a full test programme to determine the burning rate is carried out.

Preliminary test

The substance will be formed into an unbroken pile on a cool, impervious, low heat-conduction base plate. A hot flame from a gas burner (minimum diameter 5 mm) will be applied to one end of the pile until the test item will ignite or for a maximum of 2 minutes. It will be noted whether combustion will propagate along 200 mm of the pile within the 4 minute test period. If the substance will not ignite and propagate combustion either by burning with flame or smouldering along 200 mm of the powder rope within the 4 minutes test period, then the substance will not be classified as a flammable solid and no further testing is required. If the substance will propagate burning of a 200 mm length of the rope in less than 4 minutes, the main test will be carried out.

The time of burning over a distance of 200 mm expressed in seconds will be measured (if applicable).

Main test

The test item will be prepared as described above. A hot flame from a gas burner will be used to ignite the pile at one end. When the pile has burned a distance of 80 mm, the rate of burning over the next 100 mm will be measured (if applicable). Six tests will be performed.

Endpoints

The time of burning over a distance of 200 mm expressed in seconds will be reported (if applicable).

Guidelines and literature

  • Commission Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 laying down test methods pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (originally published as Council Regulation (EC) No 440/2008, corrigendum according to Official Journal of the European Union (EN) dated June 3, 2008, L 143/55), Annex, Part A, A.10.: “Flammability”, Official Journal of the European Union, L 142, Volume 51, 31 May 2008