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UNDERSTANDING TESTING METHODS U.L. SUBJECT 94 FLAMMABILITY

THE U.L. SUBJECT 94 FLAMMABILITY TEST IS THE MOST WIDELY USED TEST OF FLAME RETARDANCY IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY. NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE U.L. TEMPERATURE INDEX TEST, THE SUBJECT 94 RATINGS ARE REFERRED TO AS V-2, 94V-1, AND 94 V-0. LISTED BELOW ARE THE PROCEDURES AND CLASSIFICATIONS FOR THIS TEST.

TYPE OF
TEST: U.L. SUBJECT 94 (PART B).
PART B APPLIES ONLY TO MATERIALS NOT RATED AS "BURNING" SEE PART A. SEE ASTM D635 FOR DEFINITION OF "BURNING".

TEST SPECIMEN: BARS 6"x0.50"x0.0625" AND 6"x0.50"x0.25"

NUMBER OF SPECIMENS: 3

FLAME CHARACTERISTICS: 0.75" HEIGHT, BLUE FLAME

SAMPLE POSITION: VERTICAL

POSITION OF FLAME: SPECIMEN 0.375" ABOVE BURNER TUBE.

IGNITION TIME: 10 SECONDS

NUMBER OF IGNITIONS: 2 PER SAMPLE

PROCEDURE: APPLY BUNSEN BURNER FLAME TO LOWER TIP OF SPECIMEN FOR 10 SECONDS.

IF IT DOES NOT IGNITE OR STOPS BURNING BEFORE THE END OF 30 SECONDS, APPLY AGAIN FOR 10 SECONDS IMMEDIATELY AFTER SAMPLE STOPS GLOWING.

CLASSIFICATION: 94V-0 - DOES NOT BURN FOR MORE THAN 10 SECONDS (AVERAGE 5 SEC. FOR 5 SAMPLES), DOES NOT BURN UP TO CLAMP, DOES NOT DRIP FLAMING PARTICLES, DOES NOT GLOW BEYOND 30 SEC. AFTER SECOND APPLICATION (10 SEC. AFTER FIRST APPLICATION).

94V-1 - DOES NOT BURN FOR MORE THAN 30 SECONDS (AN AVERAGE OF 25 SEC. FOR 5 SAMPLES), DOES NOT BURN UP TO CLAMP, DOES NOT DRIP AND IGNITE COTTON UNDER BURNER, AND DOES NOT GLOW BEYOND 60 SECONDS AFTER SECOND FLAME.

94V-2 - SAME AS 94V-1 ABOVE EXCEPT SAMPLE DRIPS AND IGNITES COTTON AND WHEN TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SLOW BURNING PROCEDURES, IT DOES NOT BURN 4 INCHES.

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TYPE OF TEST:		U.L. SUBJECT 94 (PART B). PART B APPLIES ONLY TO MATERIALS NOT RATED AS "BURNING" SEE PART A. SEE ASTM D635 FOR DEFINITION OF "BURNING".
TEST SPECIMEN:		BARS 6"x0.50"x0.0625" AND 6"x0.50"x0.25"
NUMBER OF SPECIMENS:		3
FLAME CHARACTERISTICS:		0.75" HEIGHT, BLUE FLAME
SAMPLE POSITION:		VERTICAL
POSITION OF FLAME:		SPECIMEN 0.375" ABOVE BURNER TUBE.
IGNITION TIME:		10 SECONDS
NUMBER OF IGNITIONS:		2 PER SAMPLE
PROCEDURE:		APPLY BUNSEN BURNER FLAME TO LOWER TIP OF SPECIMEN FOR 10 SECONDS. IF IT DOES NOT IGNITE OR STOPS BURNING BEFORE THE END OF 30 SECONDS, APPLY AGAIN FOR 10 SECONDS IMMEDIATELY AFTER SAMPLE STOPS GLOWING.
CLASSIFICATION:		94V-0 - DOES NOT BURN FOR MORE THAN 10 SECONDS (AVERAGE 5 SEC. FOR 5 SAMPLES), DOES NOT BURN UP TO CLAMP, DOES NOT DRIP FLAMING PARTICLES, DOES NOT GLOW BEYOND 30 SEC. AFTER SECOND APPLICATION (10 SEC. AFTER FIRST APPLICATION). 94V-1 - DOES NOT BURN FOR MORE THAN 30 SECONDS (AN AVERAGE OF 25 SEC. FOR 5 SAMPLES), DOES NOT BURN UP TO CLAMP, DOES NOT DRIP AND IGNITE COTTON UNDER BURNER, AND DOES NOT GLOW BEYOND 60 SECONDS AFTER SECOND FLAME. 94V-2 - SAME AS 94V-1 ABOVE EXCEPT SAMPLE DRIPS AND IGNITES COTTON AND WHEN TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SLOW BURNING PROCEDURES, IT DOES NOT BURN 4 INCHES.