ISO 1516-2002 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 1516:2002 — Determination of flash/no flash — Closed cup equilibrium method. Specifies a laboratory procedure to determine whether paints, varnishes, paint binders, solvents, petroleum and related products give off sufficient flammable vapour, under defined equilibrium conditions in a closed cup, to ignite on application of a standardized external flame.

Abstract

This International Standard defines the closed-cup equilibrium "flash / no‑flash" test: samples are held at a selected equilibrium temperature and then exposed to an ignition source to check whether a flash occurs. The method is intended for paints, varnishes, binders, solvents, petroleum and related products (excluding water‑borne paints, which are covered by other ISO methods). The method covers an operative temperature range from −30 °C to 110 °C depending on apparatus used, and warns that solvent mixtures containing halogenated hydrocarbons can produce anomalous results that require careful interpretation.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard, edition 3) — confirmed at the 2024 review.
• Publication date: March 2002 (Edition 3; published 7 March 2002 in many national adoptions).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 75.080 (Petroleum products — general) / 87.040 (Paints and varnishes).
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (2002).
• Number of pages: 9 (core ISO document length as published by ISO).

Scope

Specifies a test to determine whether a product will or will not flash (flash/no‑flash) at a chosen equilibrium temperature when contained in a closed cup apparatus. Applicable to paints, varnishes, paint binders, solvents, petroleum and related products maintained at the selected test temperature. Not applicable to water‑borne paints (see ISO 3680 / related rapid-equilibrium methods). The method is suited to the −30 °C to +110 °C range depending on the cup/apparatus used; results on mixtures containing halogenated hydrocarbons need cautious interpretation.

Key topics and requirements

• Closed‑cup equilibrium test principle — sample equilibrated at a selected temperature before ignition trials.
• Specified apparatus types and operating ranges (different closed‑cup designs listed to cover −30 °C to 110 °C).
• Scope of materials — paints, varnishes, binders, solvents, petroleum and related products; explicit exclusion/instruction for water‑borne paints.
• Test procedure details: sample preparation, equilibrium holding time, ignition application and observation criteria for "flash" vs "no flash".
• Limitations and interpretation guidance — caution with solvent mixtures containing halogenated hydrocarbons and with certain mixtures that may give anomalous or hazardous responses.
• Reporting and precision requirements (test report content and precision/repeatability information are specified in the standard and annexes).

Typical use and users

Used by chemical and coatings manufacturers, independent testing laboratories (quality and compliance testing), safety officers responsible for storage and handling classification, regulatory authorities and standards bodies involved in flammability classification, and by transport/shipping specialists for hazard assessment. Typical purposes include production quality control, pre‑shipment classification, storage compatibility assessment and regulatory compliance checks.

Related standards

Closely related ISO methods: ISO 3680 (rapid equilibrium closed‑cup methods covering water‑borne paints and related materials) and later rapid closed‑cup standards (e.g., ISO 3679 family). Comparable/adjacent flash‑point and closed‑cup/open‑cup methods from other bodies include ASTM D93 (Pensky‑Martens closed cup) and ASTM D56 (Tag closed cup) and open‑cup procedures such as ASTM D92 — used for different sample types, temperature ranges or regulatory contexts.

Keywords

flash/no‑flash, flash point, closed cup, equilibrium method, paints, varnishes, solvents, petroleum products, flammability testing, ISO 1516

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 1516:2002 is an international test method that specifies a closed‑cup equilibrium procedure to determine whether certain liquid/coating materials will flash (ignite) at a selected test temperature.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the flash/no‑flash behaviour of paints, varnishes, paint binders, solvents, petroleum and related products at equilibrium temperatures from −30 °C to +110 °C (depending on apparatus). It excludes water‑borne paints, for which ISO 3680 (and related ISO rapid closed‑cup methods) are applicable.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, accredited testing laboratories, safety and compliance teams, regulators and transport/hazard classification specialists who need to assess flammability behaviour for storage, handling, labelling and shipping decisions.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2002 edition (Edition 3) remains a published ISO International Standard and was confirmed in a 2024 review, so it is current in ISO’s lifecycle as of the last review date.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It sits within ISO/TC 28 work on petroleum and related products and is associated with other ISO flash/no‑flash and flash‑point methods (for example ISO 3680 and later rapid closed‑cup standards in the ISO 36xx/37xx series). National/adopted versions (EN ISO, national adoptions) exist in several countries.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Flash/no‑flash, flash point, closed cup, equilibrium, paints, varnishes, solvents, petroleum, flammability testing, ISO 1516.