Overview - EN ISO 13927:2023 (Plastics, Simple heat release test)
EN ISO 13927:2023 specifies a simple heat release test for plastics using a conical radiant heater and a thermopile detector. Intended primarily for production control and product development, the method measures the heat release rate of essentially flat specimens exposed horizontally to controlled radiant flux with an external igniter. The standard reports heat release rate via a thermopile (a simpler alternative to oxygen‑consumption methods), and records time to ignition, sustained flaming, and optionally mass loss. This edition (2023) is the CEN‑endorsed version of ISO 13927 and supersedes the 2015 edition.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Test principle: Radiant heating by a cone‑shaped heater with thermopile detectors to infer heat release rate.
- Specimen orientation and suitability: Designed for essentially flat products tested in the horizontal position; guidance on thin, composite or dimensionally unstable materials is included.
- Apparatus: Requirements and descriptions for the conical radiant heater, heat flux controller, chimney and thermopiles, specimen holder and retainer frame, ignition circuit/timer, fume extraction, heat flux meter, calibration burner and data acquisition.
- Calibration: Procedures for heater and thermopile calibration are specified; annexes provide heat‑flux meter calibration and a thermopile calibration example. The 2023 update adds calibration by methane mass flow equivalent to net heat of combustion.
- Test procedure and precision: Guidance on specimen preparation, conditioning, daily and initial calibration, test execution, and reporting requirements. Informative annexes provide operator guidance and mass‑loss measurement notes.
- Measured outputs: Heat release rate (via thermopile), time to ignition, sustained flaming time, and optional specimen mass loss.
Practical applications and users
- Who uses it: Plastics manufacturers, material development teams, QA/production control labs, test laboratories, and product designers assessing flame performance in early development or routine quality checks.
- Why use it: Provides a cost‑effective, repeatable method to screen materials or monitor production batches for flammability characteristics where full oxygen‑consumption calorimetry is not required or available. Useful for comparative assessment, design iteration, and conformity checks in manufacturing workflows.
Related standards and context
- This document is the CEN‑adopted version of ISO 13927:2023 and replaces EN ISO 13927:2015.
- The standard positions the thermopile method as a simpler alternative to more accurate oxygen‑consumption techniques; laboratories should select the method appropriate to required accuracy and regulatory needs.
Keywords: EN ISO 13927:2023, ISO 13927, simple heat release test, conical radiant heater, thermopile detector, plastics heat release rate, time to ignition, mass loss, product development, production control.