Overview
ISO 25762:2009 - Plastics: Guidance on the assessment of the fire characteristics and fire performance of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites - provides practical guidelines for evaluating how FRP composites behave in fire, with particular emphasis on structural uses in buildings and transport. The standard applies to FRP prepared from thermosetting or thermoplastic resins and reinforced with inorganic fibres longer than 7.5 mm. It focuses on applicability of product types (sheets, laminates, profiled sections, some sandwich constructions) and on suitable test methods and performance criteria for different specimen forms.
Key Topics
- Scope & definitions: clear terminology for FRP composites, load-bearing capacity (R), integrity (E), insulating capacity (I) and resistance to radiation (W).
- Material types & structure: thermosetting/thermoplastic matrices, fibre forms (rovings, fabrics, chopped strands, mats), fibre content (~10–75% by volume), core materials (honeycomb, plywood, foam, balsa).
- Production methods: pultrusion, wet lay-up, filament winding, compression moulding, prepregs, resin transfer moulding, vacuum infusion, continuous lamination.
- Reaction-to-fire characteristics: guidance to assess combustibility, ignitability, heat release rate, flame spread, smoke production and toxicity. The standard recommends multiple tests to characterize reaction to fire.
- Fire test methods & applicability: advice on which lab tests are appropriate for various FRP forms, including small-scale calorimetry (references to cone calorimeter practice), larger-scale tests and conformity testing. Key indices defined include MARHE, FIGRA, SMOGRA and TSP (600 s).
- Practical annexes: heat-release measurement notes (Annex A), typical fire test results (Annex B), handling and storage recommendations (Annex C), firefighting procedures for FRP fires (Annex D) and specimen mounting guidance (Annex E).
Applications
ISO 25762 is intended for:
- Manufacturers and product developers designing FRP components for buildings, rail, marine and road transport.
- Fire engineers and consultants assessing material suitability and risk.
- Testing laboratories selecting representative test specimens and methods for FRP composites.
- Regulators, specifiers and procurement teams establishing performance requirements for structural FRP elements.
Practical uses include selecting resin/fibre systems, specifying fire performance for sandwich panels, and interpreting heat-release and smoke data for compliance and safety design.
Related Standards
- ISO 13943 - Fire safety - Vocabulary
- ISO 472 - Plastics - Vocabulary
- ISO 10840 - Principles for development/use of fire tests for plastics (referenced)
- ISO 5660-1 - Cone calorimeter (referenced for heat-release metrics)
- EN 13823 - FIGRA/SMOGRA derivation (referenced)
Keywords: ISO 25762:2009, FRP composites, fibre-reinforced polymer, fire characteristics, fire performance, reaction to fire, heat release, smoke, structural fire safety.