ISO 5660-1-2015 (2021) PDF

Full title and description

Reaction-to-fire tests — Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate — Part 1: Heat release rate (cone calorimeter method) and smoke production rate (dynamic measurement). This international standard specifies a small‑scale method (cone calorimeter) to measure the heat release behaviour, dynamic smoke production and mass loss of flat specimens exposed to controlled radiant heat flux and an external igniter.

Abstract

ISO 5660-1:2015 describes the cone calorimeter test method for determining heat release rate (HRR) from oxygen consumption, dynamic smoke production from optical attenuation, time to sustained flaming (ignition) and mass loss rate for horizontally oriented specimens exposed to specified irradiance levels with an external igniter. The standard includes requirements for apparatus, calibration, test procedure, data reduction and reporting. A corrigendum/correction was issued in January 2021 and an amendment was published in 2019.

General information

• Status: Published (current edition published 2015; corrigendum/corrected version released January 2021; Amendment 1 published 2019).
• Publication date: March 2015 (Edition 3); corrected version January 2021; Amendment 1 August 2019.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.220.50 (Fire‑resistance of building materials and elements / Reaction‑to‑fire testing).
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (2015) with Amendment 1 (2019) and a corrected text issued January 2021.
• Number of pages: 55 pages (main document).

Scope

This part of ISO 5660 specifies a laboratory method for assessing the reaction‑to‑fire properties of materials and products by quantifying heat release rate (HRR), total heat release (THR), dynamic smoke production rate and mass loss when specimens are exposed horizontally to defined levels of radiant heat and an external igniter. The procedure covers apparatus configuration (cone heater, exhaust and sampling systems, oxygen analyser, optical smoke detector), specimen preparation and mounting, test conditions, measurement and data reduction, and required test reports.

Key topics and requirements

• Measurement of heat release rate by oxygen‑consumption calorimetry (HRR derived from oxygen depletion and exhaust flow measurement).
• Dynamic smoke production measurement using optical (laser/light) attenuation and calculation of smoke production rate and cumulative smoke.
• Specification of cone calorimeter apparatus, calibration procedures and performance checks (heater output, flow metering, gas analysis, optical path).
• Procedures for specimen size, orientation (horizontal), mounting and substrate/support considerations.
• Defined test irradiance levels and use of an external igniter; measurement of time to sustained flaming (ignition) and mass loss rate.
• Data reduction, presentation of HRR (including peak HRR and time‑averaged HRR over specified periods), total heat release, smoke metrics and uncertainty considerations.
• Reporting requirements so results are reproducible and comparable (test conditions, calibration data, raw and reduced data, deviations).

Typical use and users

Used by fire‑testing laboratories, product manufacturers (building materials, furnishings, transport interiors, cables, polymers, composites), certification and conformity assessment bodies, regulatory authorities, fire safety engineers and researchers. Typical applications include product development, comparative material ranking, regulatory compliance testing and providing input data for fire performance assessments and modelling.

Related standards

ISO 5660 is a multi‑part series; Part 1 is supported by associated deliverables and guidance documents (for example ISO 5660-1:2015/Amd 1:2019 and guidance in ISO/TS 5660‑3). Historically ISO 5660‑2 (older edition) was linked to dynamic smoke measurement but has been superseded by the consolidated Part 1. Other commonly referenced documents in the same application space include national/adopted versions and comparable test methods such as ASTM E1354 (oxygen‑consumption cone calorimeter test) and relevant regional/adopted EN/ISO releases.

Keywords

cone calorimeter, heat release rate, HRR, oxygen‑consumption calorimetry, smoke production, smoke obscuration, mass loss rate, time to ignition, reaction‑to‑fire testing, ISO 5660, fire testing, calibration, test procedure.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 5660‑1:2015 is the international test method that defines the cone calorimeter procedure for measuring heat release rate, dynamic smoke production and mass loss of horizontally‑mounted specimens exposed to controlled radiant heat and an external igniter.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers apparatus requirements, calibration, specimen preparation and mounting, test conditions (irradiance and ignition), measurement methods (oxygen consumption for HRR, optical attenuation for smoke), data reduction, uncertainty considerations and reporting formats.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Fire test laboratories, manufacturers of materials and products (building finishes, foams, textiles, composites, cables), certification bodies, regulators, fire safety engineers and academic researchers who need reproducible small‑scale reaction‑to‑fire data.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2015 edition (Edition 3) is the current published version of Part 1. It has an amendment published in 2019 and a corrected/corrigendum text issued in January 2021. The earlier 2002 edition was withdrawn on publication of the 2015 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 5660 is a series addressing heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate. Relevant related documents include the Part 1 main standard, its amendment and TS/guidance documents (for example ISO/TS 5660‑3) and historically Part 2 material that has been integrated into the consolidated Part 1.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: cone calorimeter, heat release rate (HRR), oxygen consumption, smoke production, mass loss, time to ignition, reaction‑to‑fire testing, ISO 5660.