ISO 4589-2-2017 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 4589-2:2017 — Plastics — Determination of burning behaviour by oxygen index — Part 2: Ambient‑temperature test. Specifies a laboratory method for measuring the minimum oxygen concentration in a nitrogen/oxygen atmosphere that will support candle‑like combustion of small vertical plastic specimens (the oxygen index, OI) for tests carried out at ambient temperature.

Abstract

ISO 4589-2:2017 defines procedures, apparatus and specimen forms for determining oxygen index (OI) values of plastics and some cellular materials when tested as small vertical specimens at ambient temperature. The standard covers solid, laminated and cellular materials (typically ≥100 kg/m³ apparent density) and includes methods for self‑supporting bars/sheets up to about 10.5 mm thick and for flexible sheets or films supported vertically; it also gives a comparative procedure to determine whether a material’s OI exceeds a specified value.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: April 2017.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.220.40 (Ignitability and burning behaviour of materials and products); 83.080.01 (Plastics in general).
• Edition / version: Edition 2 (2017).
• Number of pages: 27.

Scope

This part of ISO 4589 specifies test methods to determine the minimum volume fraction of oxygen in an oxygen/nitrogen mixture that will support sustained combustion of small vertical specimens of plastics at ambient temperature. It applies to self‑supporting solid, laminated or cellular materials (typically with apparent density ≥100 kg/m³) and to supported flexible sheets and films; it also includes a comparative procedure for determining whether a material’s OI lies above a given threshold. The standard is intended for laboratory classification and comparative testing rather than for predicting full‑scale fire behaviour.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition and measurement of oxygen index (OI) — the minimum oxygen concentration (volume fraction) that will support candle‑like combustion under specified conditions.
• Specified specimen types/forms (vertical bars, sheets, supported films) and dimensional limits (e.g., thickness up to about 10.5 mm for self‑supporting specimens).
• Apparatus and gas‑mixing requirements (controlled oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere, gas flow, burner and ignition procedure).
• Test procedure: conditioning, ignition, observation criteria for sustained burning, and the algorithm for determining the OI value or whether OI exceeds a set limit.
• Reporting requirements: specimen description, conditioning, test environment, OI results and any deviations from the method.
• Applicability limits and notes on materials (density limits, cellular materials, and when results are comparative only).

Typical use and users

Used by materials laboratories, manufacturers of plastics and polymer products, product designers, quality‑control teams, regulatory and certification bodies, and research organisations needing an objective measure of a plastic’s ignitability in a controlled small‑specimen test at ambient temperature. Common applications include material selection, specification compliance, incoming inspection and comparative R&D screening.

Related standards

ISO 4589 is a multipart standard; related parts and documents include ISO 4589‑1 (guidance on OI testing) and ISO 4589‑3 (elevated‑temperature test / flammability temperature method). Other related test methods and regional/adopted versions include EN/EN ISO variants and comparable national standards (for example ASTM D2863 for oxygen index testing of plastics).

Keywords

oxygen index; OI; plastics; burning behaviour; flammability; ambient‑temperature test; ignitability; specimen; oxygen concentration; ISO 4589.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 4589-2:2017 is the ISO international standard that specifies an ambient‑temperature laboratory test method to determine the oxygen index (OI) of plastics — i.e., the minimum oxygen concentration required to support combustion of small vertical specimens.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers apparatus, specimen forms and sizes, test atmospheres and procedures, acceptance criteria for sustained burning, calculation of OI values, and reporting requirements for tests performed at ambient temperature on specified plastics and some cellular materials.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Test laboratories, plastics and component manufacturers, product development and quality teams, certification bodies, and regulators that need a repeatable, comparative measure of material ignitability.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 4589-2:2017 is the current published edition of Part 2 (second edition, published April 2017) and has been confirmed in ISO’s review cycle.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 4589 is a multi‑part series: Part 1 provides guidance; Part 2 is the ambient‑temperature test (this document); Part 3 covers elevated‑temperature testing (flame behaviour as a function of temperature).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Oxygen index (OI), flammability, burning behaviour, plastics, ambient‑temperature test, ignitability, specimen conditioning, gas mixture, test apparatus.