Top 10 Flammability & Combustion Performance Testing Instruments

Flammability and combustion performance testing is essential for evaluating the fire safety of materials across automotive, textiles, furniture, plastics, electronics, and building products. Specialized testing instruments simulate real-life fire exposure to measure ignition, burning rate, heat release, smoke, and flame spread. These tests ensure materials meet international safety standards and regulations. Below is a detailed overview of the top 10 flammability testing instruments, their applications, and standards compliance.

1. Horizontal & Vertical Burning Tester (HB & VB Testers)

Function & Applications:

Measures the burning rate and flame spread of materials in horizontal and vertical orientations. Commonly used for fabrics, plastics, and composite panels.

Application Scenarios:

Automotive interior fabrics and foams

Upholstery and furniture textiles

Thermoplastics and polymer composites

Standards Compliance:

ISO 3795 (Road vehicles — Flammability of interior materials)，

FMVSS 302，

GB 8410，

2. Cone Calorimeter

Function & Applications:

Evaluates heat release rate, total heat, smoke production, and ignition behavior under controlled heat flux, providing quantitative fire performance data.

Application Scenarios:

Plastics and polymer composites

Coatings and adhesives

Building insulation materials

Standards Compliance:

ISO 5660，

ASTM E1354，

3. Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) Tester

Function & Applications:

Determines the minimum oxygen concentration required to sustain combustion of a material. Widely used to evaluate flame retardancy.

Application Scenarios:

Textiles and apparel fabrics

Plastics and foams

Electronics housings

Standards Compliance:

ISO 4589，

ASTM D2863，

4. Smoke Density Tester

Function & Applications:

Measures smoke generation from materials during combustion, which is critical for assessing visibility and toxicity hazards in enclosed spaces.

Application Scenarios:

Interior automotive materials

Building panels and coatings

Electrical insulation materials

Standards Compliance:

ISO 5659，

ASTM E662，

5. Flammability Chamber for Electronics

Function & Applications:

Tests electronic components, enclosures, and PCB boards under fire exposure to evaluate self-extinguishing and flame propagation.

Application Scenarios:

Household appliances

Electronic devices

Automotive electronics

Standards Compliance:

IEC 60695，

UL 94，

6. Glow-Wire Tester

Function & Applications:

Simulates overheating of electrical components to evaluate ignition risk from glowing surfaces and potential fire hazards.

Application Scenarios:

Electrical appliances and switches

Circuit boards

Automotive electrical components

Standards Compliance:

IEC 60695-2-10，

EN 60695-2-11，

7. Vertical Flame Chamber

Function & Applications:

Measures flame spread, after-flame time, and after-glow time of materials exposed to vertical flame, commonly used for textiles and foams.

Application Scenarios:

Upholstery fabrics and cushions

Mattress and bedding materials

Automotive foams

Standards Compliance:

ISO 6940 / ISO 6941，

BS 5852，

ASTM D6413，

8. Radiant Panel Tester

Function & Applications:

Simulates real fire exposure by radiant heat to evaluate flame spread and heat flux on floor coverings and surface materials.

Application Scenarios:

Carpets and vinyl flooring

Laminates and coatings

Industrial panels

Standards Compliance:

ASTM E648，

ISO 9239-1，

9. Horizontal & Vertical Cable Flame Tester

Function & Applications:

Tests combustion and flame propagation along electrical cables to ensure fire safety in wiring systems.

Application Scenarios:

Power and control cables

Automotive wiring harness

Data and communication cables

Standards Compliance:

IEC 60332，

UL 1685，

GB/T 19666，

10. Fire Propagation Apparatus

Function & Applications:

Evaluates flame propagation, heat release, and combustion behavior of building and construction materials under controlled conditions.

Application Scenarios:

Construction panels

Insulation and foam materials

Composite and laminated products

Standards Compliance:

ISO 9705，

BS 476，

ASTM E84，

Professional Flammability Testing Solutions

We specialize in developing and manufacturing flammability and combustion testing instruments covering heat release, smoke density, ignition, flame spread, and electrical safety tests. Our instruments comply with ISO, ASTM, IEC, UL, and GB standards and are widely used by automotive, textile, electronics, and building materials manufacturers.

2025-11-17 17:13