T45A: Flammability - Methenamine Pill Method

AWTA TEST CODE

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T45A

OTHER NAMES

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PILL TEST,  

FLAMMABILITY - METHENAMINE PILL METHOD (FIRE PROPAGATION PROPERTIES OF THE USE SURFACE OF A CARPET USING A SMALL IGNITION SOURCE).

TEST METHODS

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AS2111.18
AS 2404
ASTM D2859
BS6307
ISO6925
IWS141

IMAGE

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Photographs of Satisfactory & Unsatisfactory Test Samples

APPLICATION

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The method may be applied to all types of textile floor coverings. It should be stressed, however, that the test could best be described as a screening test and that no single test can give a full assessment of fire hazard under all conditions of fire that may apply.

PRINCIPLE

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A small ignition source (a methenamine pill) is placed centrally on the use surface of a conditioned test specimen of textile floor covering and is ignited. The distance from the location of the ignition source to the edge of the effects of ignition is measured.

SAMPLES REQUIRED FOR TESTING

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Ideally, and as stated in AS2119, any carpet sample submitted for testing shall have been taken across the whole production width of the product, excluding any portion normally trimmed off during production. Where a full width sample is not available, the minimum sample area required is 1.5m².

INTERPRETATION:

This test is used by the ACCS as a minimum madatory requirement for the grading of carpets. No sample tested can have a burnt area radius spread of more than 75mm to pass the ACCS requirements

SERVICE TARGET

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6 days.

COST

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See Fees list.