INTERNATIONAL tso

STANDARD 340

Third edition
2004 11-01

Conveyor belts Laboratory scale

-
flammability characteristics
Requirements.and test method -
, Courroies tral'rsporteL/ses
delaboratoire Exigences - etCaracteristiques
methode d'essai
d'inflammabilite d'echelle

I
I
t-

Reference number
:-,4<lAX\- ISO 340:2004(E)
_._Iso
8136 2d6d
ISO 340:2004(E)

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 ISO 340:2004(E)

Foreword'
- ISO (the lnternationa Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation o{ national standards bodies
(lSO member bodies). The work of preparing lnternational Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical commitiees. Each member body interested in a sub.ject for which a technicaj commiitee hat been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. lnternational organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with lSO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closeiy with the International
Electrotechnica Commission (lEC) on ail matters of electrotechnical standardization.

lnternational Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/lEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare Internatjonal Standards. Draft lnternational Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to ihe member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 7o of the member bodies casting a vote

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the e ements of this document may be the subject ot patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifyinq any or all such patent rights..

ISO 340 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC41, Pulleys and belts (indu ng veebelts),
Subcommittee SC 3, Conveyor belts.

This third edition canceJs and replaces the second edition (lSO 340; 1988), which has been technically revised
by standardization using a single fuel source and a standardized burner havinq carefully controiied dtmensions
within a universally available design. Greater attention has been paid to the measures to be taken in conducting
the test to ensure the safety of the personnel involved.

O ISO 2004 At r ghts reserved

 ISO 340:2004(E)

lntroduction
At the 16th meeting of ISO/TC41/SC3 held in Nara, Japan, ii was agreed tl'rat in addition to changes whLch were
- necessary to al ow the selection of test pieces from steel cord conveyor belts, this lnternational Standard should
be revised in order to improve the reproducibility of the test method.

This revision has attempted th s by:

a) standardjzing the specification of the burner,
ir) standardizing the orientation of the test piece with respect to the heat source,

a) measurinq the heat energy impinging on the iest piece.

ln preparing thls lnternational Standard, reference has also been made to ISO/TR 10353:1992

O ISO 2004 n I rights rescrvcd

 INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 340:2004(E)

Conveyoi belts Laboratory scale flammability

characteristics - Requirements and test method
-
CAUTION method of test is not designed to assess the fire hazard of any given product. The
results may-This
help in the assessment of ignition hazard but should not be used in isolation as evidence
that a product or material is safe.

1 Scope

This lnternational Standard specifies a method for assessing, on a small scale, the reaction of a conveyor belt
to an ignition flame source. lt is applicable to conveyor belis having a textile carcass as well as steel cord
conveyor belts.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited appiies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(includ ing any amendments) applies.

lSO8056-1, Aircraft Nickel chramium and nickel-aluminium thermocouple extension

- requiremerts cables- Part1.
Canductors General ard lesls

ISO 9162:1989, PetraleLtm praducls Fuels (class F) Liquefied pelroleum gases- Speclflcalions
-
ISO 18573:2003 Conveyor belts -- Test atmospheres and canditianing periods

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this document the following terms and definitions apply.

3.1
afterflame
flame whlch persists after the ignition source has been removed

ISO 13943:2000 Defintion 1l

afterglow
persistence of g owing, after cessation of flaming or, if no flamlng occurs, after the ignition source has been
removed

NOTE Adapted from ISO 13943.2000

3.3
f la me. nou n
,- - ' -:- i -,:i lJr lf the gascous phase, usually wi -r
em sston of lrgllt

llSO 13943:2000, Defintion 601

@ ISO 2004 All rights reserved

 ISO 340:2004(E)

3.4
flame, verb
to undergo combustlon in the gaseous phase wlth emission of llght

llSO 13943:2000, Defintion 611

glowinq
made luminous by heat (without flame)

NOTE Adapted from ISO 13943r2000

4 Requirements

4.1 Periods of combustion (after removal of the burner)

The sum of the periods of combustion for each of the sefles of Six tesG (see 5.3) shall be less than 45 s and no
Lndividuai value shall be greater than 15 s (see 5.7.S)

4.2 Non-reappearance of flame (after applying a current of air)

The flame shall not re-appear (see S.7.6).

5 Test method

5.1 Health and safety

5.1.1 Smoke and fu mes

The ignition and burning of polymeric materials may cause smoke and toxic gases to be released and which can
affect the health of operators. lt is therefore of great importance that suitableheans be provicled to clear the test
area of smoke and fumes

5.1.2 Handling, storage and disposal of liquefied pelroleum gas containers

All the relevant local safety regulations shall be taken into account for the handling and storage of ltquefied
petroleum gas (LPG) and for the disposal of used LpG containers.

lf locai safety regulations require the LPG cylinde[s to be stored in an environment that is cooler than
the test
area or some distance flom the test rig, a sufficient iength of tubing is needed insic]e the controlled
environment
to ensure that the gas equilibrates to the required temperature before flow measurement. One way
to facjlitate
th s is to pass the gas (before flow measurement) through a rnetal tube immersed in water
maintainbd at 25 .,C.

5.? Principle .

A test piece cut from a conveyor belt ls suspencled vertically above a gas flame for a specified
tjme, after whtch
the gas fiame is removed The afledlame time and afterglow times are measured. Any recombusiion
is noted
when the test piece is later subjected to a current of air.

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 ISO 340:2004(E)

5.3 Test pieces

,

5.3.1 General
The test pieces described in 5 3.2 and 5.3.3 shall be taken at a minimum distance of 50 mm from the edges of
the belt.

i.a., aonu"Uo, belting with a textile carcass

5,3.2.1 For tests on conveyor belts with and without covers

5.3.2.1.1 Preparc twelve test pieces, each (200 mm * 5 mm) x (25 mm l- 1 mm) as follows:

a) three test pieces, with covers intact, in the longitudinal direction ofthe conveyor belt;
b) three test pieces, wlth covers intact, in the transverse direction of the conveyor belt;
c) three test pieces, with covers removed (see 5.3.2.1.2) in the longitudinal dlreciion of the conveyor belt;
d) three test pieces, with covers removed (see 5.3.2.1.2), rn-the transverse direction of the conveyor belt

5.3.2.1.2 Covers may be removed lsee 5.3.2.1.1 c) and d)] by stripping, cutting or buffing. lf covers are
removed by bufling, care should be exercised to ensure that the test piece not be overheated or that any threads
of a textile carcass not be damaged.

5.3.2.2 For tests on conveyor belts with covers intact

lf the product specification requires the test to be conducted on conveyor belts with the covers intact, conduct
only six tests on test pieces as described tn 5.3.2.1.1 a) and b).

5:3.2.3 For tests on conveyor belts designed for use without covers

lf the product specification requires the test to be conducted on conveyor belts which are by des gn intended to
be used without covers, conduci only six tests on test pieces as described in 5.3 2 1 1 c) and d)

5.3.3 Steel cord conveyor belts

5.3.3.1 For tests on conveyor belts with covers intact

lf ihe product specification requires the test to be conducted on conveyor belts with the covers intact, cut six test
pieces in the longitudinal direction of the belt each 200 mm I 5 mm long, as close as possib e to 25 mrn wide
depending on the cord diameier and pitch Each test piece shall be at least 20 mm wide and contain ai least two
cords, with the cut edges representing ihe centreline between adiacent cords

5.3.3.2 For tests on conveyor belts with covers removed

lf the product speciflcation requires the test to be conducted on conveyor belts without covers cui six test
pieces as describeci in 5.3.3.1 and remove the covers, e.g. by stripping, cutting or buffing -

5.4 Apparatus
5.4.1 Gas burner (Bunsen type), having a burner tube of inside diameter of (10 + 0,5) mm, as illustrated ln
Figure 1.

5.4.2 Commercial propane gas, as speclfied in ISO 9162:1989

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ISO 340:2004(E)

Dirnensions ln mi limetres

Key
1 thermocouple (see 5 4 6)
d D rectlon of air current to be applled after remova of b!rner'

Figure 1 lllustration of gas burner and test piece configuration during test
-
5.4.3 Timing devices, capable of being read to 0,2 s or iess.
5.4.4 Measuring devices, graduated in millimetres or submultiples of millimeires and calib[ated to an
appropriate accuracy.

5.4.5 Test piece holder and location clips, consisting of a rectangular frame not less than 500 mm high,
having two sided spaced 75 mm apart on which are fitted suitable clips for mounting the test piece in a vertica
plane at least 20 mm from the frame. The frame is fitted onto a suitable suppori to maintain the sides in a
verr cal oflertdlion oL,fln9 rhe [e5[

As some proclucts of combustion are corrosjve, the test apparatus should be coistructed of material that will not
oe adverse'y allected.

5.4.6 Calibrated NiCriNiAl thermocouple, as specified in ISO 8056 1 or rts equrvalent

I d / Meahs of.tpplytng s currsnl ol etI l{av 'q d qormdl o^!Llen Lontent and o rcldlrvc hLimidriY no grcaler
than 80 % at a te-mperature not exceeding 30 "C at a velocity of '1,5 m/s

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 ISO 340:2004(E)

5.5 Location of test

A tocation in which the air movement is less than 0,2 m/s at the commencement of the test and ls not further
influenced by mechanical devices operating during the test is required. The volume of air surroundineJ the test
location shall be such that ihe test is not affected by any reduction of oxygen concentration. lf an open-fronted
cabinet is used for the test, provision shall be made to permit the test piece to be mounted at ieast 300 mm from
wall.
-any
5.6 Conditioning of test Pieces
After preparation ot the test pieces as described in 5.3, ensure that they are in equilibrium with one of the
stanclard atmospheres for conditioning and testing specified in ISO 18573.

5.7 P rocedu re

5.7.1 Caffy out the iest trl an atmosphere having a temperature between 10 'C and 30 ''C and a relatlve
hurnidity between 15./o and B0 %, preferably at the same temperature and relative humidity used for
conditioning or ir'r the atmosphere applicab e at the site of use,.if known.

5.7.2 place the test piece in the clips of the test rig (5.4;) ensurirg that the test piece is in the vertical
Po5 tion

5.7.3 Light the burner and preheat it for2 min. Adjust the gas flow io give a total flame height of between
150 mm to lBO mm, wiih an inner flame length of approxlmately 50 mm

position the thermocouple (5.4.6) in the hottest pari of ihe flame (i.e. iust above the inner flame cone as shown
in Figure 1) and check that the temperature is 1 000 "C { 20 "C

lf necessary, adiust the burner flame so that the temperature recorded is 1 000 'C l- 20 'C'
*7.4 position the burner at 45- (see Fiqure 1), immediately under the central veriical axis in the planar
centreline of the test piece with the top of the burner tube 50 mrn below the bottom edge of the test piece

5.7.5 After 45 s, remove the burner from the test rig without extinguishing it. Keep the burner sheltered from
any current of air if further tests are to be performed. Note immediately any combusiion of the test piece and ihe
duration of any such comb)ustion and record the aftedlame time and the afterglow time

5.7.6 Within 60 s + 5 s afier removal of thc burner, apply a current of air(see5.4.7) at right angles to the face
of the test piece for 1 min. Note and record any reappearance of flame of the test piece'and the duration of ar'ly
such flam ing.
-
5.8 Express io n of results

5.8.1 Fijreach ofthe test pieces testecl (see5.3),reportwhich,ifany,ofthetestpiecesunderwentcombustion

in 5.7.5 and the duration of such combustion and the sum of the periods of combustion for each of the series of
six tesis (see 5.3).

5.8.2 For each of the test pieces tested, repori which, if any, underwenl recombustion in 5.7.6 and the duration '
o' dnY such teconbustior.

8 1 and 5 8.2.
. 5.0.i nop0ri tns malimum Yalug 9l the individual results obtained in 5

5.8.4 lf there is no evidence of any conrbustion in 5.7:5, report "No combustion".

5.8.5 lf there is no evidence of any recombustion in 5.7.6, report "No recombustion".

5.8.6 Report whether the test pleces were selected in accorclance with 5 3.2.l, 5.3.2.2, 5.3.2.3,5 3.3 1 or

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lSo 340:2004(E)

6 Test report
The test report shall include the following particulars:
a) a statement that the test was carried out in accordance with this lnternational Standard (lSO 340:2004) or
of any deviations undertaken;
b) the date of iest,
c) th; ambient conditions of temperature, relative humidity and baromeiric pressure in the area in wh ch the
test was carried out;
d) the identification of the conveyor beli tested,
e) the results of the test as required in 5.8.

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 ISO 340:2004(E)

Bibliography

tll ISO/TR 10353t19921), Plasttcs SLtrvey of igtlitian soLtrces Ltsed far natrcnal and it)ternatianal fir-^ tests

I2l ISO 139.13.2000, Fire safety Vacabulary

I ) Th s Technlca Report has been withdrawn

Cl ISO 200,1 A r glrLs rcscrvcd