AS1530 Methods for fire tests on building materials, components and structures
AS1530.1 Combustibility test for materials

3.4 CRITERIA OF COMBUSTIBILITY A material shall be deemed to be combustible under any of the following circumstances:
(a) The mean duration of sustained flaming, as determined in accordance with Clause 3.2, is other than zero.
(b) The mean furnace thermocouple temperature rise, as determined in accordance with Clause 3.1, exceeds 50C.
(c) The mean specimen surface thermocouple temperature rise, as determined in accordance with Clause 3.1, exceeds 50C.
2.5.2 Observations during the test
(a) Mass loss and behaviour
(b) Occurrence and duration of flames caused by specimen
(C) Temperature (Final T = end of test)

(i) Initial furnace temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tfi
(ii) Maximum furnace temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . Tfm
(iii) Final furnace temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tff
(iv) Maximum specimen centre temperature . . . . . . Tcm
(v) Final specimen centre temperature . . . . . . . . . Tcf
(vi) Maximum specimen surface temperature . . . . . Tsm
(vii) Final specimen surface temperature . . . . . . . . . Tsf

A2 APPLICATION OF QUALIFIED MATERIAL
Materials which are not deemed combustible using the criteria defined in Clause 3.4 are expected not to burn appreciably even when exposed to severe fire conditions. The assumed application conditions involve use of the materials in slab or other forms up to approximately a few tenths of a metre in thickness.

A3 SELF-HEATING NOT COVERED
The test does not rule out the possibility of self-heating and ignition of improperly cured or other sensitive materials when stored in bulk at elevated temperatures in piles several metres in height. A self-heating test would be required to provide assurance that materials are safe with regard to this type of hazard.
A4 THERMALLY UNSTABLE MATERIALS
The criteria used for evaluating materials (see Clause 3.4) will be used for qualifying materials which may be thermally unstable, i.e. materials that melt or shrink at the test temperatures. In these cases, the information recorded by the specimen thermocouples may not be relevant and regulating authorities may choose not to use the information. In these cases, one or both thermocouples need not be included.
Glass fibre and rock or slag fibre insulating materials with similar densities and calorific values and which should be quantified similarly by this test, have been demonstrated to give different results because of the above phenomena.

AS1530.2 Test for flammability of materials
1.4 PRINCIPLE
The specimen is mounted vertically on a frame and a flame applied to its base. The maximum height reached by the flame in a predetermined time or the time taken for the tip of the flame to reach a predetermined height is recorded together with the air temperature in a flue mounted above the specimen. From these measurements, the flammability index of the material is determined.

3.1 TEST RECORD
(a) The maximum height (D) reached by the flame during the 160 s test period estimated to the nearest half division of the scale; or
(b) The time (t), in seconds, taken for the flame to reach the level of the 21st mark if this occurs in less than 54 s.
(c) The area (A) between the curve of temperature recorded in the flue and the line of ambient temperature, computed in terms of Celsius degree-minutes for the 180 s period.

3.2 CALCULATION OF MEANS AND COEFFICIENTS OF VARIANCE

3.3 GRADING OF Materials

Characteristic of the material:

3.3.2 Speed factor the speed factor (S) shall be calculated if the flame reaches the 21st mark on three or more specimens in less than 54 s.

to the nearest integer

3.3.3 Spread factor the spread factor (E) shall be calculated when the flame fails to reach the 21st mark in less than 54 s on three or more specimens.

3.3.4 Heat factor the heat factor (H) shall be obtained from the following expression:

to the nearest integer