AS/NZS 1660.5.

4:1998

Australian/New Zealand Standard

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Test methods for electric cables,

cords and conductors

Method 5.4: Fire tests—

Determination of degree of acidity of
gases evolved during the
combustion of materials taken from
electric cables by measuring pH and
conductivity
 AS/NZS 1660.5.4:1998

This Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard was prepared by Joint Technical

Committee EL/3, Electric Wires and Cables. It was approved on behalf of the
Council of Standards Australia on 22 October 1997 and on behalf of the Council of
Standards New Zealand on 14 November 1997. It was published on
5 January 1998.

The following interests are represented on Committee EL/3:

Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association
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Australian Railways Association

Department of Defence, Australia
Electrical regulatory authorities
Electricity Supply Association of Australia
Institution of Engineers, Australia
Ministry of Commerce, New Zealand
New Zealand Electrical Contractors Association
New Zealand Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Federation
Office of Energy, N.S.W.
Testing interests

Review of Standards. To keep abreast of progress in industry, Joint Australian/

New Zealand Standards are subject to periodic review and are kept up to date by the
issue of amendments or new editions as necessary. It is important therefore that
Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest edition, and any
amendments thereto.
Full details of all Joint Standards and related publications will be found in the Standards
Australia and Standards New Zealand Catalogue of Publications; this information is
supplemented each month by the magazines ‘The Australian Standard’ and ‘Standards
New Zealand’, which subscribing members receive, and which give details of new
publications, new editions and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.
Suggestions for improvements to Joint Standards, addressed to the head office of either
Standards Australia or Standards New Zealand, are welcomed. Notification of any
inaccuracy or ambiguity found in a Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard should be
made without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action
taken.

This Standard was issued in draft form for comment as DR 96294.

 AS/NZS 1660.5.4:1998
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

Australian/New Zealand Standard

Test methods for electric cables,

cords and conductors

Method 5.4: Fire tests—

Determination of degree of acidity of
gases evolved during the
combustion of materials taken from
electric cables by measuring pH and
conductivity

Originated in Australia as SAA Int 88003— 1988.

Final Australian edition AS 1660.5.4— 1992.
Jointly revised and designated AS/NZS 1660.5.4:1998.

PUBLISHED JOINTLY BY:

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA
1 The Crescent,
Homebush NSW 2140 Australia
STANDARDS NEW ZEALAND
Level 10, Radio New Zealand House,
155 The Terrace,
Wellington 6001 New Zealand
ISBN 0 7337 1674 1
 AS/NZS 1660.5.4:1998 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by the Joint Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand
Committee EL/3, Electric Wires and Cables, to supersede AS 1660.5.4 —1992. It is one of
a set of fire tests for electric cables included in the AS/NZS 1660 series. Details of the
whole series are given in Appendix A.
The objective of this Standard is to set out a procedure for the determination of the degree
of acidity of gases evolved during the combustion of compounds taken from the
components of electrical or optical cables.
This Standard differs from the 1992 edition as follows:
(a) It has been changed from an adopted Standard to an Australian/New Zealand text
Standard.
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(b) Air flow rate equation has been added

(c) Relative humidity has been deleted from the conditioning requirements.
(d) Appendix A has been added.
(e) The Standard is published as a Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard.
In the preparation of this Standard, reference was made to IEC 754-2:1991, Test on gases
evolved during combustion of electric cables, Part 2: Determination of degree of acidity of
gases evolved during the combustion of materials taken from electric cables by measuring
pH and conductivity . Acknowledgment is made for the assistance received from this
source.
The term ‘informative’ has been used in this Standard to define the application of the
appendix to which it applies. An ‘informative’ appendix is only for information and
guidance.

 Copyright STANDARDS AUSTRALIA/ STANDARDS NEW ZEALAND

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Except where the Copyright Act allows and except where provided for below no publications or software produced by
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without prior permission in writing from Standards Australia or Standards New Zealand. Permission may be conditional on an
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the head office of Standards Australia. New Zealand requests should be directed to Standards New Zealand.
Up to 10 percent of the technical content pages of a Standard may be copied for use exclusively in-house by purchasers of the
Standard without payment of a royalty or advice to Standards Australia or Standards New Zealand.
Inclusion of copyright material in computer software programs is also permitted without royalty payment provided such programs
are used exclusively in-house by the creators of the programs.
Care should be taken to ensure that material used is from the current edition of the Standard and that it is updated whenever the Standard
is amended or revised. The number and date of the Standard should therefore be clearly identified.
The use of material in print form or in computer software programs to be used commercially, with or without payment, or in commercial
contracts is subject to the payment of a royalty. This policy may be varied by Standards Australia or Standards New Zealand at any time.
 3 AS/NZS 1660.5.4:1998

CONTENTS

Page

1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 PRINCIPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 TEST APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4 CONDITIONING OF THE SAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5 TEST PIECES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
6 PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7 DETERMINATION OF THE pH VALUE AND CONDUCTIVITY . . . . . . . . . . 6
8 EXPRESSION OF THE RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
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APPENDIX A LIST OF METHODS OF TEST IN THE AS/NZS 1660 SERIES . . . . 13

 AS/NZS 1660.5.4:1998 4

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA / STANDARDS NEW ZEALAND

Australian/New Zealand Standard

Test methods for electric cables, cords and conductors

Method 5.4: Fire tests—Determination of degree of acidity of gases

evolved during the combustion of materials taken from electric cables
by measuring pH and conductivity

1 SCOPE This Standard specifies a procedure for the determination of the degree of
acidity of gases evolved during the combustion of compounds taken from the components
of electrical or optical cables.
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2 PRINCIPLE A pre-determined quantity of the test material is burned in a tube

furnace. The evolved gases are trapped by bubbling through bottles filled with distilled or
demineralized water.
The acidity is measured by determination of pH value. The conductivity of the solution is
also measured.

3 TEST APPARATUS
3.1 General Diagrams of the apparatus are shown in Figures 1 to 5. The assembly of
the components which constitute the test apparatus shall be leak-tight. The connecting
distances between the tube and the first wash bottle and between the first and the second
wash bottles (if used) shall be as short as possible. Glass or silicone rubber tubing shall
be used for these connections.
NOTE: At the exit of the tube, as close to the end as possible, it is permitted to place a plug of
silica wool to aid collection of condensates.
3.2 Tube furnace The effective length of the heating zone of the furnace shall be
500 mm to 600 mm and its inside diameter shall be 40 mm to 60 mm. It shall be equipped
with an electrically adjusted heating system.
3.3 Tube The furnace shall contain a fireproof tube made of silica, resistant to the
action of corrosive gases. The tube shall be approximately concentric to the tube furnace.
The inside diameter of the silica tube shall be between 32 mm and 45 mm. The initial
clearance shall only allow for thermal expansion.
The tube shall protrude on the entrance side of the furnace by a length of 60 mm to
200 mm, and on the exit side by 60 mm to 100 mm.
3.4 Combustion boats Combustion boats should be porcelain, fused quartz or
soapstone and should have the following dimensions:
(a) Length: 45 mm to 100 mm.
(b) Width: 12 mm to 30 mm.
(c) Depth: 5 mm to 10 mm.
A preferred method for insertion of the combustion boats into the tube is shown in
Figure 1. Each boat should only be used three times before firing or renewing.

COPYRIGHT
 This is a free preview. Purchase the entire publication at the link below:

AS/NZS 1660.5.4:1998, Test methods for electric

cables, cords and conductors Fire tests -
Determination of degree of acidity of gases
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

evolved during the combustion of materials taken

from electric cables by measuring pH and
conductivity

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