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response characteristic for two or more materials, products, or 6.2.1 Use an established water softening procedure that
assemblies, as measured by two or more approaches, or tested ensures the presence of negligible amounts of alkaline or
under two or more sets of conditions for a given method. alkaline earth ions (principally sodium, potassium, calcium,
3.2.4 leaching, n—the removal in solution of the more and magnesium).4
soluble materials by percolating or moving water.
NOTE 2—It is advisable to have the facility running water tested before
3.2.5 softened water, n—water that has been treated with acquiring a new water softening system. The use of a water indicator
substances to remove or sequester the calcium or magnesium system in which a light turns on when the water contains excessive ions
ions. is recommended.
3.2.5.1 Discussion—Among the substances used for water NOTE 3—The presence of alkaline or alkaline earth metal ions has been
softening are various sodium phosphates and zeolites (natural shown to possibly affect the flammability performance.
hydrated silicate of aluminum and either sodium or potassium 6.2.2 Provide a means of supplying a continuous flow of
or both). Water of specific resistance of 1 MV or higher is softened water to the bottom of the container at a rate of at least
suitable. between two and three water changes per hour. Set the
temperature of the flowing softened water to 20 6 5°C (68 6
4. Summary of Test Method 9°F).
4.1 In this test method samples of cushioning materials are 6.3 Provide a means at the top of the water container for
subjected to leaching by immersing specimens in flowing disposing of the overflow.
softened water for a period of 6 h and then dried. Two 6.4 Ensure that the apparatus has a means of suspending the
fire-test-response characteristics of the cushioning materials, specimens in such a manner that they are not in contact with
namely the surface flammability, per Test Method D 3675, and each other during the leaching process. Ensure too that contact
the specific optical density of smoke, per Test Method E 662, of the specimens with the container is minimized.
are measured on specimens of the materials which have 6.5 There are two alternative methods for specimen place-
undergone the water treatment. The results are then compared ment during leaching:
with results obtained from untreated specimens of the same 6.5.1 Place specimens in tank within a wire mesh cage, or
materials, to determine the percentage change in each fire-test- 6.5.2 Suspend specimens from a rod within the tank by
response characteristic. means of small clips and weigh them at the bottom.
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8.3 Provide the appropriate number of test specimens as 13.2 Determine the flame spread index (Is) of specimens of
required by Test Methods D 3675 and E 662. the leached samples in accordance with Test Method D 3675.
8.4 Determine the volume in litres of each test specimen 13.3 Determine the specific optical density of smoke gen-
used for Test Methods D 3675 and E 662. erated by specimens of the leached samples in accordance with
Test Method E 662. Use a sample thickness of 25 mm (1 in.).
9. Calibration
9.1 Follow the directions in Test Method D 3675 and Test 14. Calculation
Method E 662 for calibration of the corresponding equipment. 14.1 Express the results of the leaching test as a percentage
9.2 The only parts of the leaching test equipment that of the change in the fire-test-response characteristic, calculated
require calibration are the temperature control devices. Use by Eq 1.
commonly accepted procedures for ensuring that the tempera- ~L – O!
ture remains within the required range. P5 O 3 100 (1)
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APPENDIX
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. COMMENTARY
X1.1 Fire hazard involves a series of three processes, mance of the cushioning materials may change after exposure
namely: (1) generation of heat and smoke (combustion prod- to water.
ucts) from a burning product; (2) transport of heat and smoke
from their source (origin of the fire) to their target (people or X1.3 This standard does not address the fire hazard
products) and (3) effect of the fire products (heat or smoke) on resulting from burning the cushioning materials tested. How-
the target. ever, specifications often require materials to achieve certain
levels of performance when tested in accordance with a
X1.2 The fire performance of cushioning materials is often fire-test-response standard. This standard offers a method for
enhanced by incorporation of additives, some of which may be checking the extent of the original values of two fire-test-
water soluble. It is conceivable, therefore, that the fire perfor- response characteristics retained after leaching.
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