EN ISO14116:2008

Protective clothing: Protection against heat and flame.
Limited flame spread materials and material assemblies.

This standard covers the resistance of a material to flame spread. It is a basic standard which demonstrates that the fabric tested has flame resistant properties and gives an indication as to the degree of resistance.

The test consists of the application for a fixed time (10 seconds) of a specific propane gas flame, placed horizontally at a fixed distance from the bottom of a vertically suspended strip of the fabric of fixed width (50mm). Once the fabric has been exposed to the flame it is observed for holes in the fabric, the formation of flaming debris and the spread of afterglow (continued burning without flame). The test specimen is then awarded an index level according to its performance.

• Index 1: After testing any remaining flame or any hole in the fabric formed by the flame during testing must not reach the edge of the fabric. There must be no flaming debris. Any afterglow (residual burning) must not spread beyond the area affected by the flame during the test.
• Index 2: As index 1 but there most not be any holes in the fabric.
• Index 3: As Index 2 but any flaming of the fabric after the flame source has been removed must cease within 2 seconds of the sources removal.

This standard replaced EN533 which was very similar in the definition of the index levels. EN ISO14116 specifies certain physical performance levels to be reached in order to meet the standard.