NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.

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Designation: D 2843 – 99

Standard Test Method for

Density of Smoke from the Burning or Decomposition of
Plastics1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 2843; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific warning

1.1 This fire-test-response test method covers a laboratory statements are given in 1.2 and 9.11.
procedure for measuring and observing the relative amounts of NOTE 1—There is no similar or equivalent ISO standard.
smoke obscuration produced by the burning or decomposition
of plastics. It is intended to be used for measuring the 2. Referenced Documents
smoke-producing characteristics of plastics under controlled 2.1 ASTM Standards:
conditions of combustion or decomposition. Correlation with D 618 Practice for Conditioning Plastics and Electrical
other fire conditions is not implied. The measurements are Insulating Materials for Testing3
made in terms of the loss of light transmission through a D 883 Terminology Relating to Plastics3
collected volume of smoke produced under controlled, stan- D 1600 Terminology for Abbreviated Terms Relating to
dardized conditions. The apparatus is constructed so that the Plastics3
flame and smoke can be observed during the test.2
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1.2 Warning—During the course of combustion, gases or
E 84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
Building Materials4

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vapors, or both, are evolved that may be hazardous to person-
nel. Adequate precautions should be taken to protect the
E 176 Terminology Relating to Fire Standards4
E 662 Test Method for Specific Optical Density of Smoke
operator. Generated by Solid Materials4
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1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method5
purposes only. E 906 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
1.4 This standard should be used to measure and describe ASTM D2843-99 Rates for Materials and Products4
the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and E 1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
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flame under controlled laboratory conditions and should not be Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Con-
used to describe or appraise the fire-hazard or fire-risk of sumption Colorimeter4
materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
However, results of this test may be used as elements of a 3. Terminology
fire-hazard assessment or a fire risk assessment which takes 3.1 Definitions—The terminology used in this test method is
into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an in accordance with Terminologies D 883 and D 1600 (terms
assessment of the fire hazard or fire-risk of a particular end relating to plastics) and Terminology E 176 (terms relating to
use. fire).
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the 4. Summary of Test Method
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 4.1 The test specimen is exposed to flame for the duration of
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- the test, and the smoke is substantially trapped in the chamber
in which combustion occurs. A 25 by 25 by 6-mm (1 by 1 by
1⁄4-in.) specimen is placed on supporting metal screen and

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burned in a laboratory test chamber (Fig. 1) under active flame
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-20 on Plastics
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D20.30 on Thermal Properties
conditions using a propane burner operating at a pressure of
(Section D20.30.03).
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1999. Published March 2000. Originally
published as D 2843 – 70. Last previous edition D 2843 – 93.
2 3
Anonymous, “A Method of Measuring Smoke Density,” NFPA Quarterly, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.01.
4
QNFPA, Vol 57, January 1964, p. 276. Reprint NFPA Q57-9. Available from NFPA, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
5
60 Batterymarch St., Boston, MA 02110. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 D 2843

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1. Specimen Holder
A Stainless steel screen
B Asbestos sheet
C Adjusting knob
D Quench pan
2. Ignition
A Burner 4. Photometer
B Propane tank A Visual system (exit sign)
C Gas shut-off valve B Measuring system
D Pressure regulator adjustment 1 Light source and adjusting transformer
E Pressure indicator 2 Photronic cell and grid (to block stray light)
F Burner-positioning knob 3 Meter (indicating percent of light absorbed)
3. Cabinet (shown without door) 4 Temperature compensation
A Hinges (door gasketed three sides) 5 Photocell temperature monitor
B Vents (25-mm (1-in) high opening four sides) 6 Range change
C Blower (damper on mounting side) 5. Timer
D Control (blower on when damper is open) A Indicator, 0 to 5 min (friction reset)
FIG. 1 Schematic Diagram of Smoke Chamber

276 kPa (40 psi). The 300 by 300 by 790-mm (12 by 12 by photoelectric cell, and meter to measure light absorption
31-in.) test chamber is instrumented with a light source, horizontally across the 300-mm (12-in.) light beam path. The

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 D 2843
chamber is closed during the 4-min test period except for the 6.1.1 Chamber:
25-m (1-in.) high ventilation openings around the bottom. 6.1.1.1 The chamber shall consist of a 14-gage (B & S) 300
4.2 The light-absorption data are plotted versus time. A by 300 by 790-mm (12 by 12 by 31-in.) aluminum box to
typical plot is shown in Fig. 2. Two indexes are used to rate the which is hinged a heat-resistant glass glazed door. This box
material: the maximum smoke produced and the smoke-density shall be mounted on a 350 by 400 by 57-mm (14 by 16 by
rating. 21⁄4-in.) base which houses the controls. Dependent upon the
materials tested, the metal may require protection from corro-
5. Significance and Use sion.
5.1 Tests made on a material under conditions herein 6.1.1.2 The chamber shall be sealed except for 25 by
prescribed can be of considerable value in comparing the 230-mm (1 by 9-in.) openings on the four sides of the bottom
relative smoke obscuration characteristics of plastics. of the chamber. A1700-L/min (60-ft3/min) blower shall be
5.2 This test method serves to determine the extent to which mounted on one side of the chamber. The inlet duct to the
plastic materials are likely to smoke under conditions of active blower shall be equipped with a close-fitting damper. The
burning and decomposition in the presence of flame. outlet of the blower shall be connected through a duct to the
NOTE 2—The visual and instrumental observations from this test laboratory exhaust system. If the chamber is in a ventilated
compare well with the visual observations of the smoke generated by hood, no connection to the lab exhaust system through a duct
plastic materials when added to a freely burning large outdoor fire.6 is needed.
5.3 The usefulness of this test procedure is in its ability to 6.1.1.3 The two sides adjacent to the door shall be fitted
measure the amount of smoke obscuration produced in a with 70-mm (23⁄4 in.) diameter smoke-tight glazed areas
simple, direct, and meaningful manner under the specified centered 480 mm (193⁄4 in.) above the base. At these locations
conditions. The degree of obscuration of vision by smoke and outside the chamber, boxes containing the optical equip-
generated by combustibles can be substantially affected by ment and additional controls shall be attached.
changes in quantity and form of material, humidity, draft, 6.1.1.4 A removable white plastic plate shall be attached to
temperature, and oxygen supply. the back of the chamber. There shall be a 90 by 150-mm (31⁄2
6. Apparatus iTeh Standards by 6-in.) clear area centered about 480 mm above the bottom
of the chamber through which is seen an illuminated white-

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6.1 The smoke chamber shall be constructed essentially as on-red exit sign. The white background permits observation of
shown in Fig. 1.7 the flame, smoke, and burning characteristics of the material.
The viewing of the exit sign helps to correlate visibility and
6 Document Preview
Bartosic, A. J., and Rarig, F. J., “Evaluation of the XP2 Smoke Density
Chamber,” Symposium on Fire Test Methods—Restraint & Smoke, ASTM STP 422,
measured values.
6.1.2 Specimen Holder:
ASTM, Philadelphia, PA, 1966. 6.1.2.1 The specimen shall be supported on a 64-mm
ASTM D2843-99
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Detailed drawings of the smoke chamber are also available at a nominal cost (21⁄2-in.) square of 6 by 6-mm, 0.9-mm gage (1⁄4 by 1⁄4-in.,
from ASTM Headquarters. Order Adjunct : ADJD2843. A smoke chamber meeting
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the requirements of this test method is available from United States Testing 0.035-in. gage) stainless steel wire cloth 220 mm (83⁄4 in.)
Company, Inc., 1415 Park Ave., Hoboken, NJ 07030. above the base and equidistant from all sides of the chamber.

FIG. 2 Light Absorption versus Time

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 D 2843
This screen shall lie in a stainless steel bezel supported by a rod 6.1.3.3 A duct at least 150 mm (6 in.) outside of the chamber
through the right side of the chamber. From the same rod, a shall provide the air piped to the burner.
similar bezel shall be located 76 mm (3 in.) below, and it shall 6.1.3.4 Propane pressure shall be adjustable and preferably
support a square of asbestos paper which catches any particles automatically regulated. Propane pressure shall be indicated by
that may drip from the specimen during the test. By rotating the means of a Bourdon tube gage.
specimen holder rod, the burning specimen can be quenched in 6.1.4 Photometric System:
a shallow pan of water positioned below the specimen holder.
6.1.3 Ignition System: 6.1.4.1 A light source, a barrier-layer photoelectric cell, and
6.1.3.1 The specimen shall be ignited by a propane flame a temperature compensated meter shall be used to measure the
from a burner operating at a pressure of 276 kPa (40 psi). The proportion of a light beam which penetrates a 300-mm (12-in.)
fuel (Note 3) shall be mixed with air which has been propelled path through the smoke. The light path shall be arranged
through the burner by the venturi effect of the propane as it horizontally as shown in Fig. 4.
passes from a 0.13-mm (0.0005-in.) diameter orifice (Note 4), 6.1.4.2 The light source shall be mounted in a box (4B1 in
and the burner shall be assembled as shown in the exploded Fig. 1) extending from the left side of the chamber at the mean
view of the burner in Fig. 3. The burner must be designed to height of 480 mm (193⁄4 in.) above the base. The light source
provide adequate outside air. shall be a compact filament microscope lamp No. 1493
operated at 5.8 V and a spherical reflector, with power supplied
NOTE 3—Commercial grade 85.0 % minimum, gross heating value
23 000 cal/litre (2590 Btu/ft3) propane meets the requirements. by a voltage-regulating transformer. A60 to 65-mm (21⁄2-in.)
NOTE 4—Since the orifice provides the metering effect proportionate to focal length lens shall focus a spot of light on the photocell in
the supply pressure, care must be taken that the orifice is the only means the right instrument panel.
of fuel egress. 6.1.4.3 Another box containing the photometer (4 B2 in Fig.
6.1.3.2 The burner shall be capable of being positioned 1) shall be attached to the right side of the chamber. The
quickly under the specimen so that the axis of the burner falls barrier-layer photoelectric cell shall have standard observer
on a line passing through a point 8 mm (3⁄10 in.) above the base spectral response. An egg-crate grid in front of the photocell

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at one back corner of the chamber extending diagonally across
the chamber and sloping upward at 45 deg with the base. The
shall be used to protect the cell from stray light. The grid shall
be finished in dull black and have openings at least twice as
exit opening of the burner shall be 260 mm (101⁄4 in.) from the deep as they are wide. The current produced by the photocell
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reference point at the rear of the chamber. is indicated in terms of percent light absorption on a meter. The

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FIG. 3 Exploded View of Burner