AS/NZS 1660.5.

3:1998

Australian/New Zealand Standard

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Test methods for electric cables,

cords and conductors

Method 5.3: Fire tests—

Determination of the amount of
halogen acid gas evolved during the
combustion of polymeric materials
taken from cables
 AS/NZS 1660.5.3:1998

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 3 October 1997. It was published on 5 January 1998.

The following interests are represented on Committee EL/3:

Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association
Australian Railways Assocation
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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publications, new editions and amendments, and of withdrawn Standards.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 96293.

 AS/NZS 1660.5.3:1998

Australian/New Zealand Standard

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

Test methods for electric cables,

cords and conductors

Method 5.3: Fire tests—

Determination of the amount of
halogen acid gas evolved during the
combustion of polymeric materials
taken from cables

Originated in Australia as AS 1660.5.3— 1988.

Jointly revised and designated as AS/NZS 1660.5.3:1998.

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 1676 8
 AS/NZS 1660.5.3:1998 2

PREFACE

This Standard was prepared by Joint Standards Australia /Standards New Zealand
Committee EL/3, Electric Wires and Cables, to supersede AS 1660.5.3 —1988. 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
amount of halogen acid gas, other than hydrofluoric acid, evolved during the combustion
of compounds based on halogenated polymers and compounds containing halogenated
additives taken from cable constructions.
This Standard differs from the 1988 edition as follows:
(a) Appendix A has been added.
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(b) The Standard is published as a Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard.

In the preparation of this Standard, reference was made to IEC 754.1:1994, Test on gases
evolved during combustion of materials from cables, Part 1: Determination of the amount
of halogen acid gas. 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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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
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 3 AS/NZS 1660.5.3:1998

CONTENTS
Page

1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 REFERENCED DOCUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 REQUIREMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4 PRINCIPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
5 TEST APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6 SAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7 CONDITIONING OF THE SAMPLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
8 PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
9 DETERMINATION OF HALOGEN ACID CONTENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
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APPENDIX A LIST OF METHODS OF TEST IN THE AS/NZS 1660 SERIES . . . . 13

 AS/NZS 1660.5.3:1998 4

STANDARDS AUSTRALIA / STANDARDS NEW ZEALAND

Australian/New Zealand Standard

Test methods for electric cables, cords and conductors

Method 5.3: Fire tests— Determination of the amount

of halogen acid gas evolved during the combustion
of polymeric materials taken from cables

1 SCOPE This Standard specifies a procedure for the determination of the amount of
halogen acid gas, other than hydrofluoric acid, evolved during the combustion of
compounds based on halogenated polymers and compounds containing halogenated
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additives taken from cable constructions.

For reasons of accuracy this method is not recommended for use where the amount of
halogen acid evolved is less than 5 mg/g of the sample taken.
This method is not suitable for defining compounds or materials described as ‘halogen-
free’. For such compounds or materials, and all compounds or materials containing less
than 5 mg/g halogen acid equivalent, it is recommended the method specified in
AS/NZS 1660.5.4 be used.

2 REFERENCED DOCUMENT The following document is referred to in this

Standard:

AS/NZS
1660 Test methods for electric cables, cords and conductors
1660.5.4 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

3 REQUIREMENTS The method specified in this Standard is intended for the type
testing of individual components used in cable construction. The use of this method will
enable the requirements for individual components of a cable construction to be stated in
the appropriate cable specification.
No requirements for compliance are included in this Standard.

4 PRINCIPLE The material under test is heated in a stream of dry air and the gases
absorbed in 0.1 M sodium hydroxide solution. The amount of halogen acid is then
determined by acidifying the solution with nitric acid adding a measured volume of 0.1 M
silver nitrate solution and back titrating the excess with 0.1 M ammonium thiocyanate
using ferric ammonium sulphate as the indicator, or by any other equivalent analytical
method having at least the same accuracy.
Duplicate tests are carried out on the sample of material, and a blank determination is
carried out without the sample.
The result is taken as the mean of the two determinations.

COPYRIGHT
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AS/NZS 1660.5.3:1998, Test methods for electric

cables, cords and conductors Fire Tests -
Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas
This is a free 6 page sample. Access the full version at http://infostore.saiglobal.com.

evolved during the combustion of polymeric

materials taken from cables

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