ISO 14697:2007

Overview

ISO 14697:2007, titled Reaction-to-fire tests - Guidance on the choice of substrates for building and transport products, provides essential guidance on selecting substrates for fire reaction testing of products used in building and transport sectors. This international standard addresses the complexity involved when products, such as wall-coverings or coatings, are combined with varying substrates that differ in physical and flammability properties including thickness, density, and thermal conductivity.

The standard ensures that reaction-to-fire tests accurately reflect real-world conditions by emphasizing the use of substrates and attachment methods that mirror end-use applications. This approach improves fire safety assessment by considering the critical influence of substrates on fire behavior, such as flame spread and heat release.

Key Topics

• Scope and Applicability
  ISO 14697:2007 applies to products used in combination with other materials where substrate properties significantly affect fire reaction. For instance, wall-coverings adhered to different substrates must be tested accordingly.

• Terminology and Definitions
  The standard clarifies terms like substrate, assembly, coating, composite, and end use to align testing procedures with practical applications.

• Selection of Substrates

  • End-use substrates: Testing must use substrates and attachment methods replicating actual end-use conditions.
  • Primary and secondary substrates: Products incorporating multiple substrates or air gaps must include all relevant layers.
  • Standard substrates: For non-combustible or limited combustibility substrates, a set of standardized substrates (e.g., gypsum plasterboard, steel sheet, aluminium sheet) with defined physical and thermal properties is specified (see Table 1 in the standard).
  • Effect on fire performance: The substrate impacts various fire parameters including flame spread and heat release; improper substrate choice can lead to misinterpretation of test outcomes.

• Storage and Conditioning
  Standard substrates must be conditioned under controlled temperature (23 ± 2 °C) and relative humidity (50 ± 5 %) until constant mass is achieved to ensure reproducible test results.

• Methods of Attachment and Air Gap Construction
  Realistic replication of attachment methods such as adhesives or mechanical fixing is critical, including curing times corresponding to end-use. Air gaps present in actual installations should be simulated using spacers of non-combustible materials.

• Non-Standard Substrates
  For substrates not covered by the standard, local guidance should be followed, considering design, geographic, and climatic factors to tailor fire testing appropriately.

Applications

ISO 14697:2007 is specifically relevant to manufacturers, testing laboratories, and safety assessors involved with:

• Building materials including wall coverings, coatings, composites, and facings
• Transport vehicle interior products that combine multiple materials
• Regulatory compliance testing of fire reaction performance
• Fire safety certification ensuring product-substrate assemblies realistically represent end-use conditions
• Development of fire test specimens that reflect real-world installation scenarios, including substrate types and attachment methods

By employing this standard, stakeholders can better predict fire behavior in actual use environments, enhancing consumer safety and regulatory acceptance.

Related Standards

Relevant and complementary international standards to consider alongside ISO 14697:2007 include:

• ISO 1716 - Reaction to fire tests for building products - Determination of the heat of combustion
• ISO 13943 - Fire safety - Vocabulary
• ISO 5658-2 - Reaction to fire tests - Spread of flame - Lateral spread on building and transport products
• ISO 9239-1 - Reaction to fire tests for floor coverings - Burning behavior using a radiant heat source
• ISO 5660-1 - Reaction-to-fire tests - Heat release, smoke production and mass loss rate - Part 1: Heat release rate (cone calorimeter method)
• EN 13501-1 - Fire classification of construction products and building elements - Classification using test data from reaction to fire tests

These standards provide definitions, test methods, classification criteria, and terminology that support the effective implementation of ISO 14697:2007 guidance.

Keywords: ISO 14697:2007, reaction to fire tests, substrate selection, building products, transport products, fire safety, fire performance testing, end-use substrates, fire reaction standards, substrate flammability, fire testing methods, standard substrates, fire behavior assessment.