Understanding The Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. …

1 Technical Service Report No. 25 - Page 1 of 5. Understanding The Underwriters laboratories , Inc. (UL). Yellow Card INTRODUCTION QMFZ2 October 16, 1990. The UL Yellow Card bears information Component - Plastics GEON VINYL DIV E41877 (N). relative to specific polymeric materials 6100 OAK TREE BLVD, CLEVELAND OH 44131 (A card). which a company has submitted to RTI H D. Underwriters laboratories to be tested. The Min UL94 Elec Mech H H V 4 C. materials are listed on the card, hence, the Thk Flame with w/o W A T 9 T. Mtl Dsg Col mm Class Imp Imp I I R 5 I. phrase "UL Recognized." The listings (for Polyvinyl choloride (PVC) designated "Geon," furnished in the form of pellets. plastic materials) are published in the "UL 8700A(b) All 94V-0 50 50 50 0 0 4 - - Recognized Components Directory," 94V-0 50 50 50 0 - 4 7 1.

2 Volume II, Section QMFZ2, under the 94V-0 50 50 50 0 0 4 - - 94-5V 50 50 50 - - - - - heading "Plastics.". WT, BK, YL. The data shown in the sample are taken All 94-5VA 50 50 50 - - - - - from an existing UL Yellow Card for Geon Reports: April 7,1976; April 9, 1985. (Cont. on A1 card). Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). 774863001 H7047 D11/0026634. UL is a registered trademark of The Underwriters laboratories , Inc. THE IMPORTANCE OF UL testing can include the determination of a Note: Due to limited space, not all material UL TESTING wide variety of material properties including: property test results may be listed on a The properties of materials listed on the UL l Ignition and burning characteristics from given UL card. Yellow Card have been determined in thermal and electrical sources. accordance with established procedures.

3 The l A wide range of other electrical, physical Comparative Tracking Index, Dielectric UL evaluation of material properties is and mechanical characteristics, as well as Strength, Volume Resistivity as well as other valuable to end users of the material in specific analytical tests. electrical and mechanical properties may be determining its appropriateness for a specific l The effect of exposure to elevated determined by means of the applicable application. Additionally UL listings often temperatures (air/oven aging), cold, water, ASTM and/or UL specifications in the save end users time and money by ultraviolet rays, etc. Underwriters laboratories , Inc., Standard for eliminating the need for further material Polymeric Materials - "Use In Electrical testing. Equipment Evaluations" (UL746A).

4 Technical Service Report No. 25 - Page 2 of 5. In addition to the aforementioned tests, Mechanical performance can be either with to permit the molten material to hit the cotton. materials which are used in applications or without impact. Thus the reason for two Five sets are tested. involving support, or contact with current- columns: "with imp" and "w/o imp". The carrying parts, are also required to display a default temperature rating, for PVC materials The following are vertical ratings: minimum stability (heat-distortion, moisture- given when no thermal aging is done, is 50 . resistance, dimensional stability and mold C. 94V-0. stress) performance level as described in Materials classified as V-0 shall: UL746C procedures. FLAMMABILITY RECOGNITION A. Not have any bar specimen burn with Materials may be classified based on burning flaming combustion for more than 10.

5 To determine a material's compliance relative tests conducted in accordance with seconds after either application. to a specific application, the test values Underwriters laboratories , Inc., Standard B. Not have a total flaming combustion time generated for that material should be Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for exceeding 50 seconds compared with the minimum performance parts in devices and appliances (UL94). By for the 10 flame applications. level established for that application as small scale tests, solid materials are C. Not have any specimens which burn outlined in applicable product standards. classified as 94V-0, 94V-1, 94V-2, 94-5V, (flame or glow) up to the holding clamp. 94-5VA, and 94-5VB. Materials may also be D. Not have any specimens which drip THERMAL AGING PROGRAM evaluated using the radiant panel in flaming particles that ignite the cotton.

6 The materials covered by the UL program accordance with ASTM E-162 (referenced in E. Not have any specimens with glowing have, in many cases, been investigated with UL94); such flame spread indices are shown combustion which persists beyond 30. respect to the retention of certain critical as "RP-10", "RP-15", etc. seconds after the second flame. properties ( , dielectric, flammability, tensile, impact, etc.) as part of an on-going UL94 small scale test data do not pertain to 94V-1. thermal aging program conducted in building materials, furnishings and related Materials classified as V-1 shall: accordance with Underwriters laboratories , contents. UL94 small scale test data are A. Not have any bar specimen burn with Inc., Standard for Polymeric Materials Long intended solely for determining the flaming combustion for more than 30.

7 Term Property Evaluations (UL746B). The flammability of plastic materials used in seconds after either application. end-of-life of a material at each test components and parts of end-product devices B. Not have a total flaming combustion time temperature in this program has been and appliances where the acceptability of the exceeding 250 seconds for the 10 flame assumed to be the time when the value of the combination is determined by Underwriters applications. critical property has decreased to 50 percent laboratories . C. Not have any specimens which burn of its original (as received) value. (flame or glow) up to the holding clamp. UL94: "FLAMMABILITY OF D. Not have any specimens which drip The temperature index shown in the PLASTIC MATERIALS FOR flaming particles that ignite the cotton. individual recognition correlates numerically PARTS IN DEVICES AND E.

8 Not have any specimens with glowing with the temperature ( C) above which the APPLIANCES." combustion which persists beyond 60. material is likely to degrade prematurely (as This test measures a plastic material's ability seconds after the second flame. compared to the test results generated by a to accept and support flame. A variety of test material with acceptable service results). ratings are possible depending on 94V-2. More than one temperature index may be performance: Materials classified as V-2 shall: appropriate for a given material (depending A. Not have any bar specimens which burn upon property requirements for a given VERTICAL BURNING TESTS with flaming combustion for more than 10. application). seconds after either application. (V-0, V-1, V-2, 5V, 5VA, 5VB). B. Not have a total flaming combustion time In the vertical tests the specimen is NOTE: In certain cases, higher exceeding 250 seconds for 10 flame supported in a vertical position and the flame temperatures than indicated in the individual applications.

9 Applied directly to the bottom of the specimen recognition are permitted if so specified by C. Not have any specimens which burn in a vertical direction. The flame is applied for the applicable end-product standard. (flame or glow) up to the holding clamp. ten seconds and then withdrawn until the D. Have specimens that drip flaming flaming ceases. The flame is reapplied The column heading "RTI" (Relative Thermal particles which burn briefly, some of immediately for ten seconds and withdrawn. Index) refers to thermal aging. Test protocol which ignite the cotton. This procedure balances the duration periods involves oven-aging samples at four different E. Not have any specimens with glowing of flaming and glowing. A bed of surgical temperatures (minimum 500-hours at highest combustion which persists beyond 60.)

10 Cotton is laid horizontally to the specimen to temperature and 2000-hours at lowest seconds after the second flame. catch any dripping particles. If the specimen temperature). The resultant temperature rating drips material, the burner may be tilted up to pertains to pertains to mechanical mechanical and/or and/or electrical electrical 45 . 45 . performance. Technical Service Report No. 25 - Page 3 of 5. 94-5V end of the test specimen. It is clamped at the The burner, with a blue flame inches In the 5V test, the specimen is vertical and end farthest from the 1 inch mark - high, is placed beneath the wire gauze under the flame is applied to one of the lower horizontally with its transverse axis inclined the upturned end of the specimen support corners at an angle of 20 from the vertical. at an angle of 45.