BS EN 60695-11-5:2017

What is BS EN 60695-11-5‒ Needle-flame test method about? 

BS EN 60695-11-5 is a part of an international standard that covers safety guidelines for fire hazard testing.  

BS EN 60695-11-5 specifies a needle-flame test to simulate the effect of a small flame which may result from fault conditions, for assessing the fire hazard by a simulation technique. It is applicable to electrotechnical equipment, its sub-assemblies, components, and to solid electrical insulating materials or other combustible materials. 

BS EN 60695-11-5 is a safety publication that is intended for use by technical committees in the preparation of standards in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 and ISO/IEC Guide 51. 

Who is BS EN 60695-11-5‒ Needle-flame test method for? 

BS EN 60695-11-5 on Needle-flame test method is useful for: 

• Firefighting companies 
• Test /service providers for fire hazard testing 
• Firefighting colleges 

Why should you use BS EN 60695-11-5‒ Needle-flame test method? 

Parts of insulating material or of other combustible material which are liable to propagate flames inside the equipment may catch fire due to the flames produced by a failing component.  

BS EN 60695-11-5 gives you a needle-flame test to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to heat and flame, under controlled laboratory conditions. It warns about the involvement of hazardous materials, operations, equipment, etc., and suggests you take appropriate care while executing it.  

The results of BS EN 60695-11-5 can be helpful to its users to be used as elements of a fire hazard assessment, that takes all the factors into account which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular case or use. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN 60695-11-5:2017 supersedes BS EN 60695-11-5:2005, which is withdrawn. BS EN 60695-11-5:2017 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:  

• The scope has been broadened to allow this test method to also simulate the effects of small flames from outside the equipment 
• Propane and butane gas are the specified fuel source with a minimum purity of 95%, informative Annex C and bibliography have been added 
• A new concept has been added which allows the burner to be moved during the test to avoid dripping material from falling onto the tip of the burner tube 
• The burner tube material is now a referenced source, Mandatory text in Clause 8, Annex B changed to Annex A, and modified, new Annex B concerning common ignition sources 
• The reference for the copper block material has changed – the ISO publication (ISO 1337) has been withdrawn with no replacement. A new callout is now used