BS EN 60695-7-1:2010

What is BS EN 60695-7-1 – Fire hazard testing about? 

BS EN 60695-7-1 is a standard that discusses the general guidance for the toxicity of fire effluent for fire hazard testing. A fire hazard is a physical object or condition with a potential for an undesirable consequence from fire. 

BS EN 60695-7-1 provides guidance on the factors which affect the toxic hazard from fires involving electrotechnical products and provides information on the methodologies recommended for estimating and reducing the toxic hazard from fires. There is no single test to realistically assess toxic hazards in fires. Small-scale toxic potency tests are not capable on their own of assessing the toxic hazard in fires. Current toxicity tests attempt to measure the toxic potency of laboratory-generated fire effluent. Toxic potency should not be confused with toxic hazards. 

Who is BS EN 60695-7-1 – Fire hazard testing for? 

BS EN 60695-7-1 on the toxicity of fire effluent applies to: 

• Manufacturer of the effluent treatment plant 
• Quality testing personnel 
• Laboratory testing 

Why should you use BS EN 60695-7-1 – Fire hazard testing? 

Toxic fire effluents are responsible for the majority of fire deaths, and an increasing large majority of fire injuries, driven by the widespread and increasing use of synthetic polymers. 

BS EN 60695-7-1 provides a fire effluent that consists of a complex mixture of solid particulates, liquid aerosols, and gases. The predominant acute toxic effects may be separated into two classes: 

• Asphyxiant effects 
• Sensory and/or upper respiratory irritation. 

BS EN 60695-7-1 provides small-scale test methods for the toxic hazard of fire gas effluent which are comprised of two parts: 

• Decomposition conditions, which should be such that they generate fire effluent which has the same relative composition as that which would be produced in a specific stage of a fire, and 
• Evaluation methods for the fire effluent to assess or calculate toxic potency, which can be carried out by either exposing animals to the fire effluent, in a controlled manner, and monitoring their response, or by carrying out chemical analyses of the fire effluent and estimating toxic potency from their concentrations. 

Overall, BS EN 60695-7-1 is useful as it provides guidance on the Toxicity of fire effluent for fire hazard testing.