Overview
EN ISO 8030:2014 - "Rubber and plastics hoses - Method of test for flammability (ISO 8030:2014)" is a CEN-adopted ISO test method for assessing the flammability of rubber and plastic hoses (nominal bore ≤ 50 mm). It is a small-scale, laboratory screening and quality-control test (not a full-scale fire prediction). The 2014 edition replaces the 1997/1995 versions and updates the heat source to a calibrated gas (Bunsen-type) burner.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and limits
- Applies to hoses up to and including nominal bore 50 mm.
- Excludes hoses intended for petroleum fuels for internal-combustion engines (see ISO 13774).
- Test specimen and conditioning
- Test piece: 300 mm length; six specimens per test.
- No test within 24 h of manufacture; condition specimens at standard temperature and humidity per ISO 23529 for at least 3 h.
- Apparatus
- Draught-free cabinet (or fume hood), gas (Bunsen-type) burner with tube I.D. (10 ± 0.5) mm, commercial propane (ISO 9162), NiCr/NiAl thermocouple (ISO 8056-1).
- Procedure
- Burner preheated and adjusted to produce flame height 150–180 mm with inner flame ≈50 mm and thermocouple temperature 1 000 °C ± 20 °C.
- Burner positioned at 45° beneath the mid-point of the horizontally supported test piece, top of burner ~50 mm below the bottom edge of the hose.
- Exposure time: 60 s (±1 s); record flame persistence and afterglow time; observe for dripping or free burning.
- Results and acceptance
- Report duration of flame and afterglow for each specimen; compute mean values.
- Default acceptance (unless specified in a product hose standard): mean flame ≤ 1 minute and mean afterglow ≤ 3 minutes.
- Test report requirements
- Must include a mandatory cautionary statement that results are indicative only and not a measure of full fire hazard, plus details such as hose nominal bore, type, manufacture date/batch, reinforcement, test date and measured results.
Applications and users
- Practical use: quality control, material screening, specification compliance, and suitability checks (commonly used for underground service hoses and other applications where small-scale flammability is relevant).
- Typical users:
- Hose manufacturers and product engineers
- Test laboratories and quality assurance teams
- Specifiers, purchasers and compliance officers in industrial, construction and utility sectors
- Standards and certification bodies
Related standards
- ISO 13774 - flammability test method for hoses used with petroleum fuels (excluded from ISO 8030 scope)
- ISO 23529 - conditioning of rubber test pieces
- ISO 8056-1 - thermocouple requirements
- ISO 9162 - specification for commercial propane fuel
Keywords: EN ISO 8030:2014, flammability test, rubber and plastics hoses, hose testing, hose safety, propane burner test, hose quality control.
