Overview
ISO 8030:2014 specifies a laboratory method of test for flammability of rubber and plastics hoses (excluding hoses intended for use with petroleum fuels for combustion engines). The standard covers small-scale, screening tests for hoses up to and including a nominal bore of 50 mm. ISO 8030:2014 replaces the earlier spirit-burner method with a propane gas burner and defines the apparatus, conditioning, procedure, and reporting required to assess flame persistence and afterglow.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Scope: Hoses (rubber and plastics) up to 50 mm nominal bore; not applicable to hoses for petroleum fuels (see ISO 13774).
- Test specimens: Six test pieces, each 300 mm long.
- Conditioning: No test within 24 hours of manufacture; condition test pieces for at least 3 hours at standard temperature and humidity (ISO 23529).
- Apparatus: Draught-free cabinet or fume hood, Bunsen-type gas burner (tube Ø 10 ± 0.5 mm), propane gas per ISO 9162, stand, timing devices, calibrated NiCr/NiAl thermocouple (ISO 8056-1).
- Burner settings: Flame height 150–180 mm, inner flame ≈ 50 mm; thermocouple positioned at hottest part to verify 1 000 °C ± 20 °C.
- Procedure: Burner at 45°, midpoint of test piece, top of burner tube ~50 mm below bottom edge; apply flame for 60 s ± 1 s, then remove and record flame persistence and afterglow.
- Acceptance criteria: Unless specified otherwise in a product standard, the mean flame duration for six specimens shall not exceed 1 minute, and afterglow shall not exceed 3 minutes. Note presence of burning droplets and tendency to burn or drip must be recorded.
- Reporting: Reports must include a standard disclaimer: “The test results relate only to the behaviour of the test pieces under the particular conditions of test; they shall not be used as a means of assessing the potential fire hazard of the hose in use.” Plus hose details, manufacturing and reinforcement data, test date and results.
Applications and Users
ISO 8030:2014 is primarily a quality control and screening flammability test used by:
- Hose manufacturers and product engineers for production control and material selection
- Test laboratories performing flammability and fire-safety assessments
- Specifiers and purchasers validating hose performance for underground installation or general-purpose applications
- Compliance teams referencing hose flammability behavior in product standards
Note: ISO 8030 is a small-scale test - results are indicative and should not be used to predict full-scale fire behaviour.
Related Standards
- ISO 13774 - flammability testing for hoses used with petroleum fuels
- ISO 8056-1 - NiCr/NiAl thermocouple requirements
- ISO 9162 - propane fuel specification
- ISO 23529 - conditioning of rubber test pieces
Keywords: ISO 8030:2014, hose flammability test, rubber and plastics hoses, flammability method, gas burner test, afterglow, flame persistence, hose quality control, fire safety testing.
