ASTM D4206 Sustained Burning Testing for Green Seal Certification

Manufacturers pursuing Green Seal certification may encounter ASTM D4206 as part of the combustibility requirements for their product. 

ASTM D4206, Standard Test Method for Sustained Burning of Liquid Mixtures Using the Small Scale Open-Cup Apparatus, evaluates whether a liquid mixture will sustain burning under specified test conditions. The method is particularly useful for mixtures containing both flammable and nonflammable liquids, such as alcohol and water mixtures. 

Dell Tech Laboratories offers ASTM D4206 testing to support manufacturers pursuing Green Seal certification and other projects requiring sustained burning data. 

Why Test for Sustained Burning? 

Flash point is commonly used to characterize the flammability of a liquid product, but flash point and sustained burning measure different properties. 

A flash point test determines whether vapours from a liquid can ignite at a specified temperature. A sustained burning test looks at what happens after ignition. Does the sample continue to burn once the ignition source is removed? 

This distinction can be important for mixtures of flammable and nonflammable liquids. A mixture may have a flash point that results in a flammable classification even though the finished product does not sustain burning. 

ASTM D4206 was developed to directly observe this property rather than infer sustained burning behaviour from flash point alone. 

How Does ASTM D4206 Work? 

ASTM D4206 uses a small-scale open-cup apparatus containing a concave sample well and a test flame that can be positioned over the sample. 

The apparatus is brought to a test temperature of 120°F (49°C), with correction for barometric pressure when required. A 2 mL specimen is transferred into the well and allowed to reach the test temperature. The test flame is then positioned over the sample for a specified period and removed. 

The sample is observed to determine whether burning continues after removal of the test flame. 

Under ASTM D4206, a product is considered to sustain burning if it meets the sustained burning criteria specified by the method. 

ASTM D4206 and Green Seal Certification 

ASTM D4206 is particularly relevant for manufacturers pursuing Green Seal certification because the method is referenced as a route for demonstrating compliance with combustibility requirements across several Green Seal product standards. 

For example, Green Seal’s GS-8 standard for household cleaning products provides approaches for demonstrating that the undiluted product is not combustible, including applicable flash point criteria or demonstrating that the product does not sustain a flame when tested according to ASTM D4206. 

Dell Tech Laboratories performs both ISO 2719 closed-cup flash point testing and ASTM D4206 sustained burning testing. 

ASTM D4206 also appears within Green Seal requirements applicable to several other product categories that Dell Tech regularly encounters, including industrial and institutional cleaners, floor-care products, laundry care products, and specialty cleaning products. 

For more information on the Green Seal standards and test methods supported by Dell Tech, read our article, Dell Tech Supports Green Seal Certification Testing Across Eight Product Standards. 

ASTM D4206 vs. UN TDG L.2 Sustained Combustibility Testing 

ASTM D4206 may look familiar to manufacturers that have previously completed sustained combustibility testing for transportation classification. 

The apparatus and general testing concept are very similar to the UN TDG Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, Section 32.5.2, Test L.2, Sustained Combustibility Test. Both methods expose a small quantity of liquid to an ignition source under controlled conditions and evaluate whether combustion continues. 

There are, however, important differences between the methods, including the temperatures at which testing is performed. 

ASTM D4206 specifies testing at 120°F (49°C), corrected for atmospheric pressure where required. UN TDG L.2 uses test temperatures specified by the UN Manual for its particular classification purpose. 

Because the test conditions and applications are not identical, a result obtained using one method should not automatically be considered equivalent to a result obtained using the other. The method specified by the applicable regulation, certification program, or other requirement should be followed. 

Dell Tech Laboratories performs both ASTM D4206 and UN TDG L.2 sustained combustibility testing. 

When Might ASTM D4206 Testing Be Needed? 

ASTM D4206 testing may be appropriate when: 

• A Green Seal standard applicable to your product identifies ASTM D4206 as a route for meeting its combustibility requirements 

• A certification body or customer has specifically requested ASTM D4206 testing 

• You need finished-product data on sustained burning characteristics 

• Flash point data alone does not provide the information required for your project 

• You are evaluating the effect of a formulation change on the sustained burning characteristics of a product 

If ASTM D4206 is being completed for Green Seal certification, the applicable Green Seal standard should be reviewed to confirm the requirements for the specific product category. 

More Than Combustibility Testing for Green Seal 

Combustibility is only one of the properties that may need to be evaluated during Green Seal certification. 

Depending on the product category, Green Seal standards may include requirements related to cleaning performance, skin and eye damage, pH, slip resistance, stain removal, chemical resistance, and other product-specific characteristics. 

Dell Tech’s Lab Services Group supports testing across a range of Green Seal product standards, including household, industrial and institutional, laundry, floor-care, and specialty cleaning products. 

For a broader overview of the Green Seal standards and testing services available through Dell Tech, visit Dell Tech Supports Green Seal Certification Testing Across Eight Product Standards. 

ASTM D4206 Testing at Dell Tech Laboratories 

ASTM D4206 provides a standardized way to determine whether a liquid mixture sustains burning under the conditions of the method. For manufacturers pursuing Green Seal certification, it can also provide the test data needed to address applicable combustibility requirements. 

Dell Tech Laboratories offers ASTM D4206 sustained burning testing, ISO 2719 flash point testing, UN TDG L.2 sustained combustibility testing, and a range of additional testing services for Green Seal certification. 

Does your Green Seal standard call for ASTM D4206 testing? Contact Dell Tech Laboratories to discuss your product, testing requirements, sample requirements, and project timeline.