Klass.-Nr. Class. No.

55 31 1 December 2000

Norm vor Anwendung auf Aktualität prüfen / Check standard for current issue prior to usage.
Insulating Material PV
3357
Numerical notation according to ISO practice (see VW 01000).

Behavior during Flame Exposure with a Burner

Surface and Edge Flame Exposure
In case of discrepancies the German version shall govern.

Konzernnorm
Descriptors: flame exposure, insulating material, burning behavior
The English translation is believed to be accurate.

Previous issues
First issue: 1998-06

Changes
The following changes have been made as compared to the June 1998 issue:
─ Completely revised

Contents
Page

1 Scope.............................................................................................................................. 1
2 Equipment....................................................................................................................... 2
3 Specimens ...................................................................................................................... 2
4 Pretreatment of the specimens ....................................................................................... 3
5 Test scope ...................................................................................................................... 3
6 Test procedure................................................................................................................ 3
7 Evaluation ....................................................................................................................... 5
8 Definitions ....................................................................................................................... 5
9 Requirements and evaluation ......................................................................................... 5
10 Referenced standards..................................................................................................... 5
A.1 Test report on PV 3357 – horizontal specimen setup (surface flame exposure) ............ 6
A.2 Test report on PV 3357 – vertical specimen setup (edge flame exposure) .................... 7

Preface
This test specification is used in sample and standard-production testing.

1 Scope
Test of burning behavior of materials and components for damping and absorption parts in the engine
compartment as well as on the vehicle underbody for vehicles with spark ignition and diesel engines.
Surface and edge flame exposure is used on specimens made from composite materials and
specimens made from a single individual materials.
The testing of components of relevance for vehicles, particularly also in a position similar
to the as-installed condition, is beyond the scope of this test specification.
Form FE 41 - 10.99

Page 1 of 7
Fachverantwortung/Responsibility Normung/Standards
N/EG-33 Hr. Gerber I/ET-3 Tel: 33904 Gradl

Confidential. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be transmitted or reproduced without prior permission of a Standards Department of the Volkswagen Group.
Parties to a contract can only obtain this standard via the B2B supplier platform “www.vwgroupsupply.com”.

 VOLKSWAGEN AG
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PV 3357: 2000-12

1.1 Composite materials

Unless specified otherwise, the test specification applies to the burning behavior of the two sides of
the component and, for systems based on cotton fiber nonwovens, also to the open cut surface
(destroyed specimen or interior surface) of the total structure, halved in thickness for example,
for all component-specific wall thicknesses with horizontal and vertical specimen mounting.
Specimens according to Section 3 are used.

1.2 Individual materials

The test specification applies to the burning behavior of individual materials, such as specimens
from the individual layers of the material composite of damping parts, and to specimens from parts
that are made of a single individual material.

2 Equipment

2.1 Burner
The burner used for this test is a Bunsen burner equipped with a gas shutoff cock for regulating the gas
supply and a slider for air regulation.
The burner is hooked up via a hose to a commercial pressure reducer upstream of the gas cylinder.

2.2 Fuel
The burner uses commercial propane gas or an equivalent gas with the same calorific value.

2.3 Specimen holder

The mounting for the specimen must be designed in such a way that the specimen according
to Section 3 can be fixed above the flame either with a horizontal surface or with a vertical edge.

3 Specimens
The dimensions of the specimens are at least (230 x 200) mm.
Two specimens of the minimum and two specimens of the maximum thickness of the component
to be evaluated shall be tested for assessing the surface flame exposure.
Four specimens of the minimum and four specimens of the maximum thickness of the component
to be evaluated shall be tested for assessing the edge flame exposure. In each case, two
specimens with a stamped edge and two specimens with open cut edges shall be subjected to
flame exposure.
The material thicknesses are measured in the center of the test surface and must be specified
in the test report.

3.1 Sample sheets

The testing of sample sheets is permissible, provided these have the same material structure
and the same material properties as the component. The minimum size of the sample sheets
is (230 x 200) mm.
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PV 3357: 2000-12

4 Pretreatment of the specimens

Prior to testing, the specimens shall be conditioned for at least 24 h in the DIN 50 014-23/50-2
standard climate. Deviations are subject to special agreement.

5 Test scope
Specimen variants according to Table 1:
A minimum of two specimens must be tested per variant. If an unambiguous classification
as described in the test report is not possible after the test, two further specimens must be tested.

Table 1:
Surface flame exposure Edge flame exposure
Specimen mounted horizontally Specimen mounted vertically

Interior surface Interior surface

Composite X *) X *)
systems
Individual
materials
Substrates X *) X *)
Nonwoven covers X - X -
*) Test only applies to systems based on cotton fiber nonwovens

6 Test procedure
Conditions in the test room should comply with the standard climate according to
DIN 50 014-23/50-2.
The support frame and the specimen holders must be cooled to room temperature (18 to 28) ºC
prior to the respective burn test.
The flame exposure test is divided into a short-term flame exposure of 15 s and a long-term flame
exposure of 10 min.
An extraction system for the flame test equipment may extract the exhaust gases produced but
must not impair the burner flame or prevent the formation of flames on the specimen or contribute
to the flame on the specimen increasing in size or spreading.
Unless otherwise specified, during the surface flame exposure both sides of the specimen are
flamed. If only one side is to be flamed, then the side facing away from the body-in-white
(e.g. visible side in engine compartment) is flamed.
Short-term flame exposure:
After a flame exposure period of 15 s, the gas supply is shut off and the first specimen is evaluated
according to the test report.
The burner and a second specimen are then moved into position and the test is continued on this
new specimen using long-term flame exposure.
Long-term flame exposure:
After a flame exposure period of 10 min, the gas supply is shut off and the second specimen is
evaluated according to the test report.
Short-term and long-term flame exposure are to be regarded as one test according to the test
scope.
Suitable templates are to be used for setting the required distances and/or flame heights.
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PV 3357: 2000-12

6.1 Flame exposure – specimen mounted horizontally (see Figure 1)

A blazing, yellow flame with a flame height of 100 mm is set with the burner in the vertical position.
No air is admitted into the burner tube.
The burner must have been burning for at least 1 minute after the flame height is adjusted; it may
be necessary to readjust the flame height.
The clamped specimen is fixed horizontally into the mounting; the burner is positioned under
the specimen in such a way that the flame strikes the specimen surface at the point where
the diagonals intersect (center of the specimen surface).
The distance between the top of the burner and the specimen surface is 90 mm.
The specimen is flamed according to Section 6.

Specimen

90 mm

Burner with flame

Figure 1: Specimen mounted horizontally

6.2 Flame exposure – specimen mounted vertically (Figure 2)

A blazing, yellow flame with a flame height of 40 mm is set with the burner in the vertical position.
No air is admitted into the burner tube.
The burner must have been burning for at least 1 minute after the flame height is adjusted; it may
be necessary to readjust the flame height.
The specimen is fixed vertically in the mounting and the burner is then placed in the vertical position
under the edge of the specimen in such a way that the flame reaches the edge to be tested.
The distance between the top of the burner nozzle and the bottom edge of the specimen is 30 mm,
see Figure 2: Item 1
For the open cut edge, the burner must be set up in such a way that the cut edge to be tested
is located centrally above the burner, see Figure 2: Item 2
The specimen is flame-tested according to Section 6.
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PV 3357: 2000-12

Item 1 Item 2

30 mm

Figure 2: Specimen mounted vertically

7 Evaluation
A test report according to Appendix A.1 and Appendix A.2 shall contain information on the given
specimen's progression of burning.
Any special observations during the test – such as smoking, glowing combustion, hole burned
through the specimen, dripping of burning matter, matter that has dropped off and continues
to burn, etc. – must be specified in the test report.

8 Definitions
The burning time in the context of this test specification is the time between the extinguishing of the
specimen and the ignition of the specimen (not the start of the flame exposure).

9 Requirements and evaluation

The burning behavior requirements according to this test specification will be provided in a material-
specific/ component-specific technical supply specification, drawing and/or release.
The result of the burn tests on the material composite (i.e. specimen removed from the component)
in conformity with the drawing is always used for the material release.
Individual layers of a composite material are tested; the results are not primarily used for the release.
The requirement for individual layers of a composite material may deviate from the requirements
for composite materials.

10 Referenced standards 1)
DIN 50 014 Climates and Their Technical Application; Standard Atmospheres

1)
In this section terminological inconsistencies may occur as the original titles are used.
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PV 3357: 2000-12

A.1 Test report on PV 3357 – horizontal specimen mounting (surface flame exposure)
Supplier: Test date
Signature

Specimen designation
Drawing number
Specimen version (dimensions, thickness)
Flame exposure period (short-term, long-term)

Characteristic Flame exposure

Surface Back Destroyed specimen
Ignition of the specimen
within the flame exposure period
yes/no

Ignition of the specimen after s/min

Specimen extinguishes after s/min
Burning time s/min
Damaged area ∅ mm

Glowing combustion of the specimen within the

flame exposure period yes/no
Start of glowing combustion s/min
Glowing combustion time s/min

Glowing combustion of the specimen after

end of flame exposure yes/no
Afterglow time s/min

Smoking during
the flame exposure period yes/no

Smoking after
end of flame exposure yes/no
Smoking s/min

Hole burned through yes/no

Burning of a hole after a
flame exposure period of s/min
Dripping of burning matter
yes/no
Dropped matter continuing
to burn yes/no

Additional remarks
(special observations)
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PV 3357: 2000-12

A.2 Test report on PV 3357 – vertical specimen mounting (edge flame exposure)
Supplier: Test date
Signature

Specimen designation
Drawing number
Specimen version (dimensions, thickness)
Flame exposure period (short-term, long-term)
Characteristic Flame exposure of the bottom specimen surface or edge
Total structure, undestroyed Destroyed specimen
Ignition of the specimen
within the flame exposure period
yes/no

Ignition of the specimen after s/min

Specimen extinguishes after s/min
Burning time s/min
Damaged area (h x w)

Glowing combustion of the specimen within the

flame exposure period yes/no
Start of glowing combustion s/min
Glowing combustion time s/min

Glowing combustion of the specimen after

end of flame exposure yes/no
Afterglow time s/min

Smoking during the

flame exposure period yes/no

Smoking after
end of flame exposure yes/no
Smoking s/min

Hole burned through yes/no

Burning of a hole after a
flame exposure period of s/min
Dripping of burning matter
yes/no
Dropped matter continuing
to burn yes/no

Additional remarks
(special observations)