Not every ignition source is a large burner. A small fault flame from a failing component is simulated by the needle flame: a fine burner producing a 12 mm flame, applied to the specimen at the angle, position and for the duration the method specifies. Whether the specimen ignites, how long it burns for after the flame is removed, and whether burning drops set fire to the bedding layer below decide the result. IEC 60695-11-5 is the governing method, and end-product standards across the electrotechnical field call it up.
How the Needle Flame Tester works
The specimen is arranged as in service, or as a material sample, above a bedding layer of tissue on a wooden board as the method requires. The needle burner flame is applied to the most onerous point for the set application time. After removal, afterflame duration is timed and the bedding layer is checked for ignition by drips or by the flame itself.
Key specifications
| Standard | IEC 60695-11-5 - needle flame test method |
|---|---|
| Test flame | Standardised small flame, nominal height 12 mm |
| Application | Flame applied to the specimen surface or edge for the duration set in the calling standard |
| Observations | Ignition, duration of burning after removal, ignition of the bedding layer by drips or flame spread |
What the test reports
- Duration of burning after flame removal
- Ignition or non-ignition of specimen and bedding layer
- Pass/fail assessment under the calling product standard
Applications
Electrical and electronic product safety laboratories use needle flame testing for components, small parts and materials where a glow-wire or a 50 W flame test is not the named method. It is one of the three core IEC 60695 small-source tests alongside glow wire and the UL 94 / IEC 60695-11-10 flame tests.
Frequently asked questions
Which standard should I order against?
Order against the standard your reports must cite. The instrument platform is shared across the listed standards, but fixtures, software templates and calibration routines differ, so name the standard (and its year) in your inquiry and the configuration will be matched to it.
Needle flame or glow wire - which does my product standard want?
The two simulate different faults: the needle flame is an actual small flame; the glow wire is a heated element without flame. Your product standard names the one it wants - check its fire hazard clause, or send us the standard number and we will match the apparatus.
What gas does the burner use?
The method defines the burner fuel and flame setting procedure. Confirm gas supply arrangements for your laboratory when you inquire, as supply is arranged locally.
Configuration, installation and support
Every Needle Flame Tester is supplied as a configured system, not a bare instrument: the test chamber or frame, the burner or heater assemblies named in the method, the measurement chain and the control software with the report templates for IEC 60695-11-5. Before quotation we confirm the installation conditions with you - floor loading and ceiling height for large rigs, exhaust and extraction routes, gas and fuel services, and power supply - because a fire test instrument only produces defensible data when the room around it is right. Commissioning covers assembly, calibration of the measurement chain against the method's own checks, and training of your operators on running the test and maintaining the apparatus. Spare ignition parts, thermocouples and other consumables for the first period of operation can be included in the supply, and the instrument is supported with calibration and maintenance services after installation.
What to include in your inquiry
To quote the Needle Flame Tester correctly the first time, send: the standard and edition you will test to (IEC 60695-11-5); the materials or products you will test and their sizes; the configuration options you already know you need; and the destination laboratory's location and available services. If you are building a new fire laboratory rather than adding one instrument, say so - this apparatus is often planned together with the other instruments in its category, and a combined layout and exhaust plan is cheaper than three separate ones.