ASTM D6450-12e1

5.1 The flash point temperature is one measure of the tendency of the test specimen to form a flammable mixture with air under controlled laboratory conditions. It is only one of a number of properties that must be considered in assessing the overall flammability hazard of a material.

5.2 Flash point is used in shipping and safety regulations to define flammable and combustible materials and classify them. This definition may vary from regulation to regulation. Consult the particular regulation involved for precise definitions of these classifications.

5.3 This test method can be used to measure and describe the properties of materials in response to heat and an ignition source under controlled laboratory conditions and shall not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test method may be used as elements of a fire risk assessment, which takes into account all of the factors that are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use.

5.4 Flash point can also indicate the possible presence of highly volatile and flammable materials in a relatively nonvolatile or nonflammable material, such as the contamination of lubricating oils by small amounts of diesel fuel or gasoline.

1.1 This flash point test method is a dynamic method and depends on definite rates of temperature increase. It is one of the many flash point test methods available, and every flash point test method, including this one, is an empirical method.