Oxygen Index Testing
Verify the safety and compliance of your materials with precise oxygen index testing to ASTM D2863-17a standards. Our certified experts use the latest equipment to deliver accurate flammability measurements while providing comprehensive fire safety guidance, from design strategies to certification, accelerating your product development while ensuring regulatory compliance.

What is Oxygen Index Testing at Element?
Oxygen Index Testing determines the minimum oxygen concentration required to support candle-like combustion in materials. At Element, we provide ASTM D2863-17a testing using paramagnetic oxygen analyzers across multiple testing procedures. These values, known as the Oxygen Index (OI) or historically as the Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), are critical measurements for material safety assessment.

What Can Element Offer You For Oxygen Index Testing?
Materials We Test
Materials We Test
Element tests a comprehensive range of materials including polymers, fabrics, cables, laminates, rubber, and nylon. Our testing capabilities support diverse industry applications, from building materials to consumer products. Our team is specifically certified to test EPS and XPS materials to verify their fire safety properties and compliance with industry standards.
- Polymers and plastics
- Fabrics and textiles
- Cables and wiring systems
- Laminates and composites
- Rubber and nylon compounds
Key Tests Offered
Key Tests Offered
We perform all three ASTM D2863-17a procedures to measure minimum oxygen concentration values for candle-like combustion. Our testing includes:
- Top surface ignition assessment
- Propagating ignition analysis
- Comparative oxygen concentration testing
- Minimum oxygen concentration measurement
- Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI) determination
Methods And Solutions Offered
Methods And Solutions Offered
Our testing solutions incorporate paramagnetic oxygen analysis with specialized physical support structures tailored to your material type. Element’s experts determine the oxygen concentration of a material using a paramagnetic oxygen analyzer and one of three specialized testing methods, depending on the material type.
- Procedure A: Measures top surface ignition.
- Procedure B: Measures propagating ignition.
- Procedure C: Compares the material to a pre-established oxygen concentration to assess whether combustion occurs.
Our technical experts will guide you in selecting the appropriate procedure, advising on methods, and specific oxygen index test equipment, and providing physical support structures as needed, based on the material type.
We also provide comprehensive guidance on procedure selection and detailed analysis of results, helping you understand the implications for your materials' safety performance.
- Material-specific testing configurations
- Custom physical support structures
- Detailed results analysis
- Expert procedure selection guidance
- Comprehensive documentation support
Cutting-Edge Equipment We Use
Cutting-Edge Equipment We Use
We utilize advanced paramagnetic oxygen analyzers and specialized testing apparatus fully compliant with ASTM D2863-17a requirements. Our equipment undergoes regular calibration and updates to maintain the highest testing accuracy and reliability for your materials. .
Which Labs Offer This Service
Which Labs Offer This Service
Among our global network of fire and flammability testing labs, Element Toronto and Warrington have specialized expertise in oxygen index testing.
Standards we test to and materials we test
- ASTM D2863-17a
- Fabrics and textiles
- Polymers and plastics
- Cables and wiring
- Laminates
- Rubber compounds
- Nylon materials
- EPS and XPS materials
Your Challenges, Our Solutions
Safety validation rigor
Streamlined compliance process
Expert guidance at every step
Quality assurance delivered
Why Choose Element

Global testing network
Comprehensive fire testing
Certified specialists
Fast, reliable results

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