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.

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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.

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What Can Element Offer You For Oxygen Index Testing?

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

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

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

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

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

These are our most prevalent requests. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact us!
  • ASTM D2863-17a

Your Challenges, Our Solutions

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Safety validation rigor

Our comprehensive testing procedures help you efficiently validate material safety properties through established ASTM D2863-17a methods, delivering the data you need to confirm your materials' fire safety performance.
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Streamlined compliance process

We deliver accurate, standard-compliant testing with detailed documentation to support your regulatory requirements, while our expertise in evolving industry regulations helps maintain your compliance status.
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Expert guidance at every step

Our technical experts guide you through selecting the optimal testing procedure for your specific materials, providing support structures and configurations tailored to your testing needs.
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Quality assurance delivered

Advanced testing equipment and paramagnetic oxygen analyzers provide reliable, consistent results for quality validation, supported by our rigorous testing protocols and expert analysis.

Why Choose Element

Element

Global testing network

Access our worldwide laboratory network for convenient, consistent testing services wherever you operate.

Comprehensive fire testing

Comprehensive testing from design through certification for both passive and active fire protection systems.

Certified specialists

Expert technicians specifically qualified for EPS/XPS material testing with latest paramagnetic analyzer equipment.

Fast, reliable results

Accelerate product development with efficient testing protocols delivering precise data for immediate compliance verification.
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