ASTM D378

Flame-retardant belts

ASTM D378 is the flame-retardant standard applied to conveyor belts used in many airports in the United States of America. The method used to verify compliance with this standard is described in Article 30 of the «Code of Federal Regulations (30 CFR) Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)» of the United States Department of Labor.

In summary, 4 samples are taken from the belt, 2 in the warp direction and 2 in the weft direction, and are exposed separately to a flame. Once the flame is removed, in order to certify that the belt is flame-retardant according to ASTM D378, the average flame extinguishing time must be less than or equal to 1 minute. The incandescence cannot exceed an average of 3 minutes after the flame is removed.