The IMO A.653 certification is the International Maritime Organization’s criteria for the surface flammability of bulkhead, ceiling, and deck finish materials, and it is suitable for testing products on ships sailing in international waters. It was created for the specific purpose of testing the ignitability of materials that are required to have low flame-spread characteristics.
The scope of testing involves igniting a specimen and, after extinguishment, observing it to determine the following:
- Heat for sustained burning (>1.5)
- Total heat released (>0.7)
- Peak heat release rate (<4.0)