There are two types of pre-selection test programs conducted on plastic materials to measure flammability characteristics. The first determines the material's tendency either to extinguish or to spread the flame once the specimen has been ignited. The first program is described in UL 94 which is now harmonized with IEC 60707, 60695-11-10 and 60695-11-20 and ISO 9772 and 9773.

The second test program measures the ignition resistance of the plastic to electrical ignition sources. The material's resistance to ignition and surface tracking characteristics is described in UL 746A, which is similar to the test procedures described in IEC 60112, 60695 and 60950.