The fabric burn test — also called fiber burn testing or pyrolytic analysis — is a qualitative identification method in which a small sample of fabric or yarn is exposed to an open flame. By observing how the material behaves near, in, and after the flame — including the flame color, rate of. The Textile Wiki pages are a publication of the Textile Specialty Group of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works. Publication does not endorse or recommend any treatments, methods. Burn test is one of the simple and commonly used methods for fiber analysis. By analyzing factors like flame speed, smoke color, odor, and residue, you can determine what a fabric is made of. Also, useful for the sourcing team, who continuously trying to verify fiber composition from dead stock suppliers.