Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

SUPPLEMENT 3

Marcelo M. Hirschler

Editor’s Note: This supplement is written to assist the reader in determining the applicability of fire test standards, especially those found in the Life Safety Code. Dr. Marcelo M. Hirschler is a fire safety consultant with GBH International. He chairs the NFPA Technical Committee on Hazard and Risk of Contents and Furnishings and the Advisory Committee on the Glossary on Terminology and is a member of various other NFPA technical committees, including the Technical Committee on Fire Tests. He is also active in the ASTM committee E05 on Fire Standards and in a number of other codes and standards arenas.

FIRE PROPERTIES Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, originally identical to NFPA 255, Standard Fire test standards typically relate to two types of fire Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Build- properties: fire resistance and reaction-to-fire. Fire re- ing Materials. This is a test that is so extensively used in sistance is associated with fire barriers and opening many codes (including the Life Safety Code®) that it is protection. Thus, fire resistance tests are concerned often specified for assessing fire properties it cannot with preventing fire from penetrating into a compart- measure or for testing materials that it should not be ment. Reaction-to-fire is associated with materials and used with. ASTM E 84 is a reaction-to-fire test that is products, including interior finishes, furnishings and suitable to determine the flame spread index and contents. Reaction-to-fire tests are concerned with pre- smoke developed index of materials. Moreover, in venting the fire from causing damage, by minimizing order for a material to be suitable for this test, the ma- or eliminating the release of heat, smoke, and combus- terial must, by its own structural quality or the manner tion products or the spread of flame. Performance- in which it is applied, be capable of supporting itself in based provisions related to fire modeling use position or of being supported in the test apparatus. primarily results of reaction-to-fire tests. This test has often been specified, incorrectly, to obtain Evaluating the level of performance or prescribed results on properties like fire resistance (which should function offered by tested materials or assemblies re- be measured using NFPA 251, Standard Methods of Tests quires an understanding of both the mechanics of a of Fire Resistance of Building Construction and Materials), particular test and its limitations. Every test standard or to determine whether a material is noncombustible contains, in its scope and applicability, information ex- (which should be assessed with a test like ASTM E 136, plaining what it is supposed to do (namely what prop- Standard Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Verti- erties it measures) and for what type of materials it cal Tube Furnace at 750°C), or whether it is limited com- should be used. This is very important because it is a bustible (which is determined by testing in accordance common error to use a test for the wrong material or to with NFPA 259, Standard Test Method for Potential Heat test for the wrong issue. A test that is commonly spec- of Building Materials). See also the discussion on com- ified for an incorrect use is ASTM E 84, Standard Test bustibility fire testing below. Other misapplications

1181 1182 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

include using the test for products, such as furniture, proper technical documentation is provided to that cannot be physically placed in the apparatus, or demonstrate equivalency between the tests and ver- for materials that cannot be supported in the appara- ify that the alternative approach fulfills the in- tus throughout the test. tended purpose of the applicable code requirement. Many of the tests referred to in the Life Safety The 2009 edition of the Life Safety Code officially rec- Code have equivalent counterparts administered by ognizes the technical equivalence of ASTM and UL other standards-writing organizations such as the standard test methods to the corresponding NFPA American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) test methods: ASTM E 119 and UL 263 for NFPA and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). In recent 251, ASTM E 2074 and UL 10B for NFPA 252 (both years all three organizations have withdrawn some sets of fire resistance tests) and ASTM E 84 and UL of their standards for harmonization purposes. Sec- 723 for the uses where NFPA 255 was previously re- tion 1.4 of the Life Safety Code permits the applica- quired, ASTM E 648 for NFPA 253, ASTM E 108 and tion or use of equivalent alternatives. Alternatives UL 790 for NFPA 256, ASTM E 1352 for NFPA 261, could include fire test documents different from and ASTM E 1353 for NFPA 260 (all sets of reaction- those specified, or different test protocols if the to-fire tests). See Table S3.1.

Table S3.1 Fire Test Standards

NFPA ASTM UL

251, Standard Methods of Tests of Fire E 119, Standard Test Methods for Fire 263, Standard for Fire Tests of Building Resistance of Building Construction and Tests of Building Construction and Construction and Materials Materials Materials1 252, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of E 2074, Standard Test Method for Fire 10B, Standard for Fire Tests of Door Door Assemblies Tests of Door Assemblies, Including Assemblies Positive Pressure Testing of Side-Hinged and Pivoted Swinging Door Assemblies (replaced ASTM E 152, withdrawn) 253, Standard Method of Test for Critical E 648, Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source 255, Standard Method of Test of Surface E 84, Standard Test Method for Surface 723, Standard for Test for Surface Burning Burning Characteristics of Building Burning Characteristics of Building Characteristics of Building Materials Materials (proposed for withdrawal) Materials 256, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of E 108, Standard Test Methods for Fire 790, Standard for Standard Test Methods Roof Coverings (withdrawn) Tests of Roof Coverings for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings

257, Standard on Fire Test for Window E 2010, Standard Test Method for 9, Standard for Fire Tests of Window and Glass Block Assemblies Positive Pressure Fire Tests of Window Assemblies Assemblies (replaced ASTM E 163, withdrawn) 258, Recommended Practice for E 662, Standard Test Method for Specific Determining Smoke Generation of Solid Optical Density of Smoke Generated by Materials (withdrawn) Solid Materials 259, Standard Test Method for Potential Heat of Building Materials 260, Standard Methods of Tests and E 1353, Standard Test Methods for Classification System for Cigarette Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Ignition Resistance of Components of Components of Upholstered Furniture Upholstered Furniture 261, Standard Method of Test for E 1352, Standard Test Method for Determining Resistance of Mock-Up Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Mock-Up Upholstered Furniture Material Upholstered Furniture Assemblies Assemblies to Ignition by Smoldering Cigarettes

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Fire Properties 1183

Table S3.1 Continued

NFPA ASTM UL

262, Standard Method of Test for Flame 910, Standard for Safety Test for Flame- Travel and Smoke of Wires and Cables Propagation and Smoke-Density Values for for Use in Air-Handling Spaces Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cables Used in Spaces Transporting Environmental Air (withdrawn) 263, Standard Method of Test for Heat E 906, Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products (withdrawn) Materials and Products 265, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for 1715*, Standard for Fire Test of Interior Evaluating Room Fire Growth Finish Material Contribution of Textile Coverings on Full Height Panels and Walls 266, Standard Method of Test for Fire E 1537, Standard Test Method for Fire 1056, Standard for Safety Fire Test of Characteristics of Upholstered Furniture Testing of Upholstered Furniture Upholstered Furniture (withdrawn) Exposed to Flaming Ignition Source (withdrawn) 267, Standard Method of Test for Fire E 1590, Standard Test Method for Fire 1895, Standard for Safety Fire Test of Characteristics of Mattresses and Testing of Mattresses Mattresses (withdrawn) Bedding Assemblies Exposed to Flaming Ignition Source (withdrawn) 268, Standard Test Method for Determining Ignitibility of Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source 269, Standard Test Method for E 1678, Standard Test Method for Developing Toxic Potency Data for Use in Measuring Smoke Toxicity for Use in Fire Fire Hazard Modeling Hazard Analysis E 1822, Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Stacked Chairs 270, Standard Test Method for E 1995, Standard Test Method for Measurement of Smoke Obscuration Measurement of Smoke Obscuration Using a Conical Radiant Source in a Using a Conical Radiant Source in a Single Closed Chamber Single Closed Chamber, with the Test Specimen Oriented Horizontally 271, Standard Method of Test for Heat E 1354, Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter Consumption Calorimeter 272, Standard Method of Test for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Upholstered Furniture Components or Composites and Mattresses Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter (withdrawn) 285, Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load- Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components

(continues)

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1184 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

Table S3.1 Continued

NFPA ASTM UL

286, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for 1715*, Standard for Fire Test of Interior Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Finish Material Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth 287, Standard Test Methods for E 2058, Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Flammability of Measurement of Synthetic Polymer Materials in Cleanrooms Using a Fire Material Flammability Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA) Propagation Apparatus (FPA) 288, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Floor Fire Door Assemblies Installed Horizontally in Fire Resistance–Rated Floor Systems 289, Standard Method of Fire Test for 1975, Standard for Fire Tests for Foamed Individual Fuel Packages Plastics Used for Decorative Purposes 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for D 568, Standard Test Method for Rate of 214, Standard for Safety Tests for Flame- Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films Burning and/or Extent and Time of Propagation of Fabrics and Films Burning of Flexible Plastics in a Vertical (withdrawn) Position) (withdrawn) 705, Recommended Practice for a Field D 1929, Standard Test Method for Ignition Flame Test for Textiles and Films Properties of Plastics D 2859, Standard Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials E 136, Standard Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C E 162, Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source E 814, Standard Test Method for Fire Tests 1479, Standard for Fire Tests of Through- of Through-Penetration Fire Stops Penetration Firestops E 1529, Standard Test Methods for 1709, Standard for Rapid Rise Fire Tests of Determining Effects of Large Hydrocarbon Protection Materials for Structural Steel Pool Fires on Structural Members and Assemblies E 1623, Test Method for Determination of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials, Products, and Systems Using an Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL) E 1966, Standard Test Method for Fire- 2079, Standard for Tests for Fire Resistance Resistive Joint Systems of Building Joint Systems E 2257, Standard Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and Assemblies

Note: This table contains NFPA fire test standards and those fire test standards from other organizations, ASTM and UL, that are either similar to NFPA fire test standards or relevant to the Life Safety Code. *UL 1715 is different from both NFPA 265 and NFPA 286, but is a room-corner fire test, normally used for the same purposes as those other tests. That is, it assesses the fire behavior of an interior finish material in a full-scale scenario. See the section on interior wall and ceiling finish later in this supplement. UL 1975 is similar but not identical to NFPA 289 but can be used for the same applications.

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Fire Resistance Testing 1185

FIRE RESISTANCE TESTING struction element), except for columns and beams, to a standard time-temperature curve (as shown in Exhibit Buildings or structures occupied or used in accordance S3.1) inside a furnace leaving the other side unex- with the individual occupancy chapters of the Life posed. This is known as a time-temperature curve be- Safety Code (Chapters 11 through 43) are required to cause the test method specifies the temperature that meet the minimum construction requirements of those needs to be measured in the furnace at each point in chapters. NFPA 220, Standard on Types of Building Con- time. The furnace used must be capable of providing struction,1 is referenced in Chapter 8 of the Life Safety the prescribed temperatures over a given period of Code. It describes the types of building construction time, by following the time-temperature curve shown (that is, construction classifications) and the fire resis- in Exhibit S3.1. The test method provides criteria for tance ratings applicable to each construction element assessing how long (in hours or minutes) it takes for for each type of building. The fire test to be used to as- heat to penetrate each assembly and reach an unac- sess fire resistance ratings of elements of building con- ceptable temperature rise on the unexposed side or struction is NFPA 251, Standard Methods of Tests of Fire protected element, and how long it takes for the flame Resistance of Building Construction and Materials. See or hot gases penetrating through the assembly to ig- also Table S3.1 for alternative similar fire test methods. nite cotton waste placed on the unexposed side, dur- NFPA 251 (also referenced primarily in Chapter 8) ap- ing the test. The fire resistance rating will be the time plies to assemblies of masonry units, composite as- at which the first of the failure criteria is reached, as assemblies of structural materials for buildings sessed either by the transmission of heat, the passage (including interior and exterior bearing and other of hot gases sufficient to ignite cotton waste, or by walls and partitions, columns, girders, beams, slabs, structural collapse of the test specimen assembly. The and composite slab and beam assemblies for floors temperature rise failure criterion on the unexposed and roofs), as well as other assemblies and structural side is 250°F (140°C) above the test specimen’s initial units that constitute permanent integral parts of a fin- temperature for walls and partitions. For load bearing ished building. The fire test has specific testing criteria elements, the test also monitors the load carrying ca- for each type of assembly. Fire barriers, or fire barrier pability of the test specimen during the test exposure. assemblies, are intended to be used as separation bar- When required, the fire exposure is followed by the riers or to provide protection of building elements application of a specified standard fire hose stream. from the effects of fire for a given time as required by If the assembly to be evaluated will be used as a Chapter 8, Features of Fire Protection. It is important load-bearing element, the test is conducted with a load to note that a fire resistance rating applies to the entire placed on the assembly, to evaluate the load-bearing assembly as tested. A fire resistance rating is never as- capacity of the assembly. Some construction assem- signed to an individual material or product; rather it blies are simply intended to limit the transmission or represents the composite performance of an assembly temperature and/or flames to the unexposed surface. including all of the components and the specific con- On the other hand, many construction assemblies, struction details of the rated assembly. such as beams and columns, and floor and roof as- NFPA 251 exposes one side of an assembly (con- semblies, must also sustain an applied load for a pe-

2500 1400 Exhibit S3.1 Standard time- temperature curves for NFPA 1200 251/252 and for NFPA 257. 2000 1000

1500 800

600 1000

Temperature (deg F) 400 Temperature (deg C) 500 200

0 0 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Time (minutes)

NFPA 251/252 FNFPA 257 F NFPA 251/252 C NFPA 257 C

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1186 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

riod of time equal to the desired fire resistance rating, Tests of Through-Penetration Fire Stops. All of these tests and must therefore be tested under the relevant ap- use basically the same standard time-temperature plied load. Walls and partitions are thus permitted to curve that NFPA 251 uses (except that the curve in be tested either with load or without. NFPA 257 includes more detail over the short initial Depending on the structural design of the assem- time periods; see Exhibit S3.1). However, there are also bly, certain levels of temperature must not be exceeded some differentiating characteristics, which are related at any one point, or an average temperature cannot be to the products being tested. NFPA 80, Standard for Fire exceeded, with temperature limitations ranging from Doors and Other Opening Protectives,2 contains installa- 800°F to 1300°F (427°C to 704°C). An alternative test tion requirements for all types of fire doors and win- exists for structural steel columns, whereby the col- dows, and thereby regulates the installation and umn is not loaded during the test. The test measures maintenance of assemblies and devices used to protect the ability of the added protection to control the trans- openings in walls, floors, and ceilings against the mission of heat through the specimen during the spec- spread of fire and smoke within, into, or out of build- ified period of fire exposure. The average temperature ings. NFPA 80 is extensively referenced in the Life of the steel in such columns must not rise above 1000°F Safety Code, especially in Chapter 7 (Means of Egress) (538°C), and the temperature in any one of the mea- and Chapter 8 (Features of Fire Protection). sured points cannot exceed 1200°F (649°C). In many cases, the assembly is also subjected to a Building Products hose stream test. The use of such a test was inspired by the interest in simulating the effect of water hoses used Fire Doors. Door assemblies in fire barriers must be by emergency personnel to fight fires; in fact, however, tested according to NFPA 252, Standard Methods of Fire the hose stream test itself is not intended to simulate Tests of Door Assemblies (see also Table S3.1 for alterna- that effect. If required to pass a hose stream test, an as- tive similar fire test methods). NFPA 252 provides sembly with a fire rating of 1 hour or more would have methods for measuring the relative performance of to survive exposure to a hose stream test for half the fire door assemblies where subjected to a prescribed period of its fire resistance rating, but not for more fire test exposure followed by a prescribed hose stream than 1 hour. When the condition of acceptance re- application, using the same time-temperature curve as quires a hose stream test, after the fire resistance rating NFPA 251 (see Exhibit S3.1). The fire door assembly has been established, a duplicate assembly is exposed must be tested as a complete assembly, because the ef- in the furnace to the time-temperature curve for the fectiveness of the opening protective depends on a sat- period required by the hose stream test conditions, isfactory performance of the entire door assembly, then removed from the furnace and immediately sub- which consists of the door, door frame, and associated jected to the hose stream test. The hose stream is de- hardware. In NFPA 252, the fire door assembly speci- livered under pre-set conditions (based on a certain men is mounted in a furnace wall and exposed to the hose, play pipe nozzle, distance from the test speci- standard time-temperature curve. The door assembly men, nozzle pressure, and test duration). The hose is not permitted to develop gaps or openings through stream is applied in a specific pattern to fully develop the assembly, nor is flaming permitted to occur on the the effects of impact, cooling, and erosion on the entire unexposed surface of a door assembly during the first test specimen. The specimen must withstand the hose 30 minutes of the fire resistance-rating period, al- stream test such that no openings are created that though some intermittent light flames no greater than would permit projection of water from the hose stream 6 in. (150 mm) are permitted for periods not exceeding beyond the unexposed surface. 10-second intervals. After that 30-minute period, inter- Further information on specific testing criteria and mittent flames are permitted to occur along the edges testing limitations can be found in NFPA 251, which of the unexposed surface area of the door, if they do should be consulted before making any firm decisions not exceed 5 minutes and are no greater than 6 in. (150 about the applicability of certain tests, or testing of cer- mm). For doors having a fire protection rating of 45 tain assemblies. minutes or greater, flames not greater than 6 in. (150 Other fire resistance tests used by the Life Safety mm) in length are permitted to occur on the unex- Code are NFPA 252, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of posed surface area of the door during the last 15 min- Door Assemblies; NFPA 257, Standard on Fire Test for utes of the fire protection rating period during the fire Window and Glass Block Assemblies; NFPA 288, Standard test, provided such flaming is contained within a dis- 1 Methods of Fire Tests of Floor Fire Door Assemblies In- tance of 1/2 in. (38 mm) from the vertical edge and 3 in. stalled Horizontally in Fire Resistance–Rated Floor Sys- (76 mm) from the top edge of the door or frame of the tems; and ASTM E 814, Standard Test Method for Fire vision panel. When the door hardware is also evalu-

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Fire Resistance Testing 1187

ated for use on fire doors, it must keep the door in a detailed in NFPA 252 (for fire doors) and in NFPA 257 closed position for an exposure period of 3 hours. The (for fire window assemblies). Fire resistance rating is the latch bolt must remain projected and be intact after the appropriate term for use with a fire barrier, such as used fire exposure test. Note the absence of any criterion ad- in walls or floors. In the Life Safety Code and NFPA5000®, dressing temperature transmission to the unexposed Building Construction and Safety Code®3, the technical side. The fire doors must usually also be exposed to a committees have been very careful to use each term ap- hose stream test, which subjects the test assembly to propriately and consistently. However, there are fire the impact, erosion, and cooling effects of the hose doors and glazing assemblies that have a fire resistance stream, immediately following the fire resistance test. rating by virtue of the fact that they were tested using The hose stream is directed at the middle and then at NFPA 251; in that case the code does not consider them all parts of the exposed surface, slowly making to be opening protectives. changes in direction. However, certain provisions within the Life Safety Code provide for the installation Fire Window Assemblies. Fire window assemblies are of door assemblies having a fire protection rating of 20 permitted to be used in fire barriers having a fire resis- minutes without the hose stream test. One must care- tance rating of one hour or less if they have a fire pro- fully evaluate the particular requirements associated tection rating of 45 minutes and represent up to 25 with the opening protective so that it satisfies the min- percent of the fire barrier. Fire windows must be tested imum acceptable criteria. in accordance with NFPA 257, Standard on Fire Test for A modern trend within code-writing organiza- Window and Glass Block Assemblies (see also Table S3.1 for tions is to require certain applications of fire door as- alternative similar fire test methods and Exhibit S3.1 for semblies (typically side-hinged and swinging doors) the time-temperature curve). The NFPA 257 test method to be tested under a positive pressure scenario. This is intended to evaluate the ability of a window or other provision requires that the door assemblies be tested light-transmitting assembly to remain in an opening with a neutral pressure plane located 40 in. (1015 mm) during a predetermined test exposure period. Recent above the finished floor. NFPA 252 does not stipulate editions of NFPA 257 have no references to a particular the height of the neutral plane but records the height time limit for testing, and time-temperature guidelines in the test results. This permits the test standard to ac- are included for up to 3 hours. Earlier editions limited commodate the many gradients of pressure planes at testing to 45 minutes, but now the test is permitted to be which a furnace can be operated. The test report docu- run for the length of time a test sponsor requests. The ment issued following a classification test records the period of time is then recorded on the appropriate test location of the neutral pressure plane to which the records. A testing time limit is no longer relevant be- door assembly has been tested. The Life Safety Code cause new materials and technology exist for window does not stipulate the minimum required height of the assemblies that will permit increased exposure times neutral pressure plane for testing the door. If a neutral and maintain the integrity of the fire barriers in which plane is not established along the height of the test they are installed. Note that, just as in NFPA 252, there specimen, then it is assumed that the door will be is no criterion addressing temperature transmission to tested under normal testing procedures, which is run- the unexposed side. Discussions are continuing on the ning the furnace at near atmospheric pressure. This amount of radiant heat permitted to transfer through would establish the neutral pressure plane at the top the window assembly to the unexposed side of the win- of the door assembly. It is generally recognized that, if dow. Currently, the radiant heat transferred is not re- a lower neutral pressure plane is established on the quired to be recorded. A test procedure is available to door assembly within the furnace, then the test could measure this radiant heat flux and is detailed in Annex be considered to be more severe. A door tested under C of NFPA 257, with some additional information on ra- a positive pressure should be accepted as meeting the diant heat transmissions in Annex B. The conditions as- requirements established for a door tested at atmos- sociated with radiant energy could be considered as a pheric pressure. Listing agencies have different ap- factor in the application of a fire-modeling program that proaches on how to list and label doors being tested might have an occupant passing by such opening pro- under positive pressure. Additional information asso- tectives, or could, in principle, be used as pass/fail cri- ciated with these criteria can be found in NFPA 80, teria. All considerations and applications for a Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, material’s particular use should be reviewed with the which should be consulted for the installation require- limitations of the test results in mind. ments associated with all types of fire doors. In NFPA 257, the test specimen is mounted in a fur- Fire protection rating is the appropriate term for the nace wall and exposed to the standard time-tempera- fire resistance associated with an opening protective as ture curve. A window assembly is considered to have

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1188 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

met the requirements for acceptable performance if it remains in the opening during the fire resistance and hose stream tests, within the following five criteria:

1. No flaming shall occur on the unexposed surface of the assembly. 2. There shall be no separation of the glazing material edges from the glazing frame that creates openings. 3. At the perimeter of operable components, movement from the initial closed position shall not exceed the thickness of the frame member at any point. 4. The window assembly shall not move away from the wall to the extent that an opening is created. 5. There shall be no openings in the window assembly.

Exhibits S3.2 and S3.3 represent two views of an assembly that has been exposed to both the fire resistance and the hose stream tests. As with fire doors, fire windows are installed in accordance with the provisions of NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives, which should be consulted for the installation requirements associated with all types of fire windows. NFPA 80 includes limitations on the size Exhibit S3.2 Unexposed side of window assembly after fire and total area permitted for the glazing material in- exposure and hose stream application. stalled in fire window assemblies, and also requires that each individual glazing unit have a label that is visible after installation. Also, in NFPA 80, fire window assemblies having a rating of 20 minutes or 30 minutes are limited to the size that has been tested. A window protection of 45 minutes is limited to the maximum area tested and must have no exposed area of individual glazing material exceeding 1296 in.2 (0.84 m2) and no dimension exceeding 54 in. (1370 mm), unless it has been specifically tested with dimensions in excess of those values. Glazing is currently available that has been tested with dimensions exceeding that size limitation. One should review the appropriate listing associated with the protection rating given to a fire window assembly. Many types of glazing materials are being introduced into the market, and several types of fire-rated glazing products (including wired glass) can satisfy the acceptance criteria of NFPA 257. Nonsymmetrical fire protection–rated glazing systems are tested with each face exposed to the furnace, and the assigned fire protection rating is that of the shortest duration obtained from the two tests conducted. It is important that the installation and testing limitations be reviewed for the particular installation. Technological advances within the glazing indus- Exhibit S3.3 Exposed side of window assembly after fire try have provided systems using fire-resistant glazing exposure and hose stream application.

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Fire Resistance Testing 1189

materials that are actually fire barrier walls. These An acceptable T rating is one that limits the rise of the glazing walls would have been tested in accordance temperature on the unexposed surface of the penetrat- with NFPA 251 and satisfy the particular pass/fail cri- ing firestop system or penetrating item to no more teria for fire barriers. The pass/fail criteria include a than 325°F (181°C) above the initial temperature, and limitation in the temperature rise on the unexposed for which there is no flame occurrence on the unex- side of the test specimen, and a successful hose stream posed side. The penetrating firestop is exposed to the application. The installation requirements and limita- same fire test conditions created by the time-tempera- tions for these glazing wall assemblies would be high- ture curve in NFPA 251, Standard Methods of Tests of Fire lighted in the applicable listing requirements and the Resistance of Building Construction and Materials. The manufacturers’ specifications. This type of glazing Life Safety Code; NFPA 5000, Building Construction and would not be required to comply with the installation Safety Code; NFPA 221, Standard for High-Challenge Fire requirements, because it is not considered an opening Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls;4 and other codes require protective device. that the penetrating firestop be under a minimum positive pressure differential of 0.01 in. of water (2.5 Pa) at Through-Penetrations. Generally, when fire barriers the location of the penetrating item. This positive pres- are tested for a particular hourly rating, these assem- sure must be maintained for the duration of the time blies are tested without any penetrations. It is recog- for which it is being tested. The penetrating firestop nized that within a building these fire barriers will system must be tested for the same time period as that have various penetrations for building services, utili- of the fire barrier in which it is installed. The penetrat- ties, and other applications. Penetrations of fire barri- ing firestop system must also be subjected to the ef- ers require the appropriate protection by devices or fects of an applied hose stream test. materials that have been tested and listed for that particular application to maintain the fire barrier’s in- Joints. Joints used in the construction of fire barriers tegrity. In this edition of the Life Safety Code (see 8.3.5.1 can include expansion, seismic, and control joints. and 8.3.5.6), through-penetration and membrane pen- These joints are tested at their maximum joint width in etrations — for cables, cable trays, conduits, pipes, accordance with NFPA 251. The test includes joints to tubes, combustion vents, exhaust vents, wires, and their full height or length of the test assembly. The fire- similar items to accommodate electrical, mechanical, resistive joint system tested must include a splice or a plumbing, and communications systems that pass method of connecting two or more lengths of the joint through a wall, floor, or floor/ceiling assembly con- system. The test must be conducted so that the joint structed as a fire barrier — are required (rather than system is tested under a minimum positive pressure recommended) to be protected by a firestop system or differential of 0.01 in. of water (2.5 Pa) for the total device, and must be tested in accordance with ASTM E time of the test. There is an exception for expansion or 814, Standard Method for Fire Tests of Through-Penetra- seismic joints designed to prevent the penetration of tion Fire Stops, which establishes the testing protocols fire and shown to have a fire resistance rating of not for through-penetrations. less than the required fire resistance rating of the floor Penetrations of a rated assembly that require spe- when tested in accordance with ANSI/UL 2079, Test of cial consideration are usually tested using a recog- Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems (see 8.6.3 of nized test procedure based on the standard NFPA 101). Fire-resistive joint systems that are de- time-temperature curve, normally that contained signed to accommodate movement must be precondi- within ASTM E 814. Additional information can be tioned by cycling under the conditions of ASTM E found in documents published by the individual list- 1399, Standard Test Method for Cyclic Movement and Mea- ing agencies for assemblies that have been tested for suring the Minimum and Maximum Joint Widths of Archi- specific fire ratings. tectural Joint Systems.5 The ASTM E 814 test protocol establishes F and T ratings as one part of the acceptance criteria for Fire Dampers. Chapter 7, Means of Egress, states that through-penetration systems. The F rating signifies the fire barriers forming horizontal exits shall not be pen- ability of the penetrating firestop system to withstand etrated by ducts, unless such ducts are existing pene- a prescribed fire test for a period of time without per- trations protected by fire dampers approved and listed mitting the passage of flame through the opening or for the particular application. Fire dampers are tested the occurrence of flaming on any element of the unex- either for static systems, where the HVAC system is posed side of the penetrating firestop system. The T automatically shut down in the event of a fire, or for rating relates to the transmission of heat through the dynamic systems, where the HVAC system does not penetrating firestop system for a given period of time. shut down. Fire dampers used in dynamic systems are

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1190 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

investigated for closure under their maximum recom- nized that the test is only intended to be a comparative mended airflow. Fire dampers are tested in accordance test. Therefore, under actual field conditions, some as- with ANSI/UL 555, Standard for Fire Dampers. Fire semblies fail prematurely and others remain in place dampers used in rated fire-resistive floor-ceiling and longer than expected. The simulated test exposure roof-ceiling assemblies are tested in accordance with used in the test protocol was established around 1920; ANSI/UL 555C, Standard for Ceiling Dampers. The fire it represents one level of fire severity considered to be dampers are tested in assemblies under the conditions a “typical office building” scenario of that era. Re- of the fire exposure of the same time-temperature search continues to determine whether the varying curve as in NFPA 251. The ANSI/UL standards pro- types of fuel loads found in more modern occupancies vide the acceptance criteria in regard to the flaming on would require a different type of time-temperature the unexposed side, closing time of the damper, air curve. Such research is always ongoing and differing leakage, if applicable, and hose stream application. It opinions are expressed by various investigators. It is should be noted that fire dampers are not tested for the worth mentioning, however, that the time-tempera- limitation of heat transmission through the fire ture curve from the test used by European countries damper assembly. This particular condition is recog- for assessing fire resistance, namely ISO 834, Fire-resis- nized in the requirements of NFPA 90A, Standard for tance tests — Elements of building construction,7 is very the Installation of Air-Conditioning and Ventilating Sys- similar to that in NFPA 251. tems,6 associated with the limitation on the number of Currently, discussions are ongoing regarding the fire dampers permitted to be installed in a vertical application of particular fire modeling programs to duct that has multiple floor penetrations. predict the results of testing of assemblies, as well as what the pass/fail criteria should be. An ASTM stan- Smoke Dampers. Paragraph 8.5.5.2 discusses the use dard guide, ASTM E 2032, Standard Guide for Extension of smoke dampers. Where a smoke barrier is pene- of Data from Fire Resistance Tests Conducted in Accordance trated by a duct or air transfer opening, a smoke with ASTM E 119, has been issued to address the ex- damper designed and tested in accordance with the re- tension of fire resistance results obtained from fire quirements of ANSI/UL 555S, Standard for Leakage tests performed in accordance with NFPA 251 or Rated Dampers for Use in Smoke Control Systems, must be ASTM E 119 to constructions that have not been tested. installed. Where a smoke barrier is also constructed as The guide is based on principles involving the exten- a fire barrier, a combination fire/smoke damper de- sion of test data using simple considerations. The ac- signed and tested in accordance with the requirements ceptance of these principles and their application is on of both ANSI/UL 555S and ANSI/UL 555 must be in- a worst-case scenario. stalled. It is always important to remember that new ma- Floor Fire Doors. Paragraph 8.3.3.4 regulates floor terials may present unforeseen issues that will need to fire doors. It states that floor fire door assemblies be resolved. A good example is the recent understand- shall be tested in accordance with NFPA 288, Standard ing that high-strength concrete can cause explosive Methods of Fire Tests of Floor Fire Door Assemblies In- spalling to occur at relatively low temperatures. This stalled Horizontally in Fire Resistance–Rated Floor Sys- finding could have an adverse effect on the fire pro- tems, and shall achieve a fire resistance rating not less tection properties assumed for a construction element than the assembly being penetrated. It also states that using such materials. floor fire door assemblies shall be listed and labeled Another area of concern for the fire resistance of a for the application. The time-temperature curve in test assembly is its integrity, or the protection of NFPA 288 is the same as that in NFPA 251, but there through-penetrations. The test criteria in NFPA 251 do is no required hose stream test. The transmission of not address conventional openings found in assem- heat through the specimen during the fire resistance blies, such as those needed for incorporation of electri- rating period shall not raise the average temperature cal receptacles, or penetrations by electrical wires, on its unexposed surface more than 250°F (139°C) cables or raceways, plumbing pipes, utility services, above its initial temperature. Additionally, a temper- and construction joints, unless they have been specifi- ature rise of 325°F (181°C) shall not be exceeded at cally tested as part of the assembly. All penetrations re- any one point. quire special review and consideration. A source for evaluating certain penetrations permitted in rated assemblies is found in the introduction of the UL Fire Re- Critical Test Limitations of Fire Resistance Tests sistance Directory.8 This document addresses the hourly Although test assemblies have been rated for a specific ratings for beams, floors, roofs, columns, walls, and period using a fire resistance test, it must be recog- partitions. Its design information section provides in-

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Reaction-To-Fire Testing 1191

formation pertaining to the different penetrations ceiling finishes. Each use of a material for a particular found in rated assemblies and the required protection application of interior finish needs to be coordinated or limitations. with the appropriate testing procedure, and each inte- The publication “Guideline on Fire Ratings of Ar- rior finish testing method has a specific scope and ap- chaic Materials and Assemblies,” by Robert Brady plication. There is a possibility that a single product Williamson, Cecile Grant, Joseph Zicherman, Fred could be used in different applications and be tested Fisher, Harry Hasegawa, Herman Spaeth, Harriet Wat- using different fire test methods. The end use applica- son, Vytenis Babrauskas, and Norman Kornsand, for tion must be identified, because that knowledge stipu- the National Institute of Building Sciences for the De- lates the appropriate test method and applicable results. partment of Housing and Urban Development, con- Steiner Tunnel Test. The traditional approach to testing tains information on construction materials typical of interior wall and ceiling finish for use within a code in- an earlier time, generally prior to 1950. It contains data volves ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method for Surface on fire resistance and reaction-to-fire, including flame Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, a test con- spread, smoke production, and degree of combustibil- ducted in a piece of equipment known as the Steiner ity. The information has also been included in NFPA tunnel. Depending on occupancy and use within the 914, Code for Fire Protection of Historic Structures,9 as occupancy, the Life Safety Code limits the use of interior Annex O. wall and ceiling finish materials to minimize flame propagation and smoke development on the exposed REACTION-TO-FIRE TESTING wall and ceiling surfaces. This approach consists of evaluating the flame spread over the surface of a ma- Major Properties and Products terial, and the smoke developed, when the material is Interior finish as it relates to the Life Safety Code refers exposed to a prescribed gas-fed fire. The Life Safety to the exposed interior wall surfaces, exposed interior Code provides, in 10.2.3, three classifications for inte- ceiling finishes, and exposed interior floor finishes. rior finish, based on a flame spread index (FSI) and a The reaction-to-fire properties associated with the reg- smoke development index (SDI), as tested in accor- ulation of interior wall and ceiling finish are flame dance with ASTM E 84 (see also Table S3.1 for alterna- spread and smoke development in a traditional stan- tive similar fire test methods). The classifications (with dard test (ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method for Surface their corresponding flame spread index and smoke de- Burning Characteristics of Building Materials; see also velopment index values) are shown in Table S3.2. The Table S3.1 for alternative similar fire test methods). Al- flame spread index and the smoke development index ternatively, in a room-corner test or in a specialized both reflect the comparative fire-test response of a ma- large-scale test, the reaction-to-fire properties associ- terial when compared with two established bench- 1 ated with wall and ceiling finish are heat and smoke marks: a /4 in. (6.3 mm) thick inorganic reinforced release and flame propagation (potentially leading to cement board (assigned both an FSI and an SDI of 0) 25 flashover). The reaction-to-fire properties associated and a nominal /32 in. (19.8 mm) select grade red oak with interior floor finish are ignition characteristics (in flooring board (assigned both an FSI and an SDI of accordance with ASTM D 2859, Standard Test Method 100). The FSI is a comparative nondimensional figure for Ignition Characteristics of Finished Textile Floor Cover- and does not directly represent a flame speed, flame ing Materials) and critical radiant flux (in accordance velocity, or flame propagation. The SDI is also a com- with NFPA 253, Standard Method of Test for Critical Ra- parative nondimensional figure and does not directly diant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat represent optical density or smoke release rate. Energy Source; see also Table S3.1 for alternative simi- Table S3.2 Flame Spread Index (FSI) and Smoke lar fire test methods). These provisions should not be Development Index (SDI) Values for Interior Wall and associated or confused with fire resistance ratings. As Ceiling Finish Classifications discussed above, the properties associated with interior finish are reaction-to-fire properties and not fire Class FSI SDI resistance properties. They refer to the ability of a material to contribute to overall fire and smoke growth Class A 0–25 0–450 and spread. An interior finish classification should Class B 26–75 0–450 Class C 76–200 0–450 also not be compared or confused with a material’s combustibility or the degrees of combustibility. The testing apparatus used in ASTM E 84 is shown Interior Wall and Ceiling Finish. There are two types in Exhibits S3.4 and S3.5. The specimens are required of approaches being used to evaluate interior wall and to be at least 20 in. (508 mm) wide by 24 ft (7.3 m) long

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1192 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

Fire end Vent end Air-inlet port for air supply, 76.2 ± 1.6 mm (3 in. ± 0.062 in.) Insulated gradual rectangular- to-round sheet-metal vent pipe Photoelectric cell Adjustable air-intake shutter 4.88 m (16 ft) 7.62 m (25 ft) length of test chamber min. Draft gauge connection C A B Manometer draft-gauge connection Thermocouple C A B Gas burner for To induced- ignition fire 6.40 m (21 ft) draft system Thermocouples min. from 0.30 m (1 ft) 3.2 mm (¹⁄₈ in.) from surface vent end 1372 ± 127 mm 4.11 m (13 ft 0 in.) Access for 12.2 m (40 ft) max. (54 in. ± 5 in.) 448 mm ± 9.5 mm velocity measurements Light source (17.625 in. ± 0.375 in.) Automatically 406 mm (16 in.) inside diameter controlled 50.8-mm (2-in.) min. high-temperature ± damper 304.8 mm 12.7 mm mineral-composition material (12 in. ± 0.5 in.)

Section A-A Section C-C

Exhibit S3.4 Schematic diagram of tunnel test apparatus used to characterize the surface burning of materials.

Removable metal-and-mineral 6.4-mm (0.25-in.) Liquid seal composite top panel mineral-fiber/cement board

3-mm (0.125-in.) fibered glass belting

Water-cooled 448.0 mm ± 9.5 mm structural-steel (17.625 in. ± 0.375 in.) tube 305 mm ± 12.7 mm (12 in. ± 0.5 in.) Double-pane observation 101.6 ± 12.7 mm Panes window, (4.0 ± 0.5 in.) 70 ± 6 by 280+50-25 mm (2.75 ± 0.25 by 11.0+2.0-1.0 in.)

127.0±12.7 mm (5.0 ± 0.5 in.) Fire brick 228.6 mm x 114.3 mm x 63.5 mm (9.0 in. x 4.5 in. x 2.5 in.), max. temp. 1427°C (2600°F)

19 mm (0.75 in.)

Exhibit S3.5 Cross-sectional view of the tunnel test apparatus.

and are placed within the test apparatus. A gas flame windows for 10 minutes. The FSI is a relative indica- of approximately 300,000 Btu/sec (89 kW) is applied at tion of flame propagation, but is not in any way an in- one end of the tunnel, and a regulated constant draft is dication of fire resistance or of combustibility — only applied through the tunnel from the flame end. The of the ability of the material to resist propagation of progress of the flame front is observed through side flame spread across its surface. It is possible that a ma-

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Reaction-To-Fire Testing 1193

terial with a low ability to spread flame (for example, Table S3.3 Steiner Tunnel Specimen Preparation and bare sheet metal) could also exhibit little or no fire re- Mounting Practices to Assess Surface Burning sistance when exposed to the testing criteria of NFPA Characteristics of Specific Materials 251. The smoke development represents a degree of Designation Application obscuration and is measured by a photoelectric cell mounted in the test chamber’s exhaust outlet, oppo- E 2231 Pipe and Duct Insulation Systems site a light source. A reduction in the light transmitted, E 2404 Textile, Paper and Vinyl Wall and Ceiling due to the smoke particulates that pass by the photo- Coverings electric cell, is recorded and used to calculate the SDI. E 2573 Site-Fabricated Stretch Systems It should be noted that there is no direct relationship E 2579 Wood Products E XXXX Reflective Insulation Materials and Radiant between the flame spread and smoke development Barrier Materials for Building Applications values. It is possible that a material having a low flame In progress Plastic Pipe and Tubing for Building spread index could also exhibit a very high smoke de- Applications velopment index. Specimens tested in the Steiner tun- In progress Floor Covers nel test must be representative of the material for In progress Vapor Barriers which test results are desired. When specific materials and products are considered for use or are reviewed for compliance with a provision of the Life Safety Code, are those that, due to their own structural quality or it is critical that the intended end use correspond with the manner in which they are applied, are not capable the tested configuration. If the material or product dif- of supporting themselves in position or of being sup- fers in composition or is mounted or applied in a man- ported in the test furnace at a thickness comparable to ner that deviates from the tested specimen, it could their recommended use. When using these materials have an adverse effect. The actual FSI and SDI are as interior finishes, a different test protocol might be likely to be different from those established in the orig- required. An appropriate test for these types of mate- inal test results. It is very important therefore, to fol- rials would be NFPA 286, Standard Methods of Fire Tests low the manufacturer or listing instructions when for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior installing or applying the interior finish material. Sec- Finish to Room Fire Growth. tion 6.8 of ASTM E 84 discusses the mandatory meth- Table A.10.2.2 provides a compilation of the inte- ods for specimen preparation and mounting for rior finish requirements of the occupancy chapters testing some materials, as discussed below. The Ap- (Chapters 11 through 43) of the Life Safety Code, based pendix of ASTM E 84 provides guidance on the differ- on ASTM E 84. Wherever the use of Class C interior ent mounting configurations for some other types of wall and ceiling finish is required, Class A or Class B is building materials when tested in the Steiner tunnel. permitted, and wherever Class B interior wall and ceil- This appendix is provided as a guide and cannot be ing finish is required, Class A is also permitted. used as a requirement, and so caution should be used when applying it to particular materials. Room-Corner Test. As an alternative to the Steiner tun- As stated above, information on the mandatory re- nel test, 10.2.3.2 explains that interior wall and ceiling quired procedures for mounting and testing some ma- finish materials can be tested in accordance with a terials in the Steiner tunnel test has been developed room-corner test, namely NFPA 286, Standard Methods and incorporated into ASTM E 84, in Section 6.8, and of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceil- more of them are under development (see Table S3.3). ing Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth, and, if they The ASTM committee on Fire Standards, ASTM E05, is meet the appropriate conditions (from 10.2.3.7.2), they working on such mounting methods and is develop- can be used anywhere a material is required to meet ing further standard practices. Not all of them are crit- Class A, Class B, or Class C finish requirements in ac- ical in the Life Safety Code. cordance with ASTM E 84, as explained above. This is Some materials that cannot support themselves in a critical difference in approach, since a room-corner the tunnel and that are artificially supported by a wire test exposes an interior wall or ceiling finish material mesh have been demonstrated to have FSI character- when applied to walls (or walls and ceilings) of a istics that are significantly different from those found room, and it measures heat and smoke release. His- in actual field installations. Therefore, the permitted torically, codes have regulated materials on walls and use of wire mesh to support test specimens has been ceilings using ASTM E 84. Full-scale room-corner fire limited in recent editions of ASTM E 84. It has also test research has shown that flame spread indices pro- been established that the ASTM E 84 test method is duced by ASTM E 84 may not reliably predict all as- not suitable for certain building materials. Included pects of the fire behavior of textile wall and ceiling

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1194 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

coverings. NFPA 286, known as a room-corner test, (if appropriate). If a ceiling covering only is being was developed for assessing the fire and smoke ob- tested, the test material covers the ceiling only. scuration performance of interior wall and ceiling fin- The ignition source for NFPA 286 is a gas burner ish materials. As long as an interior wall or ceiling with a nominal 12 in. ϫ 12 in. (305 mm ϫ 305 mm) finish material is tested by NFPA 286 using a mount- porous top surface of a refractory material, as shown ing system, substrate, and adhesive (if appropriate) in Exhibit S3.7, which produces a diffusion flame that that are representative of actual use, the room-corner will expose the walls in the corner of the room where test provides an adequate evaluation of a product’s the specimens are mounted to a predetermined energy flammability and smoke obscuration behavior. Manu- source. The gas burner is located flush against the two facturers, installers, and specifiers should be encour- back walls and is used at a net heat output of 40 kW ± aged to use NFPA 286, because this standard fire test 1 kW for the first 5 minutes, followed by a net heat out- has the ability to characterize actual product behavior, put of 160 kW ± 5 kW for the next 10 minutes. The as opposed to data generated by tests using ASTM E combustion products from the test room are collected 84, which only allow comparisons of one product’s in a hood that is fed into a 3 ft ϫ 3 ft (0.91 m ϫ 0.91 m) performance with that of another. If a manufacturer or plenum just outside the doorway connected to an ex- installer chooses to test a wall finish in accordance haust duct. Within this exhaust duct, measurements of with NFPA 286, additional testing in accordance with gas velocity, temperature, and concentrations of se- ASTM E 84 is not necessary. The test results from lected gases are made. The hood is designed to de- ASTM E 84 are suitable for classification purposes but velop a minimum flow rate, sufficient to capture all should not be used as input for fire models, because the products of combustion being expelled from the they are not generated in units suitable for engineer- fire test room. The canopy hood and exhaust duct are ing calculations. Actual test results for heat, smoke, shown in Exhibit S3.8. All the measuring instrumenta- and combustion product release from NFPA 286 are tion is placed in that exhaust duct. The room-corner suitable for use as input for fire models for perfor- test method assesses heat release (by the principle of mance-based design. oxygen consumption calorimetry), smoke release into In NFPA 286, the test compartment is a “stan- the duct, and the release of combustion products. It is dard” room, with dimensions of 8 ft ϫ 12 ft ϫ 8 ft high understood that heat release rate is the most critical re- (2.4 m ϫ 3.7 m ϫ 2.4 m high), including a 30 in. ϫ 80 action-to-fire property, as it parallels the intensity of in. (0.76 m ϫ 2.03 m) doorway in the center of the 8 ft ϫ 8 ft (2.4 m ϫ 2.4 m) wall. (See Exhibit S3.6.) The test material is installed completely covering the three 305 mm (12 in.) walls of the “standard” room (all except for the wall containing the doorway), as well as the entire ceiling White Ottawa 152 mm (6 in.) silica sand

76 mm (3 in.)

3.66 m ± 0.05 m Gas (12 ft ± 2 in.) A A 152 mm (6 in.) 305 mm (12 in.)

0.76 m ± 6.4 mm (30 in. ± 0.25 in.) Top view

White Ottawa silica sand 0.05 m 2 in.) ± ± 6.4 mm 0.25 in.) ± ± (8 ft

2.44 m Nominal 19-mm 2.03 m (80 in. (80 in. (0.75-in.) pipe 28 mm (1.125 in.)

2.44 m ± 0.05 m 152 mm (6 in.) (8 ft ± 2 in.) Gas Side view A–A Exhibit S3.6 Interior fire test room dimensions and interior doorway dimensions for the NFPA 286 test. Exhibit S3.7 Gas burner for the NFPA 286 test.

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Reaction-To-Fire Testing 1195

3.66 m (12 ft) 0.9 m (3 ft) 306-mm (12-in.) ≥ ≥ circular aperture 3.5 m (11.5 ft) 1.5 m ( 5 ft) to exhaust system 150 mm (6 in.) 3.3 m (11 ft)

Plenum 406-mm (16-in.) Exhaust circular duct (min.) 0.9 m (3 ft) Smoke meter Gas sampling probe Thermocouples and bidirectional probe Hood 1.1 m (3.5 ft)

2.44 m × 2.44 m (8 ft × 8 ft) square hood (min. dimensions) Top of door opening

2.44 m × 3.66 m (8 ft × 12 ft) burn room

Burner

Exhibit S3.8 Canopy hood and exhaust duct for the NFPA 286 test.

the fire. The Life Safety Code, like most other codes, re- The pass/fail criterion for smoke release was de- quires that an interior finish material in this test meet termined following an assessment of smoke released the following conditions: in a room-corner test and in the Steiner tunnel test by 1. Flames shall not spread to the ceiling during the 40 a number of interior finish materials, which suggested that a material with a total smoke released value ex- kW exposure. 2 2. During the 160 kW exposure, the following criteria ceeding 1000 m in a room-corner test would be likely shall be met: also to exceed an SDI of 450 in the Steiner tunnel test. (See Exhibit S3.9.) It should be noted that the require- a. Flames shall not spread to the outer extremi- ment for smoke release within the Life Safety Code does ϫ ϫ ties of the sample on the 8 ft 12 ft (2.4 m not apply to existing installations. The technical com- 3.7 m) wall. mittee determined that this new requirement should b. Flashover shall not occur. not be applied retroactively. 3. The peak heat release rate throughout the test shall A separate room-corner test had been developed not exceed 800 kW. earlier for use with textile materials that are used as 4. For new installations, the total smoke released wall coverings: NFPA 265, Standard Methods of Fire throughout the test shall not exceed 1000 m2. Val- Tests for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of ues derived from NFPA 286 are in SI units; there is Textile Coverings on Full Height Panels and Walls. The no straightforward inch-pound equivalent. room, burner, and instrumentation are identical to those in NFPA 286. However, NFPA 265 differs from Flashover is determined to have occurred in the NFPA 286 in two ways: test chamber when any two of the following conditions have been attained: 1. The exposure after 5 minutes at 40 kW increases only to 150 kW for 10 minutes. 1. A heat flux at the floor reaches 25 kW/m2. 2. The gas burner is recessed slightly [approximately 2. The average upper air temperature exceeds 1200°F 2 in. (51 mm) in each direction] from the walls. (650°C). 3. Flames exit the doorway. This is a critical difference in that the flames from 4. A paper target on the floor ignites spontaneously. the burner itself in the NFPA 265 test do not reach the

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1196 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

1400

1200 Room corner test smoke criterion 1000

800

600

400

200

Total smoke released in room corner smoke test Total 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 SDI in Steiner Tunnel Test

Exhibit S3.9 Comparison of smoke values in different test methods.

ceiling during the initial test period (i.e., at 150 kW), considered suitable for computer modeling of the fire while those from the NFPA 286 burner do have direct hazard. flame impingement on the ceiling even during the ini- For a textile wall covering material to be consid- tial test period. Therefore, the Life Safety Code and other ered acceptable by the Life Safety Code when tested in codes limit the application of NFPA 265 only to textile accordance with NFPA 265, flames must not spread to wall coverings (and to expanded vinyl wall covering the ceiling during the 40 kW exposure, flames must materials). not spread to the outer extremity of the test specimen Interior finishes that are classified as textile mate- during the 150 kW exposure, and the test specimen in rials require special consideration and appropriate the room cannot reach flashover. testing, due primarily to their very low thickness. Tex- Fire research involving the full-scale room-corner tile wall covering materials can include napped, fire test scenarios has documented that textile materi- tufted, looped, woven, and nonwoven or similar ma- als found to be Class A via the Steiner tunnel test can terials. The NFPA 265 test procedure was developed have a burning behavior that is unsatisfactory. So, the because fire research had shown that a Class A flame fire safety conclusions drawn from the two test meth- spread index in a textile material does not accurately ods can be different. It was decided that the conclu- predict the overall burning characteristic behavior of sions drawn from the more realistic room-corner tests this material in this particular end use. were more likely to be correct. Thus, the Life Safety Two test protocols, Method A and Method B, used Code now requires that textile wall covering materials to be approved for testing a textile material in accor- be tested in accordance with NFPA 265 and pass the dance with NFPA 265. Method A uses a corner-test ex- requirements of 10.2.3.7.1, or be tested in accordance posure and mounts the test specimen on only sections with NFPA 286 and pass the requirements of of two walls of the test compartment. The test speci- 10.2.3.7.2, or be tested in accordance with ASTM E 84 mens are mounted only on the rear wall and on the left and obtain a Class A rating and be installed in an oc- side wall and extend 2 ft (0.6 m) down from the ceiling. cupancy that is fully sprinklered if it extends from the Method B uses the same test compartment configura- floor to the ceiling (see 10.2.4.1). It is important to note tion but requires that the test specimens be mounted that the pass/fail criteria associated with NFPA 265 so that they fully cover the three complete walls (not are similar to those associated with NFPA 286, with the wall containing the doorway) with the test speci- two exceptions: the measurement of smoke release is men. Since the 2006 edition of the Life Safety Code, not a requirement, and the added requirement for a Method B of NFPA 265 has been eliminated from the peak heat release rate of 800 kW is not included. permitted test methods. The test compartment is iden- Expanded vinyl wall and ceiling covering materi- tical to that in NFPA 286, as is the gas burner (but not als can be tested in the same way as textile wall cover- its intensity or location, as described above). (See Ex- ing materials, namely using ASTM E 84 or NFPA 265, hibit S3.10.) Interestingly, when a textile wall covering but with the same limitations of use. Alternatively, is tested in accordance with Method A of NFPA 265 (a they can be tested as other interior finish materials, frequent occurrence), the corresponding results used namely using NFPA 286, without limitations of use. to be suitable for code approval, but have never been Foam plastic insulation cannot be used exposed as an

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Reaction-To-Fire Testing 1197

1.22 m 0.6 m (2 ft) 0.6 m (2 ft) (4 ft)

2.44 m (8 ft) 0.6 m (2 ft)

Note: Screened areas represent test materials. The test material is applied so that the machine direction is vertical. The burner is located 51 mm (2 in.) from Rear wall both the rear wall and the left sidewall. 0.6 m (2 ft) 2.44 m (8 ft)

Note: 1.22 m Burner measures × (4 ft) 305 mm 305 mm (1 ft × 1 ft) in plan view. Burner 1.22 m height = 305 mm (4 ft) (1 ft).

Left sidewall Floor plan Right sidewall Ceiling plan 0.6 m (2 ft) Front wall 0.76 m (2 ft 6 in.)

2 m (6 ft 8 in.)

Exhibit S3.10 Specimen mounting for Method A test protocol of NFPA 265.

interior finish material, except as tested using NFPA lowed by an output of 300 kW for a subsequent 10 286. Alternatively, foam plastic insulation can be pro- minutes. Just like NFPA 286, this test assesses heat and tected from the occupied interior of the building by smoke release and the development of flashover. being covered with a thermal barrier. Tested materials can be required to meet different sets Another widely used room-corner test, not used in of pass/fail criteria or classifications into categories. the Life Safety Code, is ASTM E 2257, Standard Test UL 1715, Standard for Fire Test of Interior Finish Ma- Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials terial, is an early version of a room-corner test, which and Assemblies (similar to ISO 9705, Fire Tests — Full is widely used in codes, including the Life Safety Code, Scale Room Fire Tests for Surface Products10). It is used by for assessing the fire performance of cellular or the European Union for regulation of building prod- foamed plastic materials (foam plastics) used as inte- ucts; by NFPA 301, Code for Safety to Life from Fire on rior finish. It uses a 30 lb (13.6 kg) wood crib in a cor- Merchant Vessels,11 for case furniture; and by the High ner of the same basic room as NFPA 265 or NFPA 286. Speed Craft Code12 of the International Maritime Orga- In the test, the specimen, the interior finish material, is nization (IMO) for regulation of interior finish “fire re- mounted on the back wall of the room and on 8 ft (2.4 stricting materials.” The test is basically the same as m) of one of the side walls. Measurements are based NFPA 286 (see Exhibits S3.5 through S3.7, which de- on temperature and visual observations of extent of scribe the room, ignition burner, and instrumentation), flame spread within the room (i.e., whether the flame except that the ignition source is a gas burner, which reaches the extremities and whether it exits the room has an output of 100 kW for the first 10 minutes, fol- and indicates flashover). Of course, optional measure-

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1198 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

ments of heat and smoke release are also possible. It 251, ASTM E 119, or UL 263, but the test specimen can has been shown that UL 1715 is less severe than NFPA be significantly smaller (31.5 ϫ 31.5 in. or 800 ϫ 800 286. mm exposed surface area), and the thermal barrier FM 4880, Approval Standard for Class 1 Insulated must exhibit a 15-minute fire resistance rating so that Wall or Wall and Roof/Ceiling Panels; Plastic Interior Fin- during the 15-minute test period, the average mea- ish Materials; Plastic Exterior Building Panels; Wall/Ceil- sured temperature rise above the average temperature ing Coating Systems; Interior or Exterior Finish Systems,13 at the start of the fire test for the thermocouples on the is a fire test suitable for assessing the fire performance unexposed side does not exceed 250°F (139°C), and the (heat release or flame spread) of cellular or foamed measured temperature rise of any such single thermoplastic materials (foam plastics) used as interior finish. couple does not exceed 325°F (181°C). The integrity It requires that the assembly tested not support a self- fire test exposes the thermal barrier and the underly- propagating fire when subjected to a 25 ft (7.6 m) high ing foam plastic or MCM to be protected, and it can be corner test, as evidenced by flaming or material dam- conducted using any of the following four tests: NFPA age, after exposure to a 750 lb (340 kg) wood crib fire. 286, UL 1040, UL 1715, or FM 4880. The pass-fail crite- Other test options exist within the standard, depend- ria for NFPA 286 are those discussed above, and those ing on the application of the product tested: the FM for the other tests are as specified in the respective equivalent to NFPA 287/ASTM E 2058, a 50 ft (15.2 m) standards. high corner test, and a room corner test (such as NFPA A common misapplication of test methods needs 265, NFPA 286, or ISO 9705). No smoke measurements to be pointed out here: textile materials normally used are made. UL 1040, Standard for Fire Test of Insulated as floor coverings, such as carpets or carpet-like mate- Wall Construction, is similar to FM 4880 in that it uses a rials, that have achieved a Class I or a Class II rating 764 lb (347 kg) wood crib ignition source in a corner (see details in the following section) are not permitted configuration and assesses whether surface burning to be installed as interior wall or ceiling finish. In other extends beyond 19 ft (5.5 m) from the intersection of words, carpets cannot be used to cover walls or ceil- the two walls. Smoke release is not assessed. ings where an interior wall or ceiling finish rating is re- UL 1040, UL 1715, and FM 4880 are all used, to- quired unless they have been tested as wall or ceiling gether with NFPA 286, for assessing the fire perfor- coverings. The reason for this is that a classification is mance (but not the smoke release) of foam plastics as obtained by testing with NFPA 253, Standard Method of interior finish. The tests are also widely used in codes Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems for assessing the suitability of a material as a thermal Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, and this test barrier separating foam plastics and/or metal com- method, which generates a critical radiant flux and not posite materials (MCMs) from the interior of the build- a flame spread or heat release, is applicable only when ing or from plenums. the material is installed as a floor covering or as an in- The 2009 edition of the Life Safety Code added the terior floor finish. requirements that new installations of cellular or Another common misapplication of test methods foamed plastic materials for use as interior finish is one whereby a textile material is tested by means of tested in accordance with UL 1040 or FM 4880, tests NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Prop- which do not include a smoke component, must also agation of Textiles and Films (see more details later in be tested for smoke release. It explains further that this supplement), and then installed as interior finish suitable smoke release tests include the following: on walls, ceilings, or floors. NFPA 701 is intended to apply to fabrics or other materials used in curtains, 1. Additional measurements of smoke release into draperies, or other window treatments. It is also suit- the duct that demonstrate that the total smoke re- able, in Test 1, to a number of materials having an area leased throughout the test does not exceed 1000 m2 density not greater than 21 oz/yd2 (700 g/m2), and, in 2. NFPA 286, with the acceptance criterion of Test 2, to fabrics and films, with or without reinforce- 10.2.3.7.2 (4) ment or backing, with area densities greater than 21 3. ASTM E 84, with a smoke developed index not ex- oz/yd2 (700 g/m2). NFPA 701 assesses vertical flame ceeding 450 propagation performance criteria, which are suitable A new test was developed for 2009: NFPA 275, for draperies, curtains, and other similar loosely hang- Standard Method of Fire Tests for the Evaluation of Thermal ing furnishings and decorations (see 10.3.1 of the Life Barriers Used Over Foam Plastic Insulation, which con- Safety Code). However, NFPA 701 is an unsuitable test sists of two parts: (a) a fire resistance test and (b) an in- for assessing the fire problem potentially associated tegrity fire test. The fire resistance test can be with textiles applied to a solid backing and used as conducted using the time-temperature curve of NFPA wall linings or textiles installed horizontally on floors

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Reaction-To-Fire Testing 1199

or ceilings. This is explained in Annex A of the Life 1. Class I Interior Floor Finish: critical radiant flux Safety Code. It has recently also been understood that not less than 0.45 W/cm2 the fire performance of site-fabricated stretch systems 2. Class II Interior Floor Finish: critical radiant flux (which often have a textile cover) is not properly as- not less than 0.22 W/cm2 but less than 0.45 W/cm2 sessed using NFPA 701 but needs to be assessed using The Life Safety Code also states (10.2.7.2) that a crit- ASTM E 84, with the test specimen preparation and ical radiant flux of 0.1 W/cm2 (which is basically con- mounting procedure specified in ASTM E 2573. sidered to be equivalent to a “pass” in the ASTM D As stated above, it is critical that every material be 2859 test) is minimally required for floor coverings assessed using the tests appropriate to the end-use ap- other than carpets. This applies to floor coverings with plication. Thus, if the same type of material is em- unknown fire performance, and is discussed in more ployed in different end-use applications, it may detail in A.10.2.7.2 and A.10.2.7.3. require testing via various test methods to be qualified The NFPA 253 test method measures the critical ra- for all applications. diant flux (CRF) behavior of a horizontally mounted floor covering system exposed to a radiant heater, in- Interior Floor Finish. Interior floor finish is defined in side a test chamber (see Exhibits S3.11 through S3.13, the Life Safety Code as the interior finish of floors, which show the apparatus used to test the floor cover- ramps, stair treads and risers, and other walking suring specimens in this test method). A gas-fired panel faces. Interior floor finish needs to meet the require- serving as a radiant heat energy source is installed at ments of two different fire tests: an ignition test and a one end of the test chamber, on an incline (at a 30° critical radiant flux test. angle) so that it extends over the test specimen. The ra- The United States Flammable Fabrics Act requires diant heater applies a graded heat flux that ranges be- that all carpets and rugs manufactured, imported, dis- tween approximately 0.1 and 1.1 W/cm2 close to the tributed, or marketed in the United States must com- two ends of the test specimen. The test specimen is ig- ply with the requirements of 16 CFR 1630, “Standard nited by a pilot flaming ignition source at the end of the for the Surface Flammability of Carpets and Rugs” (FF test chamber where the heat flux applied is highest. 1–70).14 Because the Life Safety Code is applicable outside of the United States, it references (in 10.2.2.2 and 10.2.7.1) a standard test method that is substantially similar to 16 CFR 1630: ASTM D 2859. (The Code does explain that the two are basically equivalent.) In the test method, a No. 1588 methenamine timed burning tablet (commonly known as methenamine pill) weighing 0.0052 oz (0.149 g) is placed flat on a test specimen consisting of a section of carpet and ignited with a lighted match (ensuring that the match does not ignite the carpet). If the charred portion of the test specimen does not exceed 3 in. (76 mm) in length, the test specimen passes the test. This test method is only applicable to interior floor finish that is a textile, because most hard surface flooring materials are known to meet the test requirements. Interior floor finish materials used in regulated en- vironments, as determined by the Life Safety Code or where the authority having jurisdiction determines that their particular burning characteristics are unknown, often must also meet a minimum critical radiant flux when tested in accordance with NFPA 253 (see also Table S3.1 for alternative similar fire test methods). Paragraph 10.2.2.2 of the Life Safety Code specifies when interior floor finishes are required to have a fire safety classification rating, and 10.2.7 describes the criteria needed. Interior floor finishes are grouped in two classes in accordance with their critical radiant flux Exhibit S3.11 Flooring radiant panel tester apparatus. ratings: (Courtesy of Fire Testing Technology Ltd.)

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1200 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

point of flame out, which is when the material does not continue to support flaming, and that value is considered the CRF. The test specimens are required, to the extent possible, to simulate actual field installation practices. For example, if a carpet is to be mounted with a pad and/or an underlayment, it must be tested in that same way. The CRF provides a basis for esti- mating a critical aspect of fire exposure behavior for floor covering systems. It should be noted that this test is intended primarily for regulating floor coverings installed in building corridors, exits, and exit access corridors, which often have little or no combustible wall or ceiling finish. An occupancy with combustible finishes would be expected to contribute much more to fire hazard. The CRF is determined by measuring the distance Exhibit S3.12 Flooring radiant panel test showing carpet that has burned. The test specimen is tested for 10 min- specimen and gas-fueled panel. utes following the exposure to a radiant energy source to a maximum of 1 W/cm2. The distance burned is The test chamber is calibrated by assigning a heat flux converted to a CRF value by plotting the distance on to each position along the length of the test chamber. the standard radiant heat energy flux profile, as shown Thus, the test method measures the heat flux at the in Exhibit S3.14, which shows the calibration curve

Exhibit S3.13 Flooring radiant panel schematic side elevation.

10.2 cm >7.6 cm 5.1 cm

15.2 cm Thermocouples 31.8 cm

Chamber sheathing 51 10 Gas- cm cm 2.5 cm fueled panel Radiating surface Material: inorganic 71 cm millboard 0.74 g/cm3 13 cm 30° Pilot Specimen holder Specimen burner 14 cm 10.5 ± 1 cm

8.9 cm Specimen transport system 137 cm

140 cm

Protective sleeve Radiation pyrometer

Note: in. = cm x 0.3937.

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Reaction-To-Fire Testing 1201

Exhibit S3.14 Standard radiant Example operating conditions heat energy flux profile. Blackbody temperature 490°C Chamber temperature. Bottom 1.2 open 171°C ROC -1 Gas flow (96% methane) 1.1m3 /hr Airflow 16.4 m3/hr (Profile determined at 1.0 equilibrium. Chamber closed. Dummy specimen in place) Instrumentation Total heat flux meter-medtherm 0.8 Model No. 64-2-20. Serial No. 124421

2 (Calibrated at NBS by optical radiation group 8-29-74) Digital voltmeter-kietiiley W/cm 0.6 Model No. 160 range used 0-10 mV. Panel No. 1 radiant burner 30.5 cm x 45.7 cm Radiant heating Ltd. pattern 0.4 No. 2458 NBS P.O.S-402857-74 Installed 9-3-74

0.2

0.0 0 102030405060708090100 Distance (cm)

used. The CRF is the level of incident radiant heat en- quired by codes, even if not specifically discussed in ergy at the time the test specimen ceases flaming or the Life Safety Code, to have a critical radiant flux of not glowing activities. The higher the CRF, the more resis- less than 0.12 W/cm2 when tested in accordance with tant to the radiant exposure the material is and, subse- ASTM E 970, Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant quently, flame propagation across the surface, than Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant materials with a lower CRF. Heat Energy Source. In NFPA 5000 this applies to: (a) As discussed above, it is important to point out cellulose loose fill insulation, which must also meet that carpet-like materials, when used in applications the requirements of CPSC 16 CFR, Part 1209, “Interim other than as floor coverings, must be tested using the Safety Standard for Cellulose Insulation,”15 and CPSC fire test method appropriate for the application. Thus, 16 CFR, Part 1404, “Cellulose Insulation,”16 and to (b) if a carpet-like material is used as wall or ceiling finish, thermoplastic exposed insulation materials that melt it must be tested using the Steiner tunnel test (ASTM E or shrink away when exposed to radiant heat, which 84, Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Character- must also meet the following criteria: istics of Building Materials, or equivalent, with the ap- 1. Exhibit a flame spread index and a smoke devel- propriate mounting method) or a room-corner test oped index when tested in accordance with (NFPA 286, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating CAN/ULC S102.2, Standard Method of Test for Sur- Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room face Burning Characteristics of Floor Coverings and Fire Growth; NFPA 265, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Miscellaneous Materials and Assemblies,17 which is Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Cov- the Steiner tunnel test, with floor mounting erings on Full Height Panels and Walls; or their equiva- 2. No ignition when tested in accordance with ASTM lents). Similarly, if a carpet-like material is used as a E 970 curtain or a drape, it must be tested using a vertical 3. A self-ignition temperature of 752°F (400°C) or flame propagation test (NFPA 701, Standard Methods of greater where tested in accordance with ASTM D Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films). In 1929, Standard Test Method for Determining Ignition neither case is it acceptable to test via NFPA 253, Stan- Temperature of Plastics dard Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Cov- ering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, or The 2009 edition of the Life Safety Code added a fea- equivalent. ture that will make it easier for users of the code to un- Cellulose loose fill insulation and other exposed derstand the subtleties of the use of each interior finish insulation materials installed on attic floors are re- fire test: Table A.10.2 shows the fire test methods and

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1202 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

classification criteria that apply to each of the individ- nents to ignition by a smoldering cigarette. A Class 1 ual types of interior finish materials. designation is given to materials that are considered resistant to cigarette ignition, in that the material does Interior Contents and Furnishings. Beyond interior not show evidence of flaming ignition on any part of finish, compartments tend to have a number of com- the test assembly and the resulting char length does bustibles brought in by the occupier. Such contents not exceed 1.5 in. (38 mm). and furnishings need to be considered for fire involve- NFPA 261 provides test methods to evaluate the ment. They include furnishings such as upholstered resistance of upholstered furniture assemblies to smol- furniture, mattresses, curtains, draperies, and other dering ignition, when exposed to a lit cigarette under similar loosely hanging materials and decorations. specific conditions in a mock-up test assembly. The Certain occupancies in the Life Safety Code require that National Bureau of Standards (now the National Insti- these particular elements possess a certain appropriate tute of Standards and Technology) initially developed degree of fire performance and do not propagate or as- this test. The individual materials assessed include sist in flame spread. Test requirements (if applicable) cover fabrics, filling materials, and welt tapes. In this are found in Section 10.3. The overall fire growth in test, the results are not identified in Classes, such as in certain fires has been related directly to the types of NFPA 260, but a material will fail if flaming ignition furnishings and decorations found within the facility. occurs or if the maximum char length exceeds 1.5 in. (38 mm). Upholstered Furniture. The Life Safety Code contains The occupancy chapters in the Life Safety Code are provisions for upholstered furniture to comply with entitled to choose whether they will apply the smol- requirements for smoldering ignition (similar to ciga- dering requirements. In fact, some occupancy chapters rette ignition) and flaming ignition, if applicable ac- have opted out of testing upholstered furniture for cording to the occupancy chapters (Chapters 11 smoldering — principally day-care homes (with 12 or through 43). The applicable provisions of the Life Safety fewer clients) — and mercantile, business, and storage Code that address the requirement for upholstered fur- occupancies. Both of the American trade associations niture to resist cigarette ignition are found in subsec- for manufacturers of residential upholstered furniture tion 10.3.2.1. There are two relevant fire test methods: (UFAC or its sister organization, the American Furni- NFPA 260, Standard Methods of Tests and Classification ture Manufacturers Association) and the American System for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Components of trade association for manufacturers of institutional Upholstered Furniture, and NFPA 261, Standard Method and contract upholstered furniture (BIFMA, Business of Test for Determining Resistance of Mock-Up Upholstered and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Associa- Furniture Material Assemblies to Ignition by Smoldering tion) have been demanding that all their members Cigarettes (see Table S3.1 for alternative similar fire test comply with the smoldering resistance test since the methods). The major difference between the two test 1970s. UFAC requires NFPA 260 (equivalent to ASTM methods is that NFPA 260 addresses individual com- E 1353 and the UFAC test), and BIFMA requires NFPA ponents that will be used to make an upholstered fur- 261 (equivalent to ASTM E 1352). It should also be niture item, and NFPA 261 addresses small mock-ups noted that sprinklers have no effect on controlling of the various composites used for the upholstered smoldering ignition (ignition by cigarettes), since they furniture item. In both tests, a lit cigarette covered by require an increase in room temperature to operate, a layer of sheeting material is placed on the test item, and there will be no increase in room temperature and the resulting char (or flame) is assessed visually. until well after the upholstered furniture item that fails The char length is the distance, to the nearest 0.2 in. (5 the cigarette test has erupted into flames. mm), from the center of the original location of the lit Two California documents are referenced by some cigarette. Both tests are permitted to be used for test- state agencies for investigating the effect of smoldering of upholstered furniture. ing cigarettes on upholstered furniture components: NFPA 260 contains tests for assessing components California Technical Bulletin 116, Cigarette Test of Up- such as cover fabrics, welt cords, decking materials, in- holstered Furniture;18 and California Technical Bulletin terior fabrics, and filling and padding materials. The 117, Flame and Smoldering Resistance of Furniture Com- Upholstered Furniture Action Council (UFAC) origi- ponents.19 California Technical Bulletin 116 requires nally developed this test method. Compliance with the that three cigarettes (each covered by a layer of sheet- method for residential upholstered furniture, on a vol- ing material) be placed at each of a number of loca- untary basis, is managed by UFAC itself. The test tions on an actual full-scale item of upholstered method establishes a classification system for deter- furniture, such as smooth surfaces, decking, welts, mining the resistance of upholstered furniture compo- quilted locations, tufted locations, crevices, and tops of

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Reaction-To-Fire Testing 1203

arms and backs. In each case, the test item fails if there Counterweight is ignition or if the char length exceeds 2 in. (51 mm). In California Technical Bulletin 117 (which also contains flaming ignition tests), individual upholstery items are tested, and the test item fails if there is ignition or if the char length exceeds 2 in. (51 mm). There L are some differences in the pass/fail criteria of each of 51 mm (2 in.) 457 mm these tests, which is critical if a comparison is made be- L ≈ 1067 mm (42 in.) (18 in.) tween the test results. These California Technical Bul- letin test methods are not used in the Life Safety Code 30° for assessing resistance to smoldering ignition. The most important requirement that addresses the fire hazard of upholstered furniture is testing that assesses the heat released. The Life Safety Code recognizes, in 25.4-mm (1-in.) gap 10.3.3, ASTM E 1537, Standard Test Method for Fire Test- ing of Upholstered Furniture, as the relevant test method for assessing heat release of upholstered furniture. This test is substantially similar to NFPA 266, Standard Exhibit S3.15 Positioning of square gas burner on the Method of Test for Fire Characteristics of Upholstered Fur- upholstered furniture item. niture Exposed to Flaming Ignition Source, which was withdrawn to avoid duplication. In this test method, a the furniture items and that it includes the same severe full-scale upholstered furniture item (or a full-scale pass/fail test criteria used in the 2009 edition of the mock-up) is ignited with a gas burner to assess the Life Safety Code (as well as additional test criteria re- heat release, smoke obscuration, mass loss, and gener- lated to smoke obscuration and carbon monoxide ation of toxic gases. These fire properties are important emission). when developing certain fire hazard considerations Another test procedure used to evaluate the prop- during fire modeling. The test item is placed in a stan- erties of upholstered furniture is ASTM E 1474, Stan- dard room (which could be the same room as that used dard Test Method for Determining the Heat Release Rate of for NFPA 265 or NFPA 286, or a slightly different room, Upholstered Furniture and Mattress Components or Com- known as the “California room”) or in a furniture posites Using a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption calorimeter. The test scenarios can be used inter- Calorimeter (see also Table S3.1 for alternative similar changeably because it has been demonstrated that fire test methods). This test is an application of the they provide comparable results for test specimens cone calorimeter (this test is explained later, in the dis- having heat release rates of 600 kW or less (and those cussion of NFPA 271, Standard Method of Test for Heat providing higher heat release rates would not be con- and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products sidered safe anyway). The test specimen is ignited Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter), and uses an with a square gas burner. The burner applies a volume oxygen consumption calorimeter to assess ignitability, flow rate of 13 L/min ± 0.5 L/min of propane (ap- heat release, smoke obscuration, mass loss, and gener- proximately 19.3 kW) for 80 seconds. See Exhibit S3.15 ation of toxic products from a small section of an up- for the application of the gas burner in this test. Gen- holstered furniture component or composite. Test erally, the requirements are waived if suitable active specimens are 100 mm ϫ 100 mm ϫ ≤ 51 mm thick. In fire protection measures such as sprinklers are present. the test method, the samples are exposed to a con- If applicable (depending on the occupancy), the trolled level of radiant energy from a conical electric pass/fail criteria are the following: heater, 35 kW/m2. Data from this test has been shown 1. The peak rate of heat release for the single uphol- to be useful in predicting the fire performance of the stered furniture item shall not exceed 80 kW. actual full-scale item (or of the full-scale test methods 2. The total energy released by the single uphol- discussed above). However, issues such as product de- stered furniture item during the first 10 minutes of sign and minor components affect the results. the test shall not exceed 25 MJ. Mattresses. The Life Safety Code contains provisions for California Technical Bulletin 133, Flammability Test mattresses to comply with requirements for smolder- Procedures for Seating Furniture and Use in Public Occu- ing ignition (that is, cigarette ignition) and flaming ig- pancies,20 is technically equivalent to ASTM E 1537, ex- nition, if applicable according to the occupancy cept that it uses only the California room for testing chapters (Chapters 11 through 43). The requirements

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1204 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

for mattresses are very similar to those for upholstered furniture. The applicable provisions of the Life Safety Code that address the requirement for a mattress to re- ° sist cigarette ignition are found in 10.3.2. There is one Mattress 30 relevant fire test method, which is actually a federal requirement in the United States: the cigarette ignition of mattresses, mattress tickings, and mattress pads must 25.4 mm 50 mm comply with Department of Commerce (DOC) FF 4-72 (1 in.) (2 in.) 21 or CFR 1632 . In the test, a lit cigarette is placed on the SIDE VIEW OF PLACEMENT test item and the resulting char (or flame) assessed visually. The test item fails if there is ignition or if the Exhibit S3.16 Positioning of T-shaped gas burner on the char length exceeds 2 in. (51 mm). mattress. The occupancy chapters in the Life Safety Code are California Technical Bulletin 129, Flammability Test entitled to choose whether they will apply the smol- 22 dering requirements for mattresses. In fact, the same Procedures for Mattresses for Use in Public Buildings, is occupancies have opted out of testing mattresses as technically equivalent to ASTM E 1590 except that it upholstered furniture. uses only the California room for testing the furniture The most important requirement that addresses items and that it includes the same severe pass/fail the fire hazard of mattresses is (as with upholstered test criteria used in the 2009 edition of the Life Safety furniture) testing that assesses the heat released. The Code (as well as an additional test criterion related to Life Safety Code recognizes, in 10.3.4, ASTM E 1590, mass loss). Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Mattresses, as the The cone calorimeter application standard, ASTM relevant test method for assessing heat release of up- E 1474, can also be used for mattress composites or holstered furniture. This test is substantially similar to components, in a similar fashion to the use for uphol- NFPA 267, Standard Method of Test for Fire Characteristics stered furniture test specimens. of Mattresses and Bedding Assemblies Exposed to Flaming Curtains, Draperies, and Decorations. NFPA 701, Stan- Ignition Source, which was withdrawn to avoid dupli- dard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Tex- cation. In this test method, a full-scale mattress is ig- tiles and Films, is mandated for testing of curtains, nited with a gas burner to assess the heat release, drapes, or similar loosely hanging furnishings or dec- smoke obscuration, mass loss, and generation of toxic orations. NFPA 701 provides the means to evaluate gases. These fire properties are important when devel- the vertical propagation of a small flame beyond the oping certain fire hazard considerations during fire area exposed to the source of ignition. NFPA 701 in- modeling. The test item is placed in a standard room cludes two methods of assessing flame propagation (which could be the same room as that used for NFPA propensity. The test method to be used depends on 265 or NFPA 286, or the California room) or in a furni- the areal density of the test specimen (weight per unit ture calorimeter. The test scenarios can be used inter- surface) and some other characteristics. Test Method changeably because it has been demonstrated that they 1 is used for fabrics that weigh up to 21 oz/yd2 (700 provide comparable results for test specimens having g/m2), and in particular for single-layer fabrics and heat release rates of 600 kW or less (and those provid- multilayer curtain and drapery assemblies, but is not ing higher heat release rates would not be considered permitted to be used for vinyl-coated fabric blackout safe anyway). The test specimen is ignited with a T- linings (because it has been shown that these linings shaped gas burner, which applies a volume flow rate of produce erroneous results with this method). In rela- 12 L/min ± 0.5 L/min of propane (approximately 17.8 tion to NFPA 701, Test Method 1, curtains and drapes kW) for 180 seconds. See Exhibit S3.16 for the applica- also include the following items, if they weigh up to tion of the gas burner in this test. Generally, the re- 21 oz/yd2 (700 g/m2): window curtains, stage or the- quirements are waived if suitable active fire protection ater curtains, vertical folding shades, roll-type win- measures such as sprinklers are present. If applicable, dow shades, hospital privacy curtains, window the pass/fail criteria are the following: draperies, fabric vertical shades or blinds, horizontal 1. The peak rate of heat release for the single mat- folding shades, swags, and fabric horizontal shades tress shall not exceed 250 kW. or blinds. Test Method 1 also applies to the following textile items, if they weigh up to 21 oz/yd2 (700 2. The total energy released by the single mattress 2 during the first 5 minutes of the test shall not ex- g/m ): table skirts, table linens, display booth separa- ceed 40 MJ. tors, and textile wall hangings. Test Method 2 is to be

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Reaction-To-Fire Testing 1205

used for the heavier fabrics and films (with or with- life of the fabric. Procedures on how to provide accel- out reinforcement or backing), weighing over 21 erated dry cleaning, laundering, weathering, and oz/yd2 (700 g/m2) and for fabrics used in awnings water leaching for the fabrics are also provided in and tents and for vinyl-coated fabric blackout linings NFPA 701. and lined draperies using a vinyl-coated fabric black- NFPA 701 is also used in the Life Safety Code for as- out lining. sessing the fire performance of (a) membrane structure The test methods in the 1999 edition of NFPA 701, fabrics of temporary and permanent membrane struc- and in more recent ones, were introduced in the revi- tures, (b) tent fabrics, (c) combustible scenery of cloth, sions between the 1989 and 1996 editions, which elim- film, vegetation (dry), and similar materials in assem- inated the “small-scale test,” because it was found that bly occupancies, (d) materials in exhibit booths in as- a “pass” in that test was not indicative of a good fire sembly occupancies, and (e) textiles and films in performance. The difference between the NFPA 701 mercantile occupancy kiosks (malls). Test Method 1 and the small-scale test previously in- The text of NFPA 705, Recommended Practice for a cluded in the standard is that the test specimen is now Field Flame Test for Textiles and Films, was originally larger and the overall time exposure to the flame is in- contained in Chapter 10 of the 1989 edition of NFPA creased. Test Method 1 employs 10 specimens of mate- 701. It was developed as a stand-alone document dur- rial, each 2.9 in. ϫ 15.75 in. (150 mm ϫ 400 mm), which ing the revision leading to the 1996 edition of NFPA are exposed to a Bunsen gas burner for 45 seconds. The 701. NFPA 705 is a recommended practice that pro- pass/fail criterion, addressing vertical flame propaga- vides guidance to enforcement officials confronted tion performance, requires that there be no flaming for with the assessment of products already installed. more than 2 seconds after the test flame is removed Thus, officials can use this test for the field application and that the average weight loss of the test specimen of an open-flame ignition source to textiles and films not be greater than 40 percent. Test Method 2 of NFPA that have been in use in the field or for which reliable 701 is similar to the previous “large-scale test” in spec- laboratory data are not available. This recommended imen size and test protocol, but differs somewhat in practice provides the authority having jurisdiction the test enclosure. Test Method 2 employs test speci- with a field procedure for determining the tendency mens that are tested in a folded or flat configuration, of textiles and films to sustain burning subsequent to and that have sizes 24 in. ϫ 46.25 in. (610 mm ϫ 1.2 m) the application of a relatively small open flame. There or 5 in. ϫ 46.25 in. (125 mm ϫ 1.2 m), respectively. is no correlation between the testing provisions found Each test specimen is then exposed to a Bunsen gas in NFPA 705 and the testing methods of NFPA 701. burner for 2 minutes. The pass/fail criterion, address- Field application of the NFPA 705 testing procedures ing (vertical) flame propagation performance, also re- is somewhat useful, but must be used with good judg- quires that there be no flaming for more than 2 seconds ment and within limitations. Field tests should not be after the test flame is removed. Additionally, it re- relied on as a sole means for ensuring adequate fire quires that the length of char on an individual folded performance of decorative materials, but they can be test specimen not exceed 41.3 in. (1050 mm), and that used to augment a comprehensive regulatory pro- the length of char on any flat test specimen not exceed gram. This test is not actually used in the Life Safety 40.7 in. (1035 mm). Both test methods require that, if Code but is used by code officials and inspectors as a any portions or residues of the test specimen drip or preliminary test to determine whether further testing fall to the test chamber floor during or after applica- is warranted. tion of the test flame, flaming will not continue. The results of the two tests contained in NFPA 701 should Unprotected Foam Plastics. Furnishings and contents not be compared to each other, as they use different made with foamed plastic materials that are unpro- types of pass/fail criteria. However, it can be assumed tected from ignition are required to have a heat release that Test Method 2 represents a more severe condition rate not exceeding 100 kW when tested in accordance than Test Method 1. with UL 1975, Standard for Fire Tests for Foamed Plastics NFPA 701 stipulates that each fabric is also to be Used for Decorative Purposes (see 10.3.7 of the Life Safety subjected to exposures applicable to its intended use, Code). The same test method also applies to other foam such as laundering, dry cleaning, weathering, and displays, as follows: other exposure to water. It is believed that the accelerated exposure tests detailed in NFPA 701 (akin to 1. In theaters, motion picture theaters, and television weathering or aging, to some extent) provide sufficient stage settings, with or without horizontal projec- conditioning to permit a reasonable appraisal of the tions, to decorative packages of foamed plastic durability of the fire retardant treatment for the useful (see 12.4.5.11.4)

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1206 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

2. Exposed foamed plastic materials and unpro- 1. A 20 kW ignition source is similar to the peak heat tected materials containing foamed plastic used release rate of the wood crib ignition source used for decorative purposes or stage scenery (see in UL 1975, Standard for Fire Tests for Foamed Plastics 12.7.4.3 and 13.7.4.3) Used for Decorative Purposes. 3. Foam plastic materials of construction of exhibit 2. A 40 kW ignition source can be used as a more se- booths in assembly occupancies (see 12.7.5.3.4 and vere approach to testing the same products other- 13.7.5.3.4) wise tested using the 20 kW ignition source if 4. Foam plastic materials of construction of kiosks in additional fire safety is required. Moreover, a 40 malls (see 36.4.4.8 and 37.4.4.8) kW ignition source also corresponds to the heat output from a small wastebasket fire. Finally, a 40 In every case, any single fuel package cannot have kW ignition source is also the minimum ignition a heat release rate exceeding 100 kW. There are some source used for testing of interior finish materials other fuel packages that are also tested by means of UL with NFPA 286, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for 1975 and that are required to have a heat release rate Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior not to exceed 150 kW: Finish to Room Fire Growth. 1. Cardboard, honeycombed paper, and other similar 3. A 70 kW ignition source offers an intermediate combustible materials used for construction of ex- range between the 40 kW and 100 kW ignition hibit booths in places of assembly (see 12.7.5.3.4 sources. and 13.7.5.3.4) 4. A 100 kW source is the lower ignition source used 2. Foamed plastics and materials containing foamed for testing of interior finish materials either with plastics on stages (see 12.7.5.3.6.2 and 13.7.5.3.6.2) ASTM E 2257, Standard Test Method for Room Fire 3. Foam plastics used in plastic signs in malls (see Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials or Assemblies, or 36.4.4.7 and 37.4.4.7) with ISO 9705, Fire Tests — Full Scale Room Fire Tests for Surface Products. It is used to initially dif- UL 1975 is a “furniture calorimeter” test method, ferentiate interior finish materials on their likeli- in which the fuel package under test is exposed to a hood of leading to flashover. wood crib ignition source (340 g) and where all rele- 5. A 160 kW ignition source is the higher ignition vant fire properties are measured, with the critical source used for testing of interior finish materials property being the rate of heat release. with NFPA 286. It is used to assess whether such Another new test was developed in 2009, namely interior finish materials are likely to lead to NFPA 289, Standard Method of Fire Test for Individual flashover. Fuel Packages. It consists of a furniture calorimeter, 6. A 300 kW ignition source is the higher ignition with six basic ignition sources: 20, 40, 70, 100, 160, and source used for testing of interior finish materials 300 kW, using the same gas burner as in NFPA 286. A with either ASTM E 2257 or ISO 9705. It is used to series of ad hoc tests conducted with the gas burner lo- differentiate interior finish materials with very cated at 1.2 m from the floor, and 1.2 m below the bot- low levels of heat release and very low likelihood tom of the hood (with the top of the hood at 3.0 m from of leading to flashover. the floor), showed approximate flow rates and flame heights associated with each ignition source (Table Fire Retardant–Treated Wood. The Life Safety Code re- S3.4). The ignition sources chosen correspond to the quires that some uses of wood be restricted to fire following concepts: retardant-treated wood. It defines this material as “a wood product impregnated with chemical by a pres- Table S3.4 Approximate Flow Rates and Flame Heights sure process or other means during manufacture, for Various Heat Release Rates (HRR) which is tested in accordance with ASTM E 84, has a HRR Flow Rate Flame Height listed flame spread of 25 or less, and shows no evi- (kW) (L/sec) (mm) dence of significant progressive combustion when the test is continued for an additional 20-minute period; 20 16.5 380 nor does the flame front progress more than 10.5 ft 40 30.7 610 (3200 mm) beyond the centerline of the burners at any 60 47.2 815 time during the test.” So, this product is required to 70 54.8 920 meet a more severe test than the normal test contained 100 77.9 1120 160 122.7 1525 within ASTM E 84. The test is discussed in NFPA 703, 300 226.5 2085 Standard for Fire Retardant–Treated Wood and Fire-Retar- dant Coatings for Building Materials. Requirements for

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fire retardant-treated wood can be found in the chap- 2. Class B roof coverings are intended to be effective ters on assembly occupancies, when dealing with against moderate fire exposure, to afford a moder- grandstands (see 12.4.8 and 13.4.8) and when dealing ate degree of fire protection to the roof deck, not to with exhibit booths (see 12.7.5.3.4 and 13.4.7.5.3.4). The slip from position, and not to present a flying requirements are also found in 19.1.6.8, which deals brand hazard. with wood studs within non–load-bearing partitions 3. Class C roof coverings are intended to be effective for existing health care occupancies. Finally they are against light fire exposure, to afford a light degree found when dealing with the materials of construction of fire protection to the roof deck, not to slip from of kiosks and similar structures in malls (see 36.4.4.8 position, and not to present a flying brand hazard. and 37.4.4.8). NFPA 256 includes six tests: intermittent flame, Fire-Retardant Coatings. The Life Safety Code requires spread of flame, burning brand, flying brand, rain, and that fire-retardant coatings meet specific fire tests. Para- weathering. In the intermittent flame test, a luminous graph 10.2.6.1, dealing with interior finish, specifically gas flame is applied for a number of cycles (flame allows existing interior finish surfaces to be upgraded on/flame off) and observations are made for the fol- to a higher level of fire performance using fire-retar- lowing: dant coatings, but only if the coatings have been specifically designed and approved for the application. The 1. Appearance of sustained flaming on the underside language states, “The required flame spread or smoke of the test deck development classification of existing surfaces of walls, 2. Production of flaming or glowing brands partitions, columns, and ceilings shall be permitted to 3. Displacement of portions of the test sample be secured by applying approved fire-retardant coat- 4. Exposure or falling away of portions of the roof ings to surfaces having higher flame spread ratings deck than permitted. Such treatments shall be tested, or shall be listed and labeled for application to the material to Acceptance is based on there being no sustained which they are applied, and shall comply with the re- flaming on the underside of the deck. In the spread of quirements of NFPA 703, Standard for Fire Retardant– flame test, a gas flame is applied continuously to the Treated Wood and Fire-Retardant Coatings for Building roof assembly. Acceptance is based on there being no Materials.” In this case, the coating must have been flame spread beyond 6 ft (1820 mm, Class A), 8 ft (2440 tested using the normal ASTM E 84 test (rather than the mm, Class B), or 13 ft (3960 mm, Class C). In the burn- longer test method used for fire retardant–treated ing brand test, burning brands are placed on the sur- wood) with the specific material (typically with the ac- face of each test deck at the location considered most tual type of wood) intended to be used and listed for vulnerable (the point of minimum coverage over the the application by a recognized listing agency. The rea- deck joint) with respect to ignition of the deck. Accep- son for this requirement is that coatings may exhibit tance is based on there being no sustained flaming on different fire behavior when different substrates (in- the underside of the deck. In the flying brand test, a gas cluding different species of wood) are treated with the flame is applied to the roof deck in the presence of an same coating. Also, in tests, multiple coatings can lead air current. Acceptance is based on there being no fly- to paint delamination and bubbling or blistering of ing, flaming brands or particles that continue to glow paint. Testing has also shown that thin coatings gener- after reaching the floor. Details of the tests required for ally take on the characteristics of the substrate. In a fire, each classification are described in Table S3.5. delamination, bubbling and blistering of paint can gen- Roof membranes in permanent or temporary erate an accelerated rate of flame spread. membrane structures (see Sections 11.9 and 11.10) need to have some classification, meaning that they Roof Coverings. The Life Safety Code requires that can be Class C. Roof coverings are regulated in the fol- some roof coverings meet a classification based on lowing cases: NFPA 256, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Roof Cover- ings. In the standard roof coverings are classified into 1. Buildings of Type I(443), Type I(332), Type II(222), three classes, depending on their characteristics: or Type II(111) construction for new and existing health care occupancies: Roof coverings need to be 1. Class A roof coverings are intended to be effective Class A (sections 18.1.6.5 and 19.1.6.5). against severe fire exposure, to afford a high de- 2. Buildings of Type I, Type II(222), or Type II(111) gree of fire protection to the roof deck, not to slip construction for existing detention occupancies: from position, and not to present a flying brand Roof coverings need to be Class C (section hazard. 23.1.6.5).

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1208 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

Table S3.5 Tests and Test Assemblies Required for Roof Covering Classification by NFPA 256

Intermittent Spread of Burning Flying Weathering Material to be Tested Flame Test Flame Test Brand Test Brand Test1 Rain Test2 Test3

Other than wood shakes or shingles, for installation on combustible decks Class A 2 2 4 None None None Class B 2 2 2 None None None Noncombustible decks only None 2 None When required When required When required Wood shakes and shingles4 Class A 3 (2) [5] 3 6 (2) [5] 3 (2) [5] 6 15 Class B or Class C 3 (2) [5] 3 3 (2) [5] 3 (2) [5] 6 15

1 Test is performed where there is a possibility that during the test exposure the roof covering will break into flaming particles that support combustion on the floor. 2 Test is conducted where the fire-retardant characteristics of the roof covering are adversely affected by water. 3 Test is conducted with materials or constructions where the fire-retardant characteristics of the roof covering are adversely affected by weather. 4 Number in parentheses is the number of samples from the rain test to be tested. Number in square brackets is the number of samples from the weathering test to be tested.

3. Buildings of Type I, Type II(222), or Type II(111) Another test is often also used to assess whether a construction for existing residential board and material is classified as noncombustible, namely ISO care occupancies: Roof coverings need to be Class 1182, Reaction to fire tests for building products — Non- A (section 33.3.1.3.4). combustibility test.23 This test is used in the European Union and in the marine world, both internationally Tests for Other Fire Properties by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Combustibility — Noncombustible and Limited in the United States by the Coast Guard. Combustible. Many codes, including the Life Safety There are many instances in the Life Safety Code Code, require that certain materials (particularly mate- where the concept of “limited combustible” is used, al- rials of construction) be classified as “noncom- most exclusively for materials of construction, as a test bustible.” Noncombustibility is assessed by testing a criterion that is exclusive to NFPA codes and stan- specimen of a material that is 1.5 in. ϫ 1.5 in. ϫ 2 in. dards. A material is “limited combustible” if it is “a (38 mm ϫ 38 mm ϫ 51 mm) in a vertical tube furnace building construction material not complying with the heated to 1382°F (750°C) and waiting for temperature definition of noncombustible material that, in the form rises. A material is classified as noncombustible if, in which it is used, has a potential heat value not ex- when tested in accordance with ASTM E 136, Test ceeding 3500 Btu/lb (8141 kJ/kg), where tested in ac- Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace cordance with NFPA 259, Standard Test Method for at 750°C, it meets the following three criteria: Potential Heat of Building Materials, and complies with (a) or (b): (a) materials having a structural base of non- 1. The recorded temperature of the surface and inte- combustible material, with a surfacing not exceeding a 1 rior thermocouples does not at any time during thickness of /8 in. (3.2 mm) that has a flame spread the test rise more than 54°F (30°C) above the fur- index not greater than 50; and (b) materials, in the nace temperature at the beginning of the test. form and thickness used, other than as described in 2. There is no flaming from the specimen after the (a), having neither a flame spread index greater than first 30 seconds of test. 25 nor evidence of continued progressive combustion 3. If the weight loss of the specimen during testing and of such composition that surfaces that would be exceeds 50 percent of the initial weight, the exposed by cutting through the material on any plane recorded temperature of the surface and interior would have neither a flame spread index greater than thermocouples does not, at any time during the 25 nor evidence of continued progressive combustion. test, rise above the furnace air temperature at the (Materials subject to increase in combustibility or beginning of the test, and there is no flaming of the flame spread index beyond the limits herein estab- specimen. lished through the effects of age, moisture, or other

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook Reaction-To-Fire Testing 1209

atmospheric condition shall be considered com- Laser extinction beam including temperature measurements bustible.)” Note that the “flame spread index” associ- Temperature and differential ated with this definition is based on testing in pressure measurements taken here accordance with ASTM E 84, Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (see Exhaust blower Exhaust also Table S3.1 for alternative similar fire test meth- hood ods). Testing in accordance with NFPA 259 requires Gas samples Cone heater that a small piece of the material be pulverized and taken here Spark combusted by a combination of tests in an oxygen igniter bomb calorimeter (at very high pressure and in an at- Sample mosphere of pure oxygen) to assess the gross (or com- Load cell plete) heat of combustion and in the vertical tube furnace at 1382°F (750°C). The final result is a “potential heat content.” Materials classified as “limited combustible” can be used as replacements for non- Vertical orientation combustible materials in a number of applications, al- Exhibit S3.17 Schematic diagram of the cone calorimeter. beit only in NFPA codes and standards. It is important to understand that there is a funda- mental difference between the concepts of “gross heat ture calorimeter tests (UL 1975), and so on. Application of combustion” (which is the theoretical amount of standards exist for this cone calorimeter test method, heat released if a material is completely combusted to such as NFPA 272, discussed earlier for upholstered its final products — such as carbon dioxide and water furniture or mattress composites or components. Test — and is measured by oxygen bomb calorimeters) and specimens are roughly 4 in. ϫ 4 in. (100 mm ϫ 100 mm) “effective heat of combustion” (which is the actual with a maximum thickness of 2 in. (50 mm), and they amount of heat released in a realistic fire scenario, and can be exposed horizontally or vertically. However, test is assessed by oxygen consumption, or heat release, samples are most meaningfully exposed horizontally calorimeters). Oxygen consumption calorimetry is — irrespective of the application that the test is in- used in tests of various scales, starting at bench-scale tended to investigate — due to the configuration of the (with 100 mm ϫ 100 mm, or almost 4 in. ϫ 4 in. test ignition source. Interestingly, this test is not used much specimens). Calorimetry is based on the empirical ob- for regulatory purposes, but the test itself is an upgrade servation that there is a direct relationship between the of the Ohio State University heat release rate calorime- mass of oxygen consumed during combustion and the ter (ASTM E 906, Standard Test Method for Heat and Vis- heat released. The relationship is that approximately ible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products, which 13.1 ϫ 103 kJ of heat are released per 1 kg of oxygen is equivalent to NFPA 263, Standard Method of Test for consumed. Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products, withdrawn to avoid duplication). The Ohio Heat Release Rate: Cone Calorimeter Testing. NFPA State heat release test is used by the United States Fed- 271, Standard Method of Test for Heat and Visible Smoke eral Aviation Administration for aircraft regulation. Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen The main use of the cone calorimeter test in the Life Consumption Calorimeter (or ASTM E 1354, which is Safety Code is to obtain input values for use in the per- equivalent), is a small-scale test procedure for deter- formance calculations contained in Chapter 5. NFPA 1, mining the ignitibility, heat release rate, mass loss rate, Fire Code,24 now requires that nonmetallic rubbish con- smoke obscuration, effective heat of combustion, and tainers exceeding a capacity of 40 gallons (0.15 ml3) be toxic gas release from burning of materials and prod- manufactured of materials having a peak rate of heat ucts. The test procedure uses a cone calorimeter appa- release not exceeding 300 kW/m2 at a flux of 50 kW/m2 ratus that exposes a test specimen to a controlled when tested in the horizontal orientation. The tested constant level of radiant heating ranging up to 100 materials should be a thickness as used in the container kW/m2 (see Exhibit S3.17). The test results are useful in but not less than of 0.25 in. (6 mm), in accordance with the evaluation of materials, mathematical modeling, ASTM E 1354, Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible and product research and development. They are also Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an very useful for predictions of heat release results from Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter. The 2009 edition of larger-scale tests, such as many of the tests discussed NFPA 1 also requires that plastic materials used to con- earlier, including room-corner tests (NFPA 286 and struct rigid components of soft contained play equip- 265), furniture tests (ASTM E 1537 and E 1590), furni- ment structures (such as tubes, windows, panels,

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1210 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

junction boxes, pipes, slides, and decks) exhibit a peak Finally, ASTM E 84 (see the earlier discussion of rate of heat release not exceeding 400 kW/m2 when interior finish and Table S3.1) is used for assessing tested in accordance with ASTM E 1354 at an incident both flame spread and smoke obscuration. NFPA 258, heat flux of 50 kW/m2 in the horizontal orientation at a Recommended Practice for Determining Smoke Generation thickness of 6 mm. of Solid Materials, has long been the most popular test method for assessing the smoke obscuration tendency Smoke Obscuration — Small- and Large-Scale Test of materials or products. It uses a small radiant fur- Methods. Smoke obscuration is a critical fire property, nace (at an incident heat flux of 25 kW/m2) with a gas since victims of a fire must be able to see their way to igniter to expose a 3 in. ϫ 3 in. (75 mm ϫ 75 mm) ver- the exits (or rescuers must be able to see the way in) so tical test specimen — in a closed chamber where a ver- that they can escape or be rescued. Thus, smoke ob- tical light beam impinges on a photocell. Smoke scuration is particularly critical in full-scale tests. obscuration is assessed by the reduction of light reach- However, it is important to recognize that the values ing the photocell. being developed for smoke obscuration from small- The Technical Committee on Fire Tests decided scale tests might not have application or correlation to that the test results of this procedure were being used the particular base performance fire scenarios or other as a regulatory tool and were incorrectly finding their end-use applications, since smoke obscuration is a less way into fire modeling applications. As a result, NFPA easily scalable property than heat release. Activities 258 was first revised to become a recommended prac- are ongoing to address some of these concerns. tice and then withdrawn. The scope of ASTM E 662 in- Small-scale tests that address smoke obscuration dicates that the measurement of smoke obscuration measurements can be subdivided into static and dy- with this test method should be used as a research and namic test methods. There are two static test methods: development tool only and should not be used as a NFPA 258, Recommended Practice for Determining Smoke basis for determining ratings for building codes or Generation of Solid Materials (now withdrawn to avoid other regulatory purposes. To provide a potential reg- duplication), and NFPA 270, Standard Test Method for ulatory tool, the committee developed NFPA 270, Stan- Measurement of Smoke Obscuration Using a Conical Radi- dard Test Method for Measurement of Smoke Obscuration ant Source in a Single Closed Chamber, and their equiva- Using a Conical Radiant Source in a Single Closed Cham- lents (ASTM E 662 and ASTM E 1995; see Table S3.1). ber, a test in which smoke obscuration is assessed Dynamic test methods for smoke obscuration are al- using a conical radiant source (instead of the original most invariably associated with the measurement of radiant source) on horizontal test specimens at two in- other fire properties, typically heat release. In fact, cident heat fluxes (25 and 50 kW/m2) in the same every test method mentioned here regarding heat re- closed chamber. There remain observations that the lease measurements can be used for assessing smoke measurement of smoke obscuration in small-scale tests obscuration, both on a small scale and on a large scale. is not sufficiently well correlated with the lack of visi- bility during open burning of the same combustible Smoke Toxicity. Smoke toxicity is not a critical fire material in an actual product. property, since the toxic potency of the smoke from Section D2.3 of NFPA 270 provides some addi- most materials or properties is very similar. Thus, al- tional information on comparisons of smoke obscura- though victims of a fire often die after having been tion measurements with different test methods. This overcome by smoke inhalation, the effect is normally a section notes that little information exists on the corre- consequence of the fire having become big (i.e., of hav- lation (or lack thereof) between the different test meth- ing reached a very high heat release rate). Annex A of ods that measure smoke obscuration. This is important the Life Safety Code does discuss a smoke toxicity test, when evaluating the behavior of a material for input NFPA 269, Standard Test Method for Developing Toxic Po- into performance criteria associated with a particular tency Data for Use in Fire Hazard Modeling, when con- fire modeling scenario or code requirement. In fact, sidering a fractional effective dose (FED) calculation only a few test methods generate smoke obscuration approach for assessing untenability for a performance data in units that are suitable for such fire modeling evaluation. The FED is evaluated based on concentra- calculations, and even then comparisons of numbers tions of carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, carbon with similar units can be misleading. Sound judgment dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and and experience with additional large-scale testing are anoxia effects (low oxygen concentration). It is possi- usually essential when using the smoke obscuration ble to use the test data, combined with laboratory ex- values developed from any small-scale smoke obscu- perience, to estimate the FED value that leads to the ration test for particular real-life applications. survival of virtually all people. In fact, it is important that the results of any test

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook References 1211

procedure — especially from those that use a small National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Pro- sample for testing — are used with caution in their gram, National Institute of Standards and Tech- final application. Tests that use only a small test speci- nology, Directory of Accredited Laboratories, men exposed to a controlled energy source are not Standards Services Division, 100 Bureau Drive, likely to truly reflect the end use and the open burning Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2140. http://ts.nist.gov/ characteristics exhibited by a product. Standards/scopes/programs.htm. Latest edition updated: July 3, 2008. TESTING LABORATORIES North American Fire Testing Laboratories Consor- tium, 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, It is not the intent of the Life Safety Code to require the DC 20006-1633. www.naftl.org. use of any specific testing laboratory. The Code leaves the evaluation of laboratories to the authority having REFERENCES (EXCLUDING NFPA, ASTM jurisdiction. The Code provides the minimum stan- AND UL FIRE TEST STANDARDS) dards that dictate the testing methods, and leaves the decision of who will perform this testing procedure 1. NFPA 220, Standard on Types of Building Construc- and the details of how it will be performed to the ap- tion, 2006 edition, National Fire Protection Associ- propriate responsible individuals. NFPA does not ap- ation. prove, inspect, or certify installations, procedures, 2. NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening materials, or equipment, or approve or evaluate test- Protectives, 2007 edition, National Fire Protection ing laboratories. Obtaining information on testing labs Association. is seldom a simple task. There are a few directories 3. NFPA 5000®, Building Construction and Safety Code®, that provide some categories or listings of fire testing 2009 edition, National Fire Protection Association. labs by the characteristics of what they do and which 4. NFPA 221, Standard for High Challenge Fire Walls, fire tests they perform. Fire Walls, and Fire Barrier Walls, 2009 edition, Na- There are six commercial fire testing laboratories tional Fire Protection Association. in the United States associated with the North Ameri- 5. ASTM E 1399, Standard Test Method for Cyclic Move- can Fire Testing Laboratories Consortium (NAFTL). ment and Measuring the Minimum and Maximum The purpose of the NAFTL Consortium is to provide Joint Widths of Architectural Joint Systems, 2005. a forum for the exchange of technical information, 6. NFPA 90A, Standard for the Installation of Air- conduct studies, and develop industry consensus po- Conditioning and Ventilating Systems, 2009 edition, sitions relating to the full range of fire tests (i.e., reac- National Fire Protection Association. tion to fire, fire suppression, fire resistance and fire 7. ISO 834, Fire-resistance tests — Elements of building detection). Membership in NAFTL is open to any ac- construction, International Organization for Stan- credited North American-based, independent com- dardization, 1 rue de Varembé, Case postale 56, mercial laboratory engaged in fire testing or research. CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland. The labs are, in alphabetical order: FM Approvals 8. UL Fire Resistance Directory, 2006. (Norwood, MA), Intertek Testing Services (multiple 9. NFPA 914, Code for Fire Protection of Historic Struc- locations), NGC Testing Services (Buffalo, NY), South- tures, 2007 edition, National Fire Protection Asso- west Research Institute (San Antonio, TX), Underwrit- ciation. ers Laboratories (multiple locations), and Western 10. ISO 9705, Fire Tests — Full Scale Room Fire Tests for Fire Center (Kelso, WA). There are also other inde- Surface Products International Organization for pendent testing labs that can perform tests to meet the Standardization, 1 rue de Varembé, Case postale criteria of the referenced standards in the Life Safety 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland. Code. 11. NFPA 301, Code for Safety to Life from Fire on Mer- chant Vessels, 2008 edition, National Fire Protection ADDITIONAL READINGS Association. 12. International Code of Safety for High Speed Craft, Inter- ASTM International Directory of Testing Labs, ASTM national Maritime Organization 4 Albert Embank- International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Con- ment, London, SE1 7SR, United Kingdom, 2000. shohocken, PA 19428-2959. Date of latest edition: 13. FM 4880, Approval Standard for Class 1 Insulated 2003. Wall or Wall and Roof/Ceiling Panels; Plastic Interior American Council of Independent Laboratories Finish Materials; Plastic Exterior Building Panels; Inc., 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC Wall/Ceiling Coating Systems; Interior or Exterior 20006-1633. http://www.acil.org/. Finish Systems, FM Global, Norwood, MA, 2004.

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1212 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

14. 16 CFR 1630, “Standard for the Surface Flamma- NFPA 256, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Roof bility of Carpets and Rugs” (FF 1-70). Coverings, withdrawn, last edition 2003. 15. 16 CFR, Part 1209, “Interim Safety Standard for NFPA 257, Standard on Fire Test for Window and Cellulose Insulation.” Glass Block Assemblies, 2007 edition. 16. 16 CFR, Part 1404, “Cellulose Insulation.” 17. CAN/ULC S102.2, Standard Method of Test for NFPA 258, Recommended Practice for Determining Surface Burning Characteristics of Floor Coverings Smoke Generation of Solid Materials, withdrawn, last and Miscellaneous Materials and Assemblies, edition 2003. Underwriters Laboratories of Canada, Scarbor- NFPA 259, Standard Test Method for Potential Heat of ough, Ontario, Canada. Building Materials, 2008 edition. 18. California Technical Bulletin 116, Cigarette Test of NFPA 260, Standard Methods of Tests and Classifica- Upholstered Furniture, California Bureau of Home tion System for Cigarette Ignition Resistance of Com- Furnishings and Thermal Insulation, 3485 Orange ponents of Upholstered Furniture, 2009 edition. Grove Ave., North Highlands, CA, 1980. NFPA 261, Standard Method of Test for Determining 19. California Technical Bulletin 117, Flame and Smol- Resistance of Mock-Up Upholstered Furniture Mater- dering Resistance of Furniture Components, Califor- ial Assemblies to Ignition by Smoldering Cigarettes, nia Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal 2009 edition. Insulation, 3485 Orange Grove Ave., North High- lands, CA, 2000. NFPA 262, Standard Method of Test for Flame Travel 20. California Technical Bulletin 133, Flammability Test and Smoke of Wires and Cables for Use in Air-Han- Procedures for Seating Furniture and Use in Public dling Spaces, 2007 edition. Occupancies, California Bureau of Home Furnish- NFPA 263, Standard Method of Test for Heat and Vis- ings and Thermal Insulation, 3485 Orange Grove ible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products, Ave., North Highlands, CA, 1991. withdrawn, last edition 1995. 21. 16 CFR 1632, “Standard for the Flammability of NFPA 265, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evalu- Mattresses and Mattress Pads” (FF 4-72). ating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Cov- 22. California Technical Bulletin 129, Flammability Test erings on Full Height Panels and Walls, 2007 Procedures for Mattresses for Use in Public Buildings, edition. California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Ther- mal Insulation, 3485 Orange Grove Ave., North NFPA 266, Standard Method of Test for Fire Charac- Highlands, CA, 1992. teristics of Upholstered Furniture Exposed to Flaming 23. ISO 1182, Reaction to fire tests for building products Ignition Source, withdrawn, last edition 1999. — Non-combustibility test, International Organiza- NFPA 267, Standard Method of Test for Fire Charac- tion for Standardization, 1 rue de Varembé, Case teristics of Mattresses and Bedding Assemblies Exposed postale 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland. to Flaming Ignition Source, withdrawn, last edition 24. NFPA 1, Fire Code, 2009 edition, National Fire Pro- 2000. tection Association. NFPA 268, Standard Test Method for Determining Ig- nitability of Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Radiant NFPA Fire Test Standards Referenced Heat Energy Source, 2007 edition. The following publications are available from the Na- NFPA 269, Standard Test Method for Developing Toxic tional Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Potency Data for Use in Fire Hazard Modeling, 2007 Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471. edition. NFPA 251, Standard Methods of Tests of Fire Resis- NFPA 270, Standard Test Method for Measurement of tance of Building Construction and Materials, 2006 Smoke Obscuration Using a Conical Radiant Source in edition. a Single Closed Chamber, 2008 edition. NFPA 252, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Door As- NFPA 271, Standard Method of Test for Heat and Visi- semblies, 2008 edition. ble Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products NFPA 253, Standard Method of Test for Critical Radi- Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter, 2004 edi- ant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant tion. Heat Energy Source, 2006 edition. NFPA 272, Standard Method of Test for Heat and Vis- NFPA 255, Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning ible Smoke Release Rates for Upholstered Furniture Characteristics of Building Materials, 2006 edition. Components or Composites and Mattresses Using an

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook References 1213

Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter, withdrawn, last ASTM E 119, Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of edition 2004. Building Construction and Materials, 2008a. NFPA 274, Standard Test Method to Evaluate Fire Per- ASTM E 136, Standard Test Method for Behavior of formance Characteristics of Pipe Insulation, 2009 edi- Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C, 2004. tion. ASTM E 162, Standard Test Method for Surface Flam- NFPA 275, Standard Method of Fire Tests for the Eval- mability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy uation of Thermal Barriers Used Over Foam Plastic In- Source, 2008. sulation, 2009 edition. ASTM E 648, Standard Test Method for Critical Radi- NFPA 285, Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation ant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non- Heat Energy Source, 2008. Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Com- ASTM E 662, Standard Test Method for Specific Opti- bustible Components, 2006 edition. cal Density of Smoke Generated by Solid Materials, NFPA 286, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evalu- 2006. ating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish ASTM E 814, Standard Test Method for Fire Tests of to Room Fire Growth, 2006 edition. Through-Penetration Fire Stops, 2008. NFPA 287, Standard Test Methods for Measurement of ASTM E 906, Standard Test Method for Heat and Vis- Flammability of Materials in Cleanrooms Using a Fire ible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products, Propagation Apparatus (FPA), 2007 edition. 2007. NFPA 288, Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Floor ASTM E 970, Standard Test Method for Critical Radi- Fire Door Assemblies Installed Horizontally in Fire Re- ant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Ra- sistance–Rated Floor Systems, 2007 edition. diant Heat Energy Source, 2007. NFPA 289, Standard Method of Fire Test for Individual ASTM E 1352, Standard Test Method for Cigarette Ig- Fuel Packages, 2009 edition. nition Resistance of Mock-Upholstered Furniture As- NFPA 290, Standard for Fire Testing of Passive Pro- semblies, 2008a. tection Materials for Use on LP-Gas Containers, 2009 ASTM E 1353, Standard Test Methods for Cigarette edition. Ignition Resistance of Components of Upholstered Fur- NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame niture, 2008a. Propagation of Textiles and Films, 2004 edition. ASTM E 1354, Standard Test Method for Heat and NFPA 703, Standard for Fire Retardant–Treated Wood Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products and Fire-Retardant Coatings for Building Materials, Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter, 2008. 2009 edition. ASTM E 1474, Standard Test Method for Determining NFPA 705, Recommended Practice for a Field Flame the Heat Release Rate of Upholstered Furniture and Test for Textiles and Films, 2009 edition. Mattress Components or Composites Using a Bench Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter, 2007. ASTM Fire Test Standards Referenced ASTM E 1529, Standard Test Methods for Determin- ing Effects of Large Hydrocarbon Pool Fires on Struc- The following publications are available from ASTM tural Members and Assemblies, 2006. International, 100 Bar Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA, 19428-2959. ASTM E 1537, Standard Test Method for Fire Testing ASTM D 1929, Standard Test Method for Determining of Upholstered Furniture, 2007. Ignition Temperature of Plastics, 2001. ASTM E 1590, Standard Test Method for Fire Testing ASTM D 2859, Standard Test Method for Flammabil- of Mattresses, 2007. ity of Finished Textile Floor Covering Materials, 2006. ASTM E 1623, Standard Test Method for Determina- ASTM D 2863, Standard Test Method for Measuring the tion of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials, Prod- Minimum Oxygen Concentration to Support Candle- ucts, and Systems Using an Intermediate Scale Like Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index), 2006a. Calorimeter (ICAL), 2004. ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burn- ASTM E 1678, Standard Test Method for Measuring ing Characteristics of Building Materials, 2008a. Smoke Toxicity for Use in Fire Hazard Analysis, 2007. ASTM E 108, Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of ASTM E 1822, Standard Test Method for Fire Testing Roof Coverings, 2007a. of Stacked Chairs, 2007.

Life Safety Code Handbook 2009 1214 Supplement 3 ● Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users

ASTM E 1966, Standard Test Method for Fire-Resis- UL Fire Test Standards Referenced tive Joint Systems, 2007. The following publications are available from Under- ASTM E 1995, Standard Test Method for Measure- writers Laboratories Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, North- ment of Smoke Obscuration Using a Conical Radiant brook, IL 60062-2096. Source in a Single Closed Chamber, With the Test Spec- imen Oriented Horizontally, 2008. UL 9, Standard for Fire Tests of Window Assemblies, revised 2005. ASTM E 2010, Standard Test Method for Positive UL 10B, Standard for Fire Tests of Door Assemblies, Pressure Fire Tests of Window Assemblies, with- 2008. drawn, last edition 2001. UL 214, Standard for Safety Tests for Flame-Propaga- ASTM E 2032, Standard Guide for Extension of Data tion of Fabrics and Films, withdrawn. from Fire Resistance Tests Conducted in Accordance UL 263, Standard for Fire Tests of Building Construc- with ASTM E 119, 2008. tion and Materials, 2003. ASTM E 2058, Standard Test Methods for Measure- UL 555, Standard for Fire Dampers, 2006. ment of Synthetic Polymer Material Flammability UL 555C, Standard for Ceiling Dampers, 2006. Using a Fire Propagation Apparatus (FPA), 2006. UL 555S, Standard for Leakage Rated Dampers for Use ASTM E 2074, Standard Test Method for Positive in Smoke Control Systems, revised 2006. Pressure Fire Tests of Window Assemblies, with- UL 723, Standard for Test for Surface Burning Charac- drawn, last edition 2000. teristics of Building Materials, 2003. ASTM E 2231, Standard Practice for Specimen Prepa- UL 790, Standard for Standard Test Methods for Fire ration and Mounting of Pipe and Duct Insulation Ma- Tests of Roof Coverings, 2004. terials to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics, UL 910, Standard for Safety Test for Flame-Propaga- 2007a. tion and Smoke-Density Values for Electrical and Op- ASTM E 2257, Standard Test Method for Room Fire tical-Fiber Cables Used in Spaces Transporting Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and Assemblies, Environmental Air, withdrawn. 2008. UL 1040, Standard for Fire Test of Insulated Wall Con- ASTM E 2404, Standard Practice for Specimen Prepa- struction, revised 2001. ration and Mounting of Textile, Paper or Vinyl Wall or UL 1479, Standard for Fire Tests of Through-Penetra- Ceiling Coverings to Assess Surface Burning Charac- tion Firestops, 2003. teristics, 2007a. UL 1056, Standard for Safety Fire Test of Upholstered ASTM E 2573, Standard Practice for Specimen Prepa- Furniture, withdrawn. ration and Mounting of Site-Fabricated Stretch Sys- UL 1715, Standard for Fire Test of Interior Finish Ma- tems to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics, 2007a. terial, 1997. ASTM E 2579, Standard Practice for Specimen Prepa- UL 1895, Standard for Safety Fire Test of Mattresses, ration and Mounting of Wood Products to Assess Sur- withdrawn. face Burning Characteristics, 2007. UL 1975, Standard for Fire Tests for Foamed Plastics ASTM E XXXX, Standard Practice for Specimen Used for Decorative Purposes, 2006. Preparation and Mounting of Reflective Insulation and UL 2079, Standard for Tests for Fire Resistance of Sheet Radiant Barriers for Building Applications. Building Joint Systems, 2004.

2009 Life Safety Code Handbook