What does ASTM stand for?
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Currently known as ASTM International, “American Society for Testing and Materials”, ASTM is a developer of international voluntary consensus standards. ASTM standards are developed by committees of relevant industry professionals who meet regularly in an open and transparent process to deliver standards, test methods, specifications, guides, and practices.
What is the full form of ASTM?
The Full form of ASTM is the American Society for Testing and Materials. This is an organization that serves us by providing standards to certain products. ASTM came into existence in the year 1898 and there have been many revisions in it since then. Moreover, it helps consumers and buyers to get the best environment for different materials.
What does ASTM stand for in government?
ASTM refers to the American Society of Testing and Materials American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). ASTM is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services—including those in healthcare.
What is in the ASTM standard?
ASTM Standards are documents developed and published by ASTM International. ASTM in full form is the American Society for Testing and Materials, the former name for the organization. Although the standards are voluntary, they are frequently referred to, and cited in and incorporated into codes, regulations and laws around the world.
What is the ASTM E84 test?
How is ASTM E84 testing performed?
What are the three testing options for ASTM E84?
What is the difference between ASTM E-84 and CAN/ULC-S102?
What is the material classification of fire performance?
What is the Steiner tunnel?
See 1 more

What is the highest rating for a material tested under ASTM E 84?
ASTM E84 Acceptance CriteriaClassFlame Spread IndexSmoke Development RatingClass 1 or A0 – 25450 maximumClass 2 or B26 – 75450 maximumClass 3 or C76-200450 maximumApr 24, 2020
What is a good flame spread rating?
Flame spread ratings range from an index of 0-200, with Class A being the best with an index of 0-25, Class B with an index of 26-75, and Class C with an index of 76-200.
What is ASTM E84 ul723?
The ANSI/UL 723 (ASTM E84) Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials test is typically used to determine the relative surface burning characteristics of materials used as coverings for walls and ceilings.
What does class 3 flame spread rating mean?
What is a Class C or Class 3 fire rating? A Class C or Class 3 fire rating has a flame spread rating between 76 and 200. This rating incorporates building materials like plywood, fiberboard, and hardboard siding panels. It also includes any of the faster burning whole woods.
What are the 3 main classifications of fire rated walls?
The International Building Code (IBC) identifies three types of walls used for fire separation of areas within a building. These three wall types are Fire Walls, Fire Barriers, and Fire Partitions.
What is the fire rating of 5/8 drywall?
1 hourThe 5/8-inch, “fire-code” drywall (called Type X) increases a wall's fire rating to a minimum of 1 hour, from the 30-minute rating for standard ½-inch drywall.
What is a 25 50 flame spread smoke?
The flame spread and smoke developed index results are reported on a scale from 0 (cement board) and 100 (red oak). The flame spread index (FSI) for pipe and duct insulation used in an air plenum must be 25 or less and smoke developed index (SDI) 50 or less, commonly referred to as “25/50” rated.
What does a flame spread of 25 mean?
Class A - Flame-spread 0-25, smoke developed 0-450. Class B - Flame-spread 26-75, smoke developed 0-450. Class C - Flame-spread 76-200, smoke developed 0-450.
Is Class A fire rating 1 hour?
One-Hour Fire-Rated Having a Class A rating generally refers to the ASTM E84 standard for flame spread and smoke generation. But a one-hour rated wall generally is required to comply with the E84 Class A rating requirements as well.
What is the most fire-resistant insulation?
Mineral wool: With a high melting temperature, mineral wool is an insulation material that's a great fit for thermal applications because of its superior fire-resistant properties.
Which class of material is most fire-resistant?
Flame spread classifications are developed using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) “tunnel test.” Class A fire ratings indicate flame-spread of 0-25 and smoke developed between 0-450 and is the highest of the ratings. The Class A or Class I rating indicates superior fire protection.
What is a Class 0 fire rating?
Class 0 is the highest standard of fire resistance. It means that products with such certification can be used even in areas such as evacuation routes. This allows designers enhanced freedom of creation, while at the same time ensuring the safety of users.
What is a 25 50 fire rating?
The flame spread and smoke developed index results are reported on a scale from 0 (cement board) and 100 (red oak). The flame spread index (FSI) for pipe and duct insulation used in an air plenum must be 25 or less and smoke developed index (SDI) 50 or less, commonly referred to as “25/50” rated.
What is the flame spread rating of wood?
As can be seen from the listed indices, most tested wood products have a flame spread index less than 200, making them acceptable under current building codes for a wide range of interior finish uses.
What is the maximum flame spread index for insulation materials?
Insulating materials, where exposed as installed in buildings of any type of construction, shall have a flame spread index of not more than 25 and a smoke-developed index of not more than 450.
What does 1 hour fire rating mean?
A “one-hour” fire rating is given to an assembly consisting of various building materials that can resist the exposure of a standardized fire exposure for one hour.
INTRODUCTION TO ASTM E84 & FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS June 2017
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN INTRODUCTION TO ASTM E84 & FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS June 2017 ASTM E84 (often referred to as just “E84”) is the standard
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What does Class A flame spread rating mean? ASTM E-84 Class A fire rating, means our walls have the lowest fire spread rate for building materials
E08400 - SEMI E84 - Specification for Enhanced Carrier Handoff Paralle ...
Due to the migration to large wafer sizes, future semiconductor factories will use extensive automated material handling systems (AMHS) to transfer wafer carriers, including FOUPs and open cassettes, of increasing weight. The parallel input/output (PI/O) control signals between the production equipment and the AMHS mus
T-FIT Application profile 35 -Euroclass and ASTM E-84
Euroclass (EN 13501-1) is a standardised testing and classification system used in Europe to show the relative resistance to fire of building materials.
What is the ASTM E84 test?
ASTM E84, also referred to as “E84”, is the standard test method used to assess the surface burning characteristics of a material used for interior wall and ceiling finishes, with results measured by Flame Spread Index (SFI) and Smoke Developed Index (SDI).
How is ASTM E84 testing performed?
The progress of the sample burning is observed through viewing windows installed on the side of the tunnel. A Light Obscuration meter is used to measure the optical density to determine smoke developed. Software records and computes a variety of data and generates the FSI and SDI. The FSI and SDI are used to establish a scale for the rate at which flame spreads and smoke develops during the ASTM E84 test. Based on the FSI and SDI a class rating is assigned to the material.
What are the three testing options for ASTM E84?
When testing a material for ASTM E84 you are presented with three different testing options, Unadhered, Adhered to GRC and Adhered to Gypsum. These options correlate to the end installation of the material. Depending on if it is for wallcovering, headboard, wrapped panels or something else there are different testing options that apply.
What is the difference between ASTM E-84 and CAN/ULC-S102?
The main differences between the US method ASTM E-84 and the Canadian method CAN/ULC-S102 have to do with the mounting of the test samples in the Steiner Tunnel and the number of samples tested.
What is the material classification of fire performance?
Material classification of fire performance is based on the test results in accordance with the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101 Section 10.2.3 and the Standard Building Code (issued by SBCCI) Section 704 and/or Uniform Building Code (UBC) (issued by ICBO) Section 4204 and Basic Building Code (issued by BOCA) Section 922.5.3.
What is the Steiner tunnel?
Name: Steiner Tunnel or Steiner Tunnel Test#N#Purpose: Widely used method to determine the surface burning behavior (fire propagation and smoke development) of building materials of exposed surfaces such as walls and ceilings. #N#History: Developed in 1944 by Al Steiner of Underwriters Laboratories. Incorporated as a reference in North American standards for materials testing such as ASTM E84, NFPA 255, UL 723 and ULC S102.#N#Apparatus Description: The tunnel’s roof is a noncombustible horizontal box or tunnel, in a section 7.3 meters (24 ft) long and 0.56 meters (1.8 ft) wide. The tunnel is as wide and long as the test specimen, and 0.305 meters (1.00 ft) high. The apparatus is equipped with two gas burners providing a flame intensity of 89 kilowatts, and air and combustion products are moved through the tunnel by a ventilation system at a controlled velocity of 73 meters (240 ft) per minute.
What is E84 fire test?
1.2 Test Method E84 is a 10-min fire-test response method. The following standards address testing of materials in accordance with test methods that are applications or variations of the test method or apparatus used for Test Method E84:
What is an ASTM designation number?
An ASTM designation number identifies a unique version of an ASTM standard.
What is the E162 test method?
E162 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
What is E2231 practice?
E2231 Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Pipe and Duct Insulation Materials to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics
What is the purpose of the flame spread test?
1.3 The purpose of this test method is to determine the relative burning behavior of the material by observing the flame spread along the specimen. Flame spread and smoke developed index are reported. However, there is not necessarily a relationship between these two measurements.
How long does it take to test a red oak specimen?
(508-mm) wide specimen to a controlled air flow and flaming fire exposure adjusted to spread the flame along the entire length of the select grade red oak specimen in 5 1 / 2 min.
What is the purpose of the 4.1 fire test method?
4.1 This test method is intended to provide only comparative measurements of surface flame spread and smoke density measurements with that of select grade red oak and fiber-cement board surfaces under the specific fire exposure conditions described herein.
What is the purpose of ASTM E84?
The ASTM E84 (often referred to as just “E84”) is the standard test method for assessing the surface burning characteristics of building products. The purpose of this test is to observe the flame spread along with a sample in order to determine the relative burning behavior of its material. Th
How to measure E84?
An E84 test is conducted by placing a 24” wide x 24’ long sample into a Steiner Tunnel (see description of Steiner Tunnel below), wherein the test is administered through the use of two burners which provide 89kW of energy. During the test, the sample is mounted on the ceiling under a removable lid , and a forced draft is provided in order for the movement of air and products of combustion within the tunnel, and to the exhaust/scrubber system. The progress of the flame is then monitored through viewports on one side of the apparatus and recorded, with software computing the various data points to derive the FSI and SDI. Smoke developed is also measured through the optical density of a light obscuration meter. It should be noted that the ‘fuel contributed’ measurement is no longer in use.
When is the E84 test required?
The 2006 International Building Code (IBC) specifies that “interior wall and ceiling finishes shall be classified in accordance with ASTM E84.” Additionally, the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 101® Life Safety Code® requires that “Interior wall or ceiling finish that is required elsewhere in this Code to be Class A, Class B, or Class C shall be classified based on test results from NFPA 255, ASTM E-84, or UL 723.”
What is a Steiner Tunnel?
Developed by Albert Steiner in the 1940s, the Steiner Tunnel is a steel box lined on its sides and floor with fire brick and featuring a removable lid. The tunnel contains a 12-in. high fire chamber with two burners at one end providing 89kW of energy. The Steiner Tunnel was adopted as an ASTM Standard in 1950 and given the designation of E84. Equivalent standards are maintained by NFPA and UL as NFPA 255, UL 732, and with certain modifications as CAN/ ULC-S102. Under the Canadian standard, additional fire bricks are installed on the floor of the tunnel and the view glass is removed. UL 1256 also references a modified version of the Steiner Tunnel for use on certain roofing systems. The FSI and SDI indices are used to establish a scale for the rate at which flame spreads and smoke develops during an E84 test. For example, reinforced cement board calibration material has an FSI of 0 and an SDI of 0, whereas red oak calibration material has an FSI and SDI of 100.
Who does the E84 fire and smoke testing?
Intertek currently operates four testing laboratories within North America certified to perform ASTM E84 Testing. In addition, our Coquitlam, British Columbia lab specializes in conducting CAN/ULC-S102 testing for the Canadian market. Their services also include testing to IBC, NRCC, and NFPA 101 standards, as well as testing required by overseas nations and specialty groups such as the California State Fire Marshal and USCG. Intertek ’s Steiner Tunnels are some of the busiest in the commercial world.
Is E84 the same as fire rated?
No, E84 certifies the system does not exceed the FSI and SDI values after 30 minutes of fire. A fire-rated system can withstand one hour of fire resistance without exceeding the FSI SDI thresholds. The only temporary containment option that meets this threshold is drywall. There isn’t currently a modular containment solution that meets the fire-rated standards.
Who invented the Steiner tunnel?
Developed by Albert Steiner in the 1940s, the Steiner Tunnel is a steel box lined on its sides and floor with fire brick and featuring a removable lid. The tunnel contains a 12-in. high fire chamber with two burners at one end providing 89kW of energy. The Steiner Tunnel was adopted as an ASTM Standard in 1950 and given the designation of E84.
What is ASTM testing?
Established by the American Society for Testing and Materials, formally known as ASTM International, this evaluation measures a material’s reaction after being exposed to fire, in terms of flame development and smoke production. These testing standards let a customer know if a product has the potential to quickly cause catastrophic damage when exposed to an ignition source, compared to moderately withstanding ignition so that an attempt at extinguishment may be made. The amount of smoke and flame produced by a material is measured against two controls; fiber-reinforced cement board which does not burn or smoke, and red oak flooring, which represents a high flammability level.
Why is it important to test similar materials to the same standard?
However, testing similar materials to the same standard allows for fair performance comparisons to be made .
Is acoustical foam fireproof?
Despite continuing advances in technology and standards, there is no completely fireproof product and it is important to use products in a way that recognizes this fact. Open flames must always be kept away from acoustical foam or sound insulation, smoking should be avoided and areas with components generating extreme heat should not house acoustical foam installations. Always consult with building professionals and sound experts when planning to install acoustical foam.
Is foam factory fire retardant?
To ensure consistency, fire retardants are added to the foam’s formula during manufacturing, not simply sprayed on the surface.
What is ASTM E84?
ASTM E84 (UL 723): tests the outside material of the assembly for flame spread and smoke development characteristics. There are two testing indexes:
What is the difference between ASTM E119 and E84?
Additionally important are the primary ASTM test and rating differences: ASTM E119 evaluates the entire assembly for fire resistance - and test results determine a one-hour rating. ASTM E84 tests the flame and smoke spread attributes of the outside material and results of these tests generate the important Class ratings required by facilities.
What is a Class A fire rating?
Here are key things to know about E84 Class Ratings: Class A always denotes products that offer a higher degree of performance when subjected to a fire.
When is a fire rated temporary wall required?
When conducting an occupied renovation in a hospital, a one-hour fire-rated temporary construction wall is often required by national or regional jurisdictions, particularly when a working sprinkler system is not in place.
What is the smoke development index?
The smoke development index (SDI) measures the amount of smoke a sample emits as it burns.
What is the ASTM E84 test?
ASTM E84, also referred to as “E84”, is the standard test method used to assess the surface burning characteristics of a material used for interior wall and ceiling finishes, with results measured by Flame Spread Index (SFI) and Smoke Developed Index (SDI).
How is ASTM E84 testing performed?
The progress of the sample burning is observed through viewing windows installed on the side of the tunnel. A Light Obscuration meter is used to measure the optical density to determine smoke developed. Software records and computes a variety of data and generates the FSI and SDI. The FSI and SDI are used to establish a scale for the rate at which flame spreads and smoke develops during the ASTM E84 test. Based on the FSI and SDI a class rating is assigned to the material.
What are the three testing options for ASTM E84?
When testing a material for ASTM E84 you are presented with three different testing options, Unadhered, Adhered to GRC and Adhered to Gypsum. These options correlate to the end installation of the material. Depending on if it is for wallcovering, headboard, wrapped panels or something else there are different testing options that apply.
What is the difference between ASTM E-84 and CAN/ULC-S102?
The main differences between the US method ASTM E-84 and the Canadian method CAN/ULC-S102 have to do with the mounting of the test samples in the Steiner Tunnel and the number of samples tested.
What is the material classification of fire performance?
Material classification of fire performance is based on the test results in accordance with the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101 Section 10.2.3 and the Standard Building Code (issued by SBCCI) Section 704 and/or Uniform Building Code (UBC) (issued by ICBO) Section 4204 and Basic Building Code (issued by BOCA) Section 922.5.3.
What is the Steiner tunnel?
Name: Steiner Tunnel or Steiner Tunnel Test#N#Purpose: Widely used method to determine the surface burning behavior (fire propagation and smoke development) of building materials of exposed surfaces such as walls and ceilings. #N#History: Developed in 1944 by Al Steiner of Underwriters Laboratories. Incorporated as a reference in North American standards for materials testing such as ASTM E84, NFPA 255, UL 723 and ULC S102.#N#Apparatus Description: The tunnel’s roof is a noncombustible horizontal box or tunnel, in a section 7.3 meters (24 ft) long and 0.56 meters (1.8 ft) wide. The tunnel is as wide and long as the test specimen, and 0.305 meters (1.00 ft) high. The apparatus is equipped with two gas burners providing a flame intensity of 89 kilowatts, and air and combustion products are moved through the tunnel by a ventilation system at a controlled velocity of 73 meters (240 ft) per minute.
