ASTM_E_136_-_12.pdf

Designation:E13612An American National StandardStandard Test Method forBehavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750C1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E136;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S.Department of Defense.1.Scope1.1 This fire-test-response test method covers the determi-nation under specified laboratory conditions of combustioncharacteristics of building materials.1.2 Limitations of this fire-test response test method areshown below.1.2.1 This test method does not apply to laminated or coatedmaterials.1.2.2 This test method is not suitable or satisfactory formaterials that soften,flow,melt,intumesce or otherwiseseparate from the measuring thermocouple.1.2.3 This test method does not provide a measure of anintrinsic property.1.2.4 This test method does not provide a quantitativemeasure of heat generation or combustibility;it simply servesas a test method with selected(end point)measures ofcombustibility.1.2.5 The test method does not measure the self-heatingtendencies of materials.1.2.6 In this test method materials are not being tested in thenature and form used in building applications.The test speci-men consists of a small,specified volume that is either(1)cutfrom a thick sheet;(2)assembled from multiple thicknesses ofthin sheets;or(3)placed in a container if composed of granularpowder or loose-fiber materials.1.2.7 Results from this test method apply to the specific testapparatus and test conditions and are likely to vary whenchanges are made to one or more of the following:(1)the size,shape,and arrangement of the specimen;(2)the distribution oforganic content;(3)the exposure temperature;(4)the airsupply;(5)the location of thermocouples.1.3 This test method includes two options,both of whichuse a furnace to expose test specimens of building materials toa temperature of 750C(1382F).1.3.1 The furnace for the apparatus for Option A consists ofa ceramic tube containing an electric heating coil,and twoconcentric vertical refractory tubes.1.3.2 The furnace for the apparatus for Option B(TestMethod E2652)consists of an enclosed refractory tube sur-rounded by a heating coil with a cone-shaped airflow stabilizer.1.4 This test method references notes and footnotes thatprovide explanatory information.These notes and footnotes,excluding those in tables and figures,shall not be considered asrequirements of this test method.1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded asstandard.The values given in parentheses are for informationonly.1.6 This standard is used to measure and describe theresponse of materials,products,or assemblies to heat andflame under controlled conditions,but does not by itselfincorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-riskassessment of the materials,products,or assemblies underactual fire conditions.1.7 Fire testing is inherently hazardous.Adequate safe-guards for personnel and property shall be employed inconducting these tests.1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D1929 Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperatureof PlasticsD3174 Test Method for Ash in the Analysis Sample of Coaland Coke from CoalE84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics ofBuilding Materials1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on FireStandards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.23 on Combustibil-ity.Current edition approved Aug.1,2012.Published September 2012.Originallyapproved in 1958.Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E136 11.DOI:10.1520/E0136-12.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 E176 Terminology of Fire StandardsE2652 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a TubeFurnace with a Cone-shaped Airflow Stabilizer,at 750C2.2 ISO Standard:3ISO 1182 Noncombustibility Test for Building MaterialsISO 13943 Fire Safety-Vocabulary2.3 Other Standard:BS 476Combustibility Test of Materials33.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms found in this testmethod,refer to Terminology E176 and ISO 13943.In case ofconflict,the definitions given in Terminology E176 shallprevail.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 This test me