ASTM_E_2632_-_E_2632M_-_13e1.pdf

Designation:E2632/E2632M131Standard Test Method forEvaluating the Under-Deck Fire Test Response of DeckMaterials1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2632/E2632M;the number immediately following the designation indicates the yearof original adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A superscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1NOTEThe units statement and captions for figures were updated editorially in February 2013.1.Scope1.1 This standard prescribes a method to assess the fire-testresponse characteristics of deck materials when used as thewalking surface of a deck.The prescribed fire exposure isintended,under test conditions,to determine the heat releaserate and the thermal decomposition modes of decking materialswhen exposed to a burner flame simulating combustiblesburning beneath a deck.21.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded separately as standard.The values stated ineach system are not necessarily exact equivalents;therefore,each system shall be used independently of the other.Combin-ing values from the two systems has the potential to result innon-conformance with the standard.1.3 This standard is used to measure and describe theresponse of deck materials to heat and flame under controlledconditions,but does not by itself incorporate all factorsrequired for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the deckmaterials under actual fire conditions.1.4 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.1.5 Fire testing is inherently hazardous.Adequate safe-guards for personnel and property shall be employed inconducting these tests.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:3D2898 Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood for Fire TestingE176 Terminology of Fire StandardsE2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calo-rimetry Fire Tests2.2 ISO Standards:4ISO 13943 Fire Safety Vocabulary3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in this testmethod,refer to Terminology E176 or ISO 13943.Whendiscrepancies exist,the definition in Terminology E176 shallprevail.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 deck surface area,nthe test specimen area definedby the overall specimen length and width after assembly.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 The test method described here measures the heatrelease rate of deck materials subjected to a flame sourcelocated beneath a test specimen.4.2 The test method employs a diffusion flame based firesource from a nominal 305 mm 12 in.square burner locatedunderneath the test specimen.4.3 An 80 kW fire exposure shall be applied to the undersideof the test specimen for a period of 3 min after which theburner is extinguished.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on FireStandards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.14 on External FireExposures.Current edition approved Feb.1,2013.Published February 2013.DOI:10.1520/E2632_E2632M-13E01.2Appendix X1 provides commentary on the background of this test method aswell as its potential use for evaluation of coatings and surface treatments of deckproducts.3For 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.4Available from International Organization for Standardization(ISO),1,ch.dela Voie-Creuse,CP 56,CH-1211 Geneva 20,Switzerland,http:/www.iso.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 4.4 Fire test response characteristics monitored and re-corded shall include heat release of the test specimen utilizingoxygen depletion methodologies as described in PracticeE2067.In addition,physical changes of the test specimenduring the test shall be recorded.5.Significance and Use5.1 This test method addresses the suitability of deckmaterials by assessing their response to fire hazards associatedwith sources of flame located beneath the deck material.6.Deck Test Specimen6.1 Test material shall be representative of normal dailyproduction and shall be installed according to the manufactur-ers instructions.Test material for developmental productsshall be so identified.6.2 Pre-test ConditioningPrior to testing,all materials(deck boards and joist material)shall be conditioned to aconstant weight or for a minimum of 30 days at 21 6 2 C 706 4 F and 50 6 5%relative humidity,whichever occurs first.Constant weight shall be defined as occurring when the changein test material weight is less than or equal to 0.1%in a 24-hperiod