ASTM_E_2688_-_10.pdf

Designation:E268810An American National StandardStandard Practice forSpecimen Preparation and Mounting of Tapes to AssessSurface Burning Characteristics1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2688;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.1.Scope1.1 This practice describes a procedure for specimen prepa-ration and mounting when testing tapes up to and including 8in.(203.2 mm)widths to assess flame spread and smokedevelopment as surface burning characteristics using TestMethod E84.Tapes in excess of 8 in.(203.2 mm)are to betested in full coverage as applied to fiber cement board asdescribed in Test Method E84.1.2 This practice applies to tapes intended for various useswithin buildings.The tapes addressed in this practice are notable to be supported by their own structural characteristicsduring the test.1.3 Testing is conducted in accordance with Test MethodE84.1.4 This practice does not provide pass/fail criteria that canbe used as a regulatory tool.1.5 This practice does not apply to materials for which thetest specimen does not remain in place before and during thetest until maximum flame propagation has occurred.1.6 This practice is not for system evaluation.It is for thecomparison of the materials only.1.7 The results obtained by using this mounting procedureare confined to the materials themselves as tested and are notcomparable to materials that are tested in a full tunnel widthapplication.1.8 Use the values stated in inch-pound units as thestandard,in referee decisions.The values in the SI system ofunits are given in parentheses,for information only;seeIEEE/ASTM SI-10 for further details.1.9 This fire standard cannot be used to provide quantitativemeasures.1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous.Adequate safe-guards for personnel and property shall be employed inconducting these tests.1.11 This standard gives instructions on specimen prepara-tion and mounting,but the fire-test-response method is given inTest Method E84.See also Section 9.1.12 The text of this standard references notes and footnoteswhich provide explanatory material.These notes and footnotesshall not be considered requirements of the standard.1.13 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:2C717 Terminology of Building Seals and SealantsE84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics ofBuilding MaterialsE176 Terminology of Fire StandardsIEEE/ASTM SI-10 International System of Units(SI):TheModern Metric System3.Terminology3.1 Definitions:For definitions of terms used in this practiceand associated with fire issues,refer to the terminologycontained in Terminology E176.For definitions of terms usedin this practice associated with thin tapes refer to TerminologyC717.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 self-supporting specimen,na specimen that remainsin place by its own structural characteristics both before andduring the fire test.4.Summary of Practice4.1 This practice describes procedures for specimen prepa-ration and mounting when testing tapes up to and including 8in.(203.3 mm)in width to assess flame spread and smokedevelopment as surface burning characteristics using Test1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on FireStandards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on SurfaceBurning.Current edition approved Jan.1,2010.Published February 2010.DOI:10.1520/E2688-10.2For 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 Method E84.Tapes in excess of 8 in.(203.2 mm)are to betested in full coverage as applied to fiber cement board asdescribed in Test Method E84.4.2 This practice applies only to those tapes from which it isnot possible to develop specimens that are self-supporting bytheir own structural characteristics.4.3 The tapes addressed in this practice shall be tested inaccordance with the specimen preparation and mounting pro-cedures described in this practice,using Test Method E84.5.Significance and Use5.1 Building products made with tapes are often used forapplications for which Test Method E84 is used for compliancewith building,life safety code or mechanical code require-ments.This practice describes,in detail,specimen mountingprocedures for those ta