ASTM_D_3201_-_D_3201M_-_13.pdf

Designation:D3201/D3201M13Standard Test Method forHygroscopic Properties of Fire-Retardant Wood and Wood-Based Products1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3201/D3201M;the number immediately following the designation indicates theyear of original adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of lastreapproval.A superscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method prescribes the procedure for determin-ing the hygroscopicity of fire retardant treated wood productsby determining the moisture content of fire-retardant-treatedwood and wood-based product specimens after exposure to atest condition of 92 6 2%relative humidity at 81 6 4F 27 62C.1.2 The text of this test method references notes andfootnotes which provide explanatory material.These notes andfootnotes(excluding those in tables and figures)shall not beconsidered as requirements of this test method.1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded separately as standard.The values stated ineach system may not be exact equivalents;therefore,eachsystem shall be used independently of the other.Combiningvalues from the two systems may result in non-conformancewith the standard.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.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D9 Terminology Relating to Wood and Wood-Based Prod-uctsE84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics ofBuilding MaterialsE176 Terminology of Fire StandardsE2768 Test Method for Extended Duration Surface BurningCharacteristics of Building Materials(30 min Tunnel Test)3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsDefinitions used in this practice are inaccordance with Terminologies D9 and E176.4.Significance and Use4.1 The hygroscopic properties of wood and wood-basedproducts treated with fire-retardant chemicals are often greaterthan for untreated products.This is particularly true at thehigher relative humidity conditions.This higher hygroscopicitysometimes is the cause for staining,decay,poor paint adhesion,and migration and exuding of chemicals and moisture at thehigh humidities.Corrosion of metal fasteners sometimes alsooccurs.4.2 The results obtained with this standard are important inidentifying treatments with low hygroscopic properties.4.3 Results can be useful in determining exposure limita-tions in service for specific treated products.4.4 Building codes and other specifications for fire-retardant-treated wood for interior use include requirementsbased on this test method.5.Apparatus5.1 Conditioning chamber with air circulation and capableof being maintained at 81 6 4F 27 6 2C and a relativehumidity of 92 6 2%.5.2 Oven,air-circulated and vented,capable of maintaininga temperature of 217 6 4F 103 6 2C.5.3 Weighing ScaleA scale or balance that will weigh aspecimen within an accuracy of 60.2%.6.Test Specimens6.1 Aminimum of five specimens shall be selected from theuntreated product/species combination that is to be tested.Solid wood specimens with identifiable sapwood shall beselected with as much sapwood as can be readily obtained fromthe lot of material from which it is selected.6.2 Specimen Size:6.2.1 Solid wood specimens shall be cross sections cutfrom solid sawn,surfaced lumber of nominal 26 size.The test1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D07 on Woodand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.07 on Fire Performance ofWood.Current edition approved June 15,2013.Published July 2013.Originallyapproved in 1973.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D3201 081.DOI:10.1520/D3201-13.2For 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 specimens shall be 1.0 6 0.1 in.25 6 3 mm along the grainby 5.5 6 0.1 in.139 6 3 mm wide by 1.5 6 0.1 in.38 63 mm deep.6.2.2 Panel product specimens shall be cut from panels witha nominal thickness between 15/32 in.12 mm and 5/8 in.16mm.The test specimens shall be the thickness of the panel by5.5 6 0.1 in.139 6 3 mm by 5.5 6 0.1 in.139 6 3 mm.6.2.3 Products for which the specimen sizes in 6.2.1 and6.2.2 are not applicable may be tested using specimens withsurface area to volume ratios greater than 3.7 in.2:1 in.30.15mm2:1 mm3 and minimum mass of 0.11 lb.50 g.6.3 Treatment with fire-retardant chemicals shall be donein a manner representative of that for the product/species beingtested.6.3.1 The fire retardant chemical retention of the treatedproduct shall n