ASTM_E_2768_-_11.pdf

Designation:E276811An American National StandardStandard Test Method forExtended Duration Surface Burning Characteristics ofBuilding Materials(30 min Tunnel Test)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2768;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 The purpose of this fire-test-response standard is toevaluate the ability of a product to limit the surface spread offlame when evaluated for 30 min.This fire-test-responsestandard uses the apparatus and procedure of Test Method E84with the total test period extended to 30 min.1.2 Building applications affecting fire and life safety oftenrequire products with specific criteria for surface spread offlame and flame spread index.The resulting performancecharacteristics included in the conditions of classification forthis fire-test-response standard are intended to be used forregulatory purposes to determine the suitability of materials orproducts for use in buildings under specified conditions wheresignificantly reduced surface burning characteristics are re-quired.1.3 Materials and products that are beyond the scope of TestMethod E84 are beyond the scope of this standard.1.4 Materials or products which melt,drip or delaminate tothe extent that the continuity of the flame front is destroyed arebeyond the scope of this standard.NOTE1Testing of materials that melt,drip,or delaminate to such adegree that the continuity of the flame-front is destroyed,results in lowflame spread indices that do not relate directly to indices obtained bytesting materials that remain in place.Materials or products that melt,drip,or delaminate,or that cannot support their own weight,have the potentialfor demonstrating reduced flame spread results as compared to the flamespread results where the materials or products remain in place duringtesting.1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.6 The text of this standard references notes and footnotesthat provide explanatory information.These notes andfootnotes,excluding tables and figures,shall not be consideredas requirements of the standard.1.7 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 conditions1.8 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.1.9 Fire testing is inherently hazardous.Adequate safe-guards for personnel and property shall be employed inconducting these tests.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics ofBuilding MaterialsE176 Terminology of Fire Standards2.2 ICC Codes3IBC International Building CodeIWUIC International Wildland Urban Interface CodeIRC International Residential Code2.3 NFPA Code4NFPA 101 Life Safety Code2.4 California Building Code5CBC California Building Code3.Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor definitions of terms used in this testmethod,refer to Terminology E176 and Test Method E84.Theterms surface flame spread,flame spread index,and smoke1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on FireStandards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on SurfaceBurning.Current edition approved July 1,2011.Published August 2011.DOI:10.1520/E2768-11.2For 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.3ICC codes are available from International Code Council,4051 W.FlossmoorRd.,Country Club Hills,IL 60478.4NFPA Codes are available from National Fire Protection Association,1Batterymarch Park,Quincy,MA,02269.5CBC codes are available from http:/ ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 developed index are of particular interest to this standard.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 This test method is conducted using the sameequipment,apparatus,calibration,and calculation of flamespread index and smoke developed index as Test Method E84.4.2 Test Method E84 exposes a nominal 24-ft long by 20-inwide(7.32 m by 508 mm)specimen to a controlled air flow andflaming fire exposure adjusted to spread the flame along theen