ASTM_E_2837_-_13.pdf

Designation:E283713An American National StandardStandard Test Method forDetermining the Fire Resistance of Continuity Head-of-WallJoint Systems Installed Between Rated Wall Assemblies andNonrated Horizontal Assemblies1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2837;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.INTRODUCTIONWall continuity is required by various model codes at joint openings,which are linear voids,gaps,openings,or other discontinuities between or bounded by a rated wall assembly and nonratedhorizontal assemblies,to ensure that the protected joint opening has the same fire resistance rating asthe rated wall assembly.The joint opening at the termination at the top of the rated wall assemblybelow the nonrated horizontal assembly must be protected by a continuity head-of-wall joint system,which has a fire resistance rating,in order to maintain continuity established by the rated wallassembly.This test method is not required when the rated wall assembly contacts nonrated horizontalassemblies when there is no joint opening.Normally such joint openings are denoted as“linear”because the length is normally greater than their width,which is defined by a typical ratio of at least10:1 as in practice.Joint openings are present in buildings as a result of:(1)Design to accommodatevarious movements induced by thermal differentials,seismicity,and wind loads and exists as aclearance separation.(2)Acceptable dimensional tolerances between two or more building elements,for example,between non-loadbearing walls and roofs.(3)Inadequate design,inaccurate assembly,repairs or damage to the building.There are many unique applications for joint systems in buildings.To address this issue there are different types of continuity head-of-wall joint systems.It is not possibleto test all fire-resistive joints systems using the same test apparatus or method of test,for example,TestMethod E2307 employs the ISMAtest apparatus.Acontinuity head-of-wall joint system is a particulartype of fire-resistive joint system that provides fire resistance to prevent passage of fire fromcompartment to compartment within the building at the joint opening between a rated wall assemblyand a nonrated horizontal assembly.A continuity head-of-wall joint system is a unique buildingconstruction detail not addressed by other fire test methods such as Test Method E1966 that tests jointsystems installed between two assemblies that are fire resistance rated.1.Scope1.1 This fire-test-response test method measures the perfor-mance of a unique fire resistive joint system called a continuityhead-of-wall joint system,which is designed to be usedbetween a rated wall assembly and a nonrated horizontalassembly during a fire resistance test.1.2 This fire-test-response standard does not measure theperformance of the following:1.2.1 The rated wall assembly,which is already establishedby other test methods,such as Test Method E119,or1.2.2 The nonrated horizontal assembly,which would beestablished by other test methods such as Test Method E119.NOTE1Typically,rated wall assemblies obtain a fire resistance ratingafter being tested to Test Method E119,NFPA 251,UL 263,CAN/ULC-S101,or other similar fire resistive test methods.1.3 This fire-test-response standard is not intended to evalu-ate the connections between rated wall assemblies and non-rated horizontal assemblies unless part of the continuityhead-of-wall joint system.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on FireStandards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.11 on FireResistance.Current edition approved July 15,2013.Published August 2013.Originallyapproved in 2011.Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E2837-11.DOI:10.1520/E2837-13.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 1.4 The fire resistive test end point is the period of timeelapsing before the first performance criteria is reached whenthe continuity head-of-wall joint system is subjected to one oftwo time-temperature fire exposures.1.5 The fire exposure conditions used are either thosespecified by Test Method E119 for testing assemblies tostandard time-temperature exposures or Test Method E1529 fortesting assemblies to rapid-temperature rise fires.1.6 This test method specifies the heating conditions,meth-ods of test,and criteria to establish a fire resistance rating onlyfor a continuity head-of-wall joint system.1.7 Test results establish the performance of continuityhead-of-wall joint systems to maintain continuity of fire resis-tance of the rated wall assembly where the continuity head-of-wall joint system interfaces with a nonrated horizontal assem-bly during the fire-exposure period.1.8