Standards Include:
ASTM E 119
ASTM E 814
ISO 834
NFPA 251
UBC 26-2
UBC 7-1
UBC 7-5
UL 1479
UL 263
UL 555
UL 72
These standards outline methods of fire tests for the fire-resistive
properties of building constructions and materials and through-penetration
fire stops of various materials and construction. These fire tests are
applicable to assemblies of masonry units and to composite assemblies of
structural materials for buildings, including bearing and other walls and
partitions, columns, girders, beams, slabs, and composite slab and beam
assemblies for floors and roofs. They are also applicable to other assemblies
and structural units that constitute permanent integral parts of a finished
building.
These requirements are intended to evaluate the length of time that these
types of assemblies will contain a fire or retain their structural integrity,
or both, dependent upon the type of assembly involved, during a predetermined
test exposure. The test evaluates the assembly's resistance to heat, and in
some instances to a hose stream, while carrying an applied load, if the
assembly is load bearing. The results of these tests are one factor in
assessing predicted fire performance of building construction and assemblies.
Standardized Testing
Fire Restistance Testing: Building Materials, Fire Doors, and Windows | Roof Coverings and Accelerated Weathering | Interior Coverings, Finishes, and Furnishings | Research and Development: Including New Urban Wildlife Interface Testing | Materials Properties, Ignition, and Combustibility | Accreditation |
Building Materials
Full Scale Furnaces
Full Scale Horizontal Furnace
Full Scale Vertical Furnace
Standards Include:
Building Constructions
Fire Door Assemblies
Fire Window Assemblies
The furnace used for fire resistance tests of
building constructions
and materials (notably ASTM E-119) and
fire door and window
assemblies is a large-scale, fire-burning apparatus fueled by natural
gas. The furnace is mounted to the floor, with the back side close to the
west wall, at the south end of the laboratory facility. Inside the
laboratory to the north of the furnace is a large area for specimen
construction and curing. Ambient temperature in the laboratory is controlled
by natural gas radiant heaters at the ceiling level. A wall section can be
mounted, in a vertical orientation, into a steel frame specimen holder. The
specimen holder is then rolled up to the furnace and secured by four
pneumatic rams to the furnace opening. Combustion air and natural gas are
supplied to burners through a series of pipes and valves. Internal furnace
pressure is controlled by a series of dampers in the exhaust outlets.
Temperature measurements are recorded by calibrated data acquisition units
which pass the readings to a computer for graphical display and storage. A
large roll up door is in the wall opposite the furnace area and allows for
the samples to be moved approximately 40' on tracks outdoors to the area
designated for hose stream testing.
Equipment Details
The furnace can run under positive or negative pressures to comply with
standard requirements.
Special burners were designed to create historical lazy yellow luminous
diffusion flames under positive pressure conditions so that the sample
performance under the new positive pressure requirements is similar to
historical performance under negative pressure.
The furnace is capable of loading samples, per the standard.
The furnace can follow the new standard hydrocarbon curve.
Research Scale Furnaces
Research Scale Horizontal Furnace
Standards Include:
Horizontal Floor and Deck Assemblies
Horizontal Thermal Barriers
Through-Penetration Fire Stops for Floor/Ceiling
The furnace used for horizontal research-scale fire resistance tests of
building constructions
and materials, such as horizontal floor and deck assemblies, thermal
barriers (in accordance with UBC 26-2 and ASTM E-119) and floor and ceiling
fire stops is a small-scale fire burning apparatus, fueled by natural gas. The
sample is mounted on to the top of the furnace horizontally. The exposed
surface is subjected to the time-temperature curve, while temperature
measurements are taken from the unexposed surface, using a computerized data
acquisition system. The furnace valves are controlled based upon the average
of the interior furnace temperature, which is determined from the internal
thermocouples. Additional thermocouples are added to the unexposed surface of
the specimen to monitor its temperature.
Research Scale Vertical Furnace
Standards Include:
Building Constructions
Fire Door Assemblies
Fire Window Assemblies
The furnace used in the for vertical pilot-scale fire resistance tests of
building constructions
and materials and
fire door and window assemblies is a small-scale fire burning apparatus,
fueled by natural gas. The test assembly is mounted onto a steel frame
specimen holder and installed onto the furnace vertically. The exposed surface
is subjected to the time-temperature curve, with temperature measurements
taken on the unexposed surface of the door and frame using thermocouples
connected to a computerized data acquisition system. The furnace valves are
controlled based upon the average of the interior furnace temperature that is
determined from five internal thermocouples.
Equipment Details
There are windows in the sides of the furnace to allow viewing of the
specimen's exposed surface and the taking of photographs during testing. Upon
completion or early termination of a test, the main gas supply valve is closed
and the specimen is removed from the furnace, allowing for hose stream
testing, if applicable, and allowing for post-testing observations. Ambient
temperature in the laboratory is controlled by natural gas radiant heaters at
the ceiling level.
Door and Window Fire Resistance Testing
Standards Include:
ASTM E 152
ASTM E 2010
ASTM E 2074
NFPA 252
NFPA 257
UBC 7-2
UBC 7-4
UL 10B
UL 10C
UL 9
These fire-test-response standards are applicable to door and window assemblies, including glass block and other light-transmitting assemblies, for use in walls to retard the passage of fire. These standards determine the ability of door and window assemblies to function as a fire-resistive barrier during a standard fire endurance test. They are intended to evaluate the ability of the assembly to remain in an opening during a predetermined test exposure, which, when required, is then followed by the application of a hose stream.
ASTM E 152
ASTM E 2010
ASTM E 2074
NFPA 252
NFPA 257
UBC 7-2
UBC 7-4
UL 10B
UL 10C
UL 9
These fire-test-response standards are applicable to door and window assemblies, including glass block and other light-transmitting assemblies, for use in walls to retard the passage of fire. These standards determine the ability of door and window assemblies to function as a fire-resistive barrier during a standard fire endurance test. They are intended to evaluate the ability of the assembly to remain in an opening during a predetermined test exposure, which, when required, is then followed by the application of a hose stream.