Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials

• One of the most commonly used test for fire resistance of construction assemblies; evaluates an assembly's ability to prevent the passage of fire, hear, and hot gasses.
• involves building a sample of the wall or floor/ceiling assembly and setting a fire one side of it
• First part of test measures heat transfer though the assembly
• Second part of the test is the hose stream test-uses  a high-pressure hose stream to simulate how well the assembly stands up to impact from debris
• A time-based rating is given to the assemby. 1 hour, 2 hour 3 hour 4 hour. Doors are 20, 30 and 45 minute

Standard Methods for Fire Tests of Door Assemblies

• evaluates the ability of a door assembly to resist the passage of flame, heat and gases
• Time Rated System

Standard for Fire Test for Window and Glass Block Assemblies

• fire and hose stream test procedures to establish degree of fire protection in units of time, for window openings in fire-resistive walls.

Standard Test Method for Suface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

• AKA Steiner Tunnel Test
• rates the surgace burning characteristics of interior finishes & other building materials by testing in a narrow test chamber with a controlled flame at one end
• The primary result is a material's flame-spread rating comared to glass-reinforced cement board (rating of 0) and red oak flooring (raiting of 100)
• Grouped into Class A (Best), B and C

(A) I    0-25

(B) II     26-75

(C)III    76-200

ASTM E662

&

NFPA 285

Standard Test Method for Specific Optical Density Smoke Gernerated by Solid Material

• Measures the amount of smoke given off by a flaming or smoldering material or finish.
• Smoke density value from 0-800
• Most codes require a smoke denisty of 450 or less
• Develped two material classes, Class I and Class II

Class I Rating

as per Radiant Panel Test

• has a cridtical radiant flux of not less than .45 W/cm2
• typically required in corridors and exitways of hipitals, nursing homes, and detention facilities.

Class II rating

as per Radiant Panel Test

• has a critical radiant flux of not less than .22 W/cm2
• flooring is typically required in corridors and exitways of other occupancies, except on and two family dwellings
• Can use in sprinklered buildings where Class I materials might otherwise be required

Standard Test Method for Ignition Characteristics of Finished Textile

• AKA The Methenamine Pill Test
• required for all carpet sold and manufactured in the US

Room Corner Test

• Sometimes used as addition/in place of ASTM E84
• determines the contributions of interior wall and ceiling coverings to room fire growth
• simulate real world conditions by testing the material in the corner of a full-sized test room
• A rating is either pass or fail

Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth

A wall assembly with a fire-resistance rating of 1 hour, used in the following designated locations

• walls spearating dwelling units such as rooms in apartments, dormitories and assisted living
• walls separating guiest rooms in Group R-1 occupancies, such as hotels, as well as r-2 and I-1
• walls separating tenant spaces in covered mall buildings
• corridor walls
• Must provide a continuous barrier ie slab to above ceiling
• Openings 45 minute rating

• Vertical or horixontal assembly this is fire resistance rated
• designed to restrict the spread of fire, confine fire and afford safepassage for pretected egress
• enclose vertical exi, exit passageways, horixontal exits
• separate different occupancies
• must be slab to slab

continuous vertical or horizontal membrane with a minimum fire resistance rating of 1 hour, designed and constructed to restrict the movement of smoke

• openings min. 20 minute rating

A-assembly

B-business

E-educational

F-factory and industrial

H-hazardous

I-institutional

M-mercantile

R-residential

S-storage

U-utility

• calculation of occupant load
• egress design
• interior dinish requirements
• use of fire partitions and fire barriers
• fire detection/suppression systems
• ventilation/sanitation requirements
• other special restrictions particular to any given classification

• is a space or room that is used in conjunction with the main occupancy but does not exceed 10% of the floor area of the main occupancy.

• do not need to be separated from the occupancy with a fire barrier.
• Example: Gift shop in a Hospital

• is an area that is incidental to the main occupancy and has the same classification as the nearest main occupancy but, by code must be separated from the main occupancy by a fire barrier.

• structural frame
• interior and exterior bearing walls
• floor and roof construction