ASTM E2257-22

Standard Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and Assemblies

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This fire test is applicable to a description of certain fire performance characteristics in appraising wall and ceiling materials, products, or systems under specified fire-exposure conditions in an enclosure. The test indicates the maximum extent of fire growth in a room, the rate of heat release, and if they occur, the time to flashover, and the time to flame extension beyond the doorway following flashover. It determines the extent to which the wall and ceiling materials or assemblies contribute to fire growth in a room and the potential for fire spread beyond the room, under the particular conditions simulated. It does not measure the contribution of the room contents. (See Appendix X1, Commentary.)  
5.2 Flashover shall be considered to have occurred when any two of the following conditions have been attained:
(a) Heat release rate exceeds 1 MW.
(b) Heat flux at the floor exceeds 20 kW/m2.
(c) Average upper layer temperature exceeds 600 °C.
(d) Flames exit doorway.
(e) A paper target on the floor auto-ignites.  
5.2.1 Time to flashover shall be the time from start of test until the second condition has been attained.  
5.3 The potential for the spread of fire to other objects in the room, remote from the ignition source, is evaluated by measurements of: (a) the total heat flux incident on the center of the floor, and (b) a characteristic upper level gas temperature in the room.  
5.4 The potential for the spread of fire to objects outside the room of origin is evaluated by the measurement of the rate of heat release of the fire.  
5.5 Measurements of the rate of production of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and visible smoke are taken.  
5.6 The overall performance of the test specimen is visually documented by full-color photographic records. Video taping of the complete fire test is an acceptable alternative to the photographic record. Such records show when each area of the test specimen becomes involved in the fire.  
5.7 In this proc...
SCOPE
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.  
1.2 This test method is intended to evaluate, under specified fire-exposure conditions, the contribution to room fire growth provided by wall or ceiling materials and assemblies, or both. The method is not intended to evaluate the fire endurance of assemblies or fires originating in the wall assembly. The method provides a means to evaluate the effectiveness of thermal barriers in restricting the contribution of combustible materials in the wall assembly to fire growth in a room fire.  
1.3 This test method, simulating a fire in the corner of a 2420 mm by 3630 mm (8 ft by 12 ft) room containing a single open doorway, provides a means to evaluate the relative performance of specified wall and ceiling materials or assemblies when they are used together in the same relationship within an enclosure, and simulating the manner in which they will be used.  
1.4 This test method is intended to evaluate the contribution to fire growth provided by a surface product using a specified ignition source. It shall, however, be noted that the type, position and heat output of the ignition source will considerably influence fire growth. The thermal exposure conditions from the ignition source specified in this method will result in flashover during the 20 min duration for many common finish materials, in particular if specimens are mounted on the walls and the ceiling (standard configuration).  
1.5 This test method provides a means for evaluating wall and ceiling finish materials and assemblies, including panels, tiles, boards, sprayed or brushed coatings, etc. This test method is not intended to evaluate flooring materials or furnishings.  
1.6 This method shall be used in conjunction with Guide E603, which covers instrumentation and the general effect of various parameters, and Guide E2067, which deals with full-scale oxygen consumption calorimetry.  
1.7 The values stated in SI units ...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2022
• ICS: 13.220.50 - Fire-resistance of building materials and elements
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.21 - Smoke and Combustion Products

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2257 − 22 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and
1
Assemblies
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2257; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
standard. The values given in parentheses after SI units are
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
providedforinformationonlyandarenotconsideredstandard.
1.2 Thistestmethodisintendedtoevaluate,underspecified
1.8 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
fire-exposure conditions, the contribution to room fire growth
which provide explanatory information. These notes and foot-
provided by wall or ceiling materials and assemblies, or both.
notes (excluding those in figures) shall not be considered as
The method is not intended to evaluate the fire endurance of
requirements of the standard.
assemblies or fires originating in the wall assembly. The
method provides a means to evaluate the effectiveness of 1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the
thermal barriers in restricting the contribution of combustible responseofmaterials,products,orassembliestoheatandflame
materials in the wall assembly to fire growth in a room fire. under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate
allfactorsrequiredforfire-hazardorfire-riskassessmentofthe
1.3 This test method, simulating a fire in the corner of a
materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
2420 mm by 3630 mm (8 ft by 12 ft) room containing a single
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the
open doorway, provides a means to evaluate the relative
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
performance of specified wall and ceiling materials or assem-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
blies when they are used together in the same relationship
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
within an enclosure, and simulating the manner in which they
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
will be used.
1.11 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
1.4 Thistestmethodisintendedtoevaluatethecontribution
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
to fire growth provided by a surface product using a specified
conducting these tests.
ignition source. It shall, however, be noted that the type,
1.12 This international standard was developed in accor-
position and heat output of the ignition source will consider-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ably influence fire growth. The thermal exposure conditions
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
from the ignition source specified in this method will result in
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
flashover during the 20 min duration for many common finish
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
materials, in particular if specimens are mounted on the walls
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
and the ceiling (standard configuration).
1.5 This test method provides a means for evaluating wall
2. Referenced Documents
and ceiling finish materials and assemblies, including panels,
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tiles,boards,sprayedorbrushedcoatings,etc.Thistestmethod
E84Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
is not intended to evaluate flooring materials or furnishings.
Building Materials
1.6 This method shall be used in conjunction with Guide
E136TestMethodforAssessingCombustibilityofMaterials
E603, which covers instrumentation and the general effect of
Using a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C
various parameters, and Guide E2067, which deals with
E176Terminology of Fire Standards
full-scale oxygen consumption calorimetry.
E603Guide for Room Fire Experiments
E906/E906MTest Method for Heat and Visible Smoke
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.21 on Smoke and
2
Combustion Products. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved April 1, 2022. Published May 2022. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as E2257-17. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Docu
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E2257 − 17 E2257 − 22 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and
1
Assemblies
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2257; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 This test method is intended to evaluate, under specified fire-exposure conditions, the contribution to room fire growth
provided by wall or ceiling materials and assemblies, or both. The method is not intended to evaluate the fire endurance of
assemblies or fires originating in the wall assembly. The method provides a means to evaluate the effectiveness of thermal barriers
in restricting the contribution of combustible materials in the wall assembly to fire growth in a room fire.
1.3 This test method, simulating a fire in the corner of a 2420 mm by 3630 mm (8 ft by 12 ft) room containing a single open
doorway, provides a means to evaluate the relative performance of specified wall and ceiling materials or assemblies when they
are used together in the same relationship within an enclosure, and simulating the manner in which they will be used.
1.4 This test method is intended to evaluate the contribution to fire growth provided by a surface product using a specified ignition
source. It shall, however, be noted that the type, position and heat output of the ignition source will considerably influence fire
growth. The thermal exposure conditions from the ignition source specified in this method will result in flashover during the 20
min duration for many common finish materials, in particular if specimens are mounted on the walls and the ceiling (standard
configuration).
1.5 This test method provides a means for evaluating wall and ceiling finish materials and assemblies, including panels, tiles,
boards, sprayed or brushed coatings, etc. This test method is not intended to evaluate flooring materials or furnishings.
1.6 This method shall be used in conjunction with Guide E603, which covers instrumentation and the general effect of various
parameters, and Guide E2067, which deals with full-scale oxygen consumption calorimetry.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The unitsvalues given in parentheses are for information only.
after SI units are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.8 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory information. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.21 on Smoke and Combustion
Products.
Current edition approved April 15, 2017April 1, 2022. Published April 2017May 2022. Originally approved in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 20162017 as
E2257-16.-17. DOI: 10.1520/E2257-17.10.1520/E2257-22.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E2257 − 22
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk assessment of the materials,
products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.11 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these
tests.
1.12 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
...