ASTM E69-99
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Combustible Properties of Treated Wood by the Fire-Tube Apparatus
Standard Test Method for Combustible Properties of Treated Wood by the Fire-Tube Apparatus
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers fire-tube test procedures for fire tests for combustible properties of wood treated to reduce flammability. This test method relates to properties of treated wood, as such, rather than to the performance of a fabrication used as an element of construction. Performance under this test method shall be as prescribed in requirements applicable to materials intended for specific uses.
1.2 This test method is a fire-test-response standard.
1.3 The SI values given in parentheses are provided for information purposes only.
1.4 This standard should be used to measure and describe the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response to heat and flame under controlled laboratory conditions and should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions. However, results of this test may be used as elements of a fire risk assessment which takes into account all of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire hazard of a particular end use.
1.5 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Designation: E 69 – 99 An American National Standard
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Test Method for
Combustible Properties of Treated Wood by the Fire-Tube
Apparatus
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 69; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope wood specimens based on their percentage loss in weight under
controlled fire exposure conditions (1). In addition, other
1.1 This test method covers fire-tube test procedures for fire
possible data include rate of weight loss, time of flaming and
tests for combustible properties of wood treated to reduce
afterglowing, increase in temperature, and maximum vertical
flammability. This test method relates to properties of treated
flame progress.
wood, as such, rather than to the performance of a fabrication
4.2 This test method is not sufficiently large scale to
used as an element of construction. Performance under this test
evaluate the suitability of a given treated product for building
method shall be as prescribed in requirements applicable to
construction, but it is a convenient method to use for purposes
materials intended for specific uses.
of development or as a quality-control test during manufacture.
1.2 This test method is a fire-test-response standard.
4.3 This test method gives a procedure for sampling and
1.3 The SI values given in parentheses are provided for
preparation of test specimens from a lot of treated material in
information purposes only.
which complete penetration is a requirement. A procedure is
1.4 This standard should be used to measure and describe
also given for the sampling of charges at a treating plant for
the properties of materials, products, or assemblies in response
purposes of quality control of the treatment process.
to heat and flame under controlled laboratory conditions and
4.4 This test method has proven useful for evaluating
should not be used to describe or appraise the fire hazard or
comparative fire performance effectiveness of fire-retardant
fire risk of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire
chemicals and treatment formulations for wood and wood
conditions. However, results of this test may be used as
products (2), (3), (4), (5).
elements of a fire risk assessment which takes into account all
4.5 In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to one or
of the factors which are pertinent to an assessment of the fire
more specific sets of laboratory test conditions. If different test
hazard of a particular end use.
conditions are substituted or the anticipated end-use conditions
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
are changed, it may not be possible by or from this test method
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
to predict changes in the fire-test-response characteristics
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
measured. Therefore, the results are valid only for the fire test
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
exposure conditions described in this procedure.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Apparatus
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 The apparatus for conducting the fire-tube test shall
2.1 ASTM Standards:
consist of the fire-tube assembly and accessory equipment as
D 9 Terminology Relating to Wood
2 follows:
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
5.1.1 Fire-Tube Assembly—A specially constructed balance
3. Terminology designed to indicate directly the percentage loss of weight
suffered by the test specimen when exposed to a standardized
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms found in this test
flame for a given duration. Essential construction details of the
method, refer to Terminologies D 9 and E 176.
apparatus assembly are shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.
4. Significance and Use
5.1.2 Igniting Burner—The igniting burner is to be of the
low-form (curved-stem) bunsen type, having an inside tube
4.1 The purpose of this test method is to provide a relative
diameter of ⁄8 in. (9.5 mm) and attached to a ring-stand
measurement of the combustibility of fire-retardant-treated
support. The igniting burner shall be provided with a device to
maintain a constant gas flow, as described in 5.1.2.1 and the
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-7 on Wood
flame calibration, as required by 9.4.
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.07 on Fire Performance of
Wood.
Current edition approved April 10, 1999. Published July 1999. Originally
published as E 69 – 46 T. Last previous edition E 69 – 95a. The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.10. this test method.
E69
FIG. 1 Construction Details of Fire-Tube Apparatus
Inch-Pound Units SI Units Inch-Pound Units SI Units
1 9
⁄8 in. 3 mm 4 ⁄16 in. 116 mm
1 3
⁄4in. 6 mm 4 ⁄4 in. 121 mm
3 1
⁄8in. 9.5 mm 5 ⁄2 in. 140 mm
⁄4in. 19 mm 6 in. 152 mm
1 in. 25 mm 8 in. 203 mm
1 ⁄4 in. 31.7 mm 28 in. 711 mm
1 ⁄2 in. 38 mm 33 in. 838 mm
3 in. 76 mm 38 in. 965 mm
3 ⁄2 in. 89 mm 4 ft 6 in. 1.35 m
4 ⁄16 in. 113 mm
5.1.2.1 Gas Flow Device—Typical devices utilized to con- the same species with widely different thicknesses, shall be
trol gas flow are manometers, pressure regulators or gas considered as separate lots and sampled accordingly. The
flowmeters with a rating of 0 to 5 SCFH (0 to 142 L/h). A gas samples shall be selected so as to include material from
flowmeter is desirable since they are readily available, very different sections of a finished unit or different lengths of
accurate, and inexpensive. finished trim, or to include variations such as heartwood or
5.1.3 Temperature-Indicating Apparatus—A thermometer sapwood, rate of growth, density, and other visible nonunifor-
or thermocouple equipment that will indicate temperatures up mities. Samples shall be cut not closer than 2 ft (0.6 m) from
to 1000°F (538°C). the ends of treated boards.
5.1.4 Timer—A timing device capable of being read to 6.1.2 Not less than five tests shall be made from each
minutes and seconds.
sample, except that where the quantity is less than 2000 bd ft
5.1.5 Balance—A balance with readability of 0.1 g and the number of tests shall be left to the discretion of the testing
suitable for weighing test specimens and moisture-content
authority but shall be not less than two.
samples.
6.1.3 The standard specimens cut from the selected samples
3 3
5.1.6 Oven—A suitable thermostatically controlled oven for
shall be ⁄8 by ⁄4 in. (9.5 by 19 mm) in cross section by 40 in.
moisture-content determinations.
(1016 mm) in length, with surfaces smooth-sawed to dimen-
sions within 6 ⁄32 in. (0.8 mm). Each test specimen shall
6. Sampling and Test Specimens for Wood Impregnated
consist of one piece sawed the full 40-in. length or shall be
Throughout Entire Section
made up of several shorter pieces joined at squared ends with
six small wire staples at each joint to give a combined length
6.1 For interior trim or other lumber requiring penetration of
treating solution throughout the section (but not for wood given of 40 in.
incomplete penetration), the test specimens shall be prepared 6.1.4 From samples taken from boards having thicknesses
as follows: of ⁄4 in. (19 mm) or more, the specimen shall be prepared by
3 3
6.1.1 At least one sample shall be taken from the lot for each cutting ⁄8 by ⁄4-in. (9.5 by 19-mm) pieces longitudinally, not
5000 bd ft or fraction thereof. Different species, and pieces of nearer than ⁄8 in. from the edge of the sample, and so that the
E69
rest of the material in the charge. Each sample shall bear an
identification mark.
7.1.2 Placement of sample pieces in the material to be
treated on a tram shall be representative of the average
exposure to the treating solution and yet be accessible for ready
removal without seriously disturbing the loading.
3 3 1
7.1.3 Sample pieces shall be ⁄8 by ⁄4 6 ⁄32 in. (9.5 by 19 6
0.8 mm) in cross section and be at least 42 in. (1.1 m) in length.
7.1.4 Fire-tube test specimens shall be cut from each se-
lected sample and shall be 40 in. (1.016 m) in length, within
6 ⁄32 in. (0.8 mm). The remainder of the sample 2-in. (51-mm)
or greater in length shall be cut off for moisture test specimens.
8. Conditioning
8.1 The moisture content of the specimen when tested shall
be 7 6 3 weight % of the dry material. Make the moisture
3 3
determination for each specimen on a piece ⁄8 by ⁄4 in. (9.5 by
19 mm) in cross section and 2 to 8 in. (51 to 203 mm) in length,
cut adjacent to one end of the specimens. Weigh the moisture
test specimen and the fire tube test specimen to the nearest 0.1
g or less and record. Dry the moisture test specimen for 24 h at
212 6 3°F (100 6 1.7°C) or until a constant weight is achieved
in two consecutive readings spaced at least 1 h apart. Calculate
the moisture content as follows:
X 5 @W 2 W #/W 3 100 (1)
i OD OD
where:
FIG. 2 Assembly of Fire-Tube Apparatus for Procedure A
X 5 moisture content of the
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