ASTM E2707-09
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Determining Fire Penetration of Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Direct Flame Impingement Exposure
Standard Test Method for Determining Fire Penetration of Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Direct Flame Impingement Exposure
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
The test method described herein measures the ability of the exterior wall covering material or system to resist fire penetration from the exterior to the unexposed side of the wall assembly under the specified conditions of exposure.
Representative joints and other characteristics of an assembly shall be included in a test specimen when these details are representative of the construction of the end-use product(s).
This test method is applicable to end-use product(s) not having an ideally planar external surface.
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. The use of infrared photography of the unexposed side of the test wall can be used to reveal development of increasing temperatures or persisting hot spots.
In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to a specific set of laboratory fire test exposure conditions. If different test conditions are substituted or the anticipated end-use conditions are changed, it is not known whether it is possible by use of this test to predict changes in the performance characteristics measured. Therefore, the results are strictly valid only for the fire test exposure conditions described in this procedure.
SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard prescribes a method to assess the fire performance of a vertically oriented specimen exposed to direct flame impingement in a simulated external fire exposure potentially encountered in a ‘Wildland Urban Interface’ scenario. This test method provides data suitable for comparing the performance of materials, which are used as the exposed surfaces of exterior walls in construction applications.
Note 1—This test method closely follows the test procedure of California Office of State Marshal (SFM) Method 12-7A-1.
1.2 This test method measures the ability of the wall system to resist fire penetration from the exterior into the wall cavity or unexposed side of the test assembly under the conditions of exposure.
1.3 This test method provides data suitable for comparing the performance of vertically oriented materials, products or assemblies in exterior construction applications. The test specimen shall be tested in thicknesses and configurations representative of actual end product or system uses.
1.4 Limitations of the test method are listed in Section 5.5.
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
1.6 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under 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.
1.7 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.
1.8 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently hazardous, by virtue by the use of hazardous materials, operations or equipment, and adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.
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Designation: E2707 − 09 AnAmerican National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Determining Fire Penetration of Exterior Wall Assemblies
Using a Direct Flame Impingement Exposure
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2707; 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 1.8 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently
hazardous, by virtue by the use of hazardous materials,
1.1 This fire-test-response standard prescribes a method to
operations or equipment, and adequate safeguards for person-
assess the fire performance of a vertically oriented specimen
nel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.
exposed to direct flame impingement in a simulated external
fire exposure potentially encountered in a ‘Wildland Urban
2. Referenced Documents
Interface’scenario. This test method provides data suitable for
2.1 ASTM Standards:
comparing the performance of materials, which are used as the
D2898 Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Fire-
exposedsurfacesofexteriorwallsinconstructionapplications.
Retardant-Treated Wood for Fire Testing
NOTE 1—This test method closely follows the test procedure of
D4442Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure-
California Office of State Marshal (SFM) Method 12-7A-1.
ment of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
1.2 Thistestmethodmeasurestheabilityofthewallsystem
D4444Test Method for Laboratory Standardization and
to resist fire penetration from the exterior into the wall cavity
Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters
or unexposed side of the test assembly under the conditions of
D6662Specification for Polyolefin-Based Plastic Lumber
exposure.
Decking Boards
D7032Specification for Establishing Performance Ratings
1.3 This test method provides data suitable for comparing
for Wood-Plastic Composite Deck Boards and Guardrail
the performance of vertically oriented materials, products or
Systems (Guards or Handrails)
assembliesinexteriorconstructionapplications.Thetestspeci-
E176Terminology of Fire Standards
men shall be tested in thicknesses and configurations represen-
E2257Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling
tative of actual end product or system uses.
Materials and Assemblies
1.4 Limitations of the test method are listed in Section 5.5.
2.2 ISO Standards:
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
ISO 13943Fire Safety—Vocabulary
standard.
3. Terminology
1.6 This standard is used to measure and describe the
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
responseofmaterials,products,orassembliestoheatandflame
standard, see Terminology E176 and ISO 13943. In case of
under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate
conflict, the definitions given in Terminology E176 shall
allfactorsrequiredforfirehazardorfireriskassessmentofthe
prevail.
materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.1 orientation, n—theverticalplaneinwhichtheexposed
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
face of the test specimen is located during testing.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.2 siding (cladding), n—any material that constitutes the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
exposedexteriorcoveringofanexteriorwallandsuchmaterial
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
is applied over sheathing or directly attached to the wall
system.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.14 on External Fire For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Exposures. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2009. Published September 2009. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E2707-09. the ASTM website.
2007CaliforniaBuildingCode,Chapter7A[SFM],MaterialsandConstruction Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure, Exterior Wall Siding and Sheathing, SFM la Voie-Creuse, Case postale 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://
Standard 12-7A-1. www.iso.ch.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2707 − 09
3.2.3 sheathing, n—the material placed on an exterior wall 7. Apparatus
beneath cladding or siding and directly attached to the wall
7.1 Unless otherwise noted, dimensions in the following
system used over the wall framework and is attached directly
descriptions, shall be followed with a tolerance of 613 mm
to the wall framing members. Materials called sheathing that
(0.5 in.).
are not placed beneath cladding or siding shall be classified as
7.2 Wall Assembly Holding Fixture—The test specimen
cladding or siding.
support assembly shown in Fig. 1 is designed to permit rapid
installation and removal of wall assemblies, and to prevent
4. Summary of Test Method
edge penetration of fire at the margins of the wall assembly. It
4.1 This test method provides for the direct flame exposure
includes a sturdy frame assembly to hold the specimen and a
of a wall specimen to a flame source centered at the base of a
simulated soffit that is non-combustible. The frame assembly
1220 by 2440 mm (4 by 8 ft) test assembly.
permits a 1220 by 2440 mm (4 by 8 ft) prefabricated wall
4.2 This test method employs a gas burner to produce a
section to be inserted from the rear and to seal in such a way
diffusion flame in contact with the test wall assembly.
that protects the edges from fire. Side shields are situated near
the vertical edges and to within 304 mm (12 in.) of the top of
4.3 The gas burner produces a prescribed net rate of heat
the test wall assembly as shown in Fig. 1 to aid in minimizing
outputof150kW(8535BTU/min)foraperiodof10min,after
extraneous drafts to the surface of the assembly.
which the flame exposure is terminated.
7.3 Burner Details—Theignitionsourceforthetestshallbe
4.4 The test method measures the ability of the wall system
a gas diffusion burner with a nominal 100 mm wide by 1000
toresistfirepenetrationfromtheexteriortotheunexposedside
mm long (4 in. wide by 39 in. long) porous top surface of a
of the test assembly under the conditions of exposure. Obser-
refractory material, as shown in Fig. 2. With the exception of
vations are made for the appearance of sustained flaming or
top surface dimensions, the essential configuration of the
glow on the unexposed side or sustained glowing on the
burner is comparable to the burner design described in Test
unexposed side, or both, at the end of a 60 min observation
Method E2257.
period.
7.4 The burner enclosure shall be positioned so that it is
5. Significance and Use
centered relative to the width of the test wall. The distance
5.1 Thetestmethoddescribedhereinmeasurestheabilityof from the bottom of the test specimen to the top surface of the
burner shall be 300 6 50 mm (12 6 2 in.). The bottom of the
the exterior wall covering material or system to resist fire
penetration from the exterior to the unexposed side of the wall test specimen shall be protected from burner fire exposure by
the placement of a 1220 mm (4 ft) wide thermal barrier
assembly under the specified conditions of exposure.
consisting of nominal 19 mm (0.75 in.) cement board (or
5.2 Representative joints and other characteristics of an
equivalent) between the burner enclosure and the test speci-
assembly shall be included in a test specimen when these
men. The burner enclosure shall be in contact with the
details are representative of the construction of the end-use
protective barrier. The thermal barrier shall be positioned so
product(s).
thatthetopedgeextends76 625mm(3 61in.)abovethetop
5.3 This test method is applicable to end-use product(s) not
edge of the burner, and fastened to the base of the wall in such
having an ideally planar external surface.
a manner to prevent obstruction of the burner flame caused by
distortionawayfromthesurfaceofthewall.Anygapsbetween
5.4 Theoverallperformanceofthetestspecimenisvisually
the top edge of the thermal barrier and the test wall surface
documented by full-color photographic records. Video taping
shall be filled with ceramic wool, or equivalent, prior to the
of the complete fire test is an acceptable alternative to the
test.
photographic record. The use of infrared photography of the
unexposed side of the test wall can be used to reveal develop-
7.5 Naturalgas,methaneorpropaneshallbesuppliedtothe
ment of increasing temperatures or persisting hot spots.
burnerthroughameteredcontrolsystem.Thegassupplytothe
burnershallproduceanetheatoutputof150 68kW(8535 6
5.5 In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to a
454 Btu/min) throughout the flame exposure.
specific set of laboratory fire test exposure conditions. If
different test conditions are substituted or the anticipated
7.6 The burner shall be ignited by a pilot burner or a
end-use conditions are changed, it is not known whether it is
remotely controlled spark igniter.
possible by use of this test to predict changes in the perfor-
mance characteristics measured. Therefore, the results are
8. Test Specimen
strictly valid only for the fire test exposure conditions de-
scribed in this procedure. 8.1 Test specimen’s dimensions shall be 1220 mm (4 ft)
wide by 2440 mm (8 ft) high. The test specimen shall be
representativeoftheend-usewallassemblyexceptasspecified
6. Safety Precautions
in 8.3 and 8.4. The test specimen shall be mounted in the steel
6.1 The test procedures involve high temperatures and
frame holding fixture assembly as shown in Fig. 1.
combustionprocesses.Therefore,thepotentialexistsforburns,
ignitionofextraneousobjectsorclothing,andforinhalationof 8.2 The test specimen shall incorporate joint detail(s) rep-
combustion products. resentative of actual installation.
E2707 − 09
FIG. 1 Test Fixture
FIG. 2 Gas Burner Ignition Source
8.3 For wall assemblies without internal cavity spaces, the requirements, or both, where applicable. Other components of
entire wall assembly shall constitute the test specimen to be the wall assembly, such as building felt and sheathing, are
tested. The wall assembly shall be constructed in accordance employed to conform to the manufacturer’s specifications or
with manufacturer’s specifications or building code building codes, or both.
E2707 − 09
8.4 For wall assemblies with internal cavity spaces, the 8.8.4 Just before the test assembly is tested, the pieces of
materials on what would be considered the interior (unex- hygroscopic materials prepared in 8.8.2 shall be tested for
moisture content (Note 2 and Note 3).
posed) side of the wall assembly shall be omitted from the test
specimen. Materials such as insulation normally installed
NOTE 2—Make the moisture determination on two samples from each
withinthecavityspaceshallbeomittedfromthetestspecimen.
piece and report the average. For lumber and other wood-based materials,
The wall assembly used as the test specimen shall include the use Test Methods D4442. Use of an appropriately calibrated moisture
meter, as described in Test Methods D4444, to determine the moisture
structural support elements and any sheathing, weather barrier
contentofwoodorwoodproductsisalsopermitted.Forotherhygroscopic
and cladding attached to the exterior surface of the structural
materials, use test methods appropriate for those materials.
support elements.
NOTE 3—For lumber used in the construction of the supporting wall
structure, the moisture content shall not be more than 12 %. For wood
8.5 For wall assemblies composed of layered materials,
sheathing, the moisture content shall not exceed 8 %. For other hygro-
such as sheathing, siding (cladding) and underlayment, the
scopic materials, the moisture shall be within ranges specified by the
manufacturer before the assembly is constructed. These specified ranges
installation of such layered materials shall be in accordance
shall be typical for exposure at 77 6 9°F (25 6 5°C) and 55 6 10 %
with manufacturer’s instructions, or in the absence of such
relative humidity.
instructions, applicable building code requirements. In the
absence of manufacturer’s specifications, the wall assembly
9. Calibration
shall include the following minimum components: nominal 2
9.1 Burner Calibration:
by 4 studs spaced 410 mm (16 in.) on center, and the desired
9.1.1 Thegassupplytotheburnershallbethesameasused
exterior siding material. If sheathing is used, tests shall be run
for testing. The gas shall be metered and kept constant
on typical 7/16 in. oriented strandboard (OSB) of Exposure 1
throughout the calibration test.
rating.Wherespecifiedbythemanufacturer,sheathingmaterial
9.1.2 Placethegasburnerintheconfigurationtobeusedfor
and installation shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s
testing and obtain a heat release rate value of 150 kW.
instructions. The sheathing shall have one vertical seam on a
9.1.3 Take measurements at least once every 6 s and start 1
selected stud witha3mm (0.125 in.) gap.The type, thickness,
min prior to ignition of the burner. Determine the average heat
and installation method of any sheathing shall be included in
output over a period of at least 1 min by the oxygen
the report.
consumption method, or calculate the heat output from the gas
mass flow and the net heat of combustion.
8.6 Protect the vertical and horizontal edges of the test
9.1.4 Perform calibration prior to each day of testing.
specimen with 12-mm ceramic wool blanket (or equivalent) to
eliminatethegapbetweentheholderandthetestspecimenand
10. Procedure
prevent unwanted edge effects caused by heat transfer to the
edges of the test specimen through the sample holder. 10.1 The ambient temperature in the test room shall be
above 15°C (60°F) and the relative humidity shall be less than
8.7 Replicates—Three matched test specimen assemblies
75%.Thetestroomshallbedraft-protectedandequippedwith
shall be tested.
anexhausthoodsystemforremovalofproductsofcombustion
during testing.
8.8 Accelerated Aging/Weathering and Pre-test Condition-
ing of Test Material:
10.2 The horizontal air flow, measured at a horizontal
8.8.1 Whenitisanticipatedthataregulatoryorotheragency
distance of 0.5m (20 in.) from the edge of the wall assembly,
...
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