ASTM E861-94

Standard Practice for Evaluating Thermal Insulation Materials for Use in Solar Collectors

SCOPE
1.1 This practice sets forth a testing methodology for evaluating the properties of thermal insulation materials to be used in solar collectors with concentration ratios of less than 10. Tests are given herein to evaluate the pH, surface burning characteristics, moisture adsorption, water absorption, thermal resistance, linear shrinkage (or expansion), hot surface performance, and accelerated aging. This practice provides a test for surface burning characteristics but does not provide a methodology for determining combustibility performance of thermal insulation materials.  
1.2 The tests shall apply to blanket, rigid board, loose-fill, and foam thermal insulation materials used in solar collectors. Other thermal insulation materials shall be tested in accordance with the provisions set forth herein and should not be excluded from consideration.  
1.3 The assumption is made that elevated temperature, moisture, and applied stresses are the primary factors contributing to the degradation of thermal insulation materials used in solar collectors.  
1.4 Solar radiation is not considered a contributing factor since insulating materials are not normally exposed to it.
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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Jul-1994
• Technical Committee: E44 - Solar, Geothermal and Other Alternative Energy Sources

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E861-94(2001) - Standard Practice for Evaluating Thermal Insulation Materials for Use in Solar Collectors
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-1994

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: E 861 – 94 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Evaluating Thermal Insulation Materials for Use in Solar
Collectors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 861; 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 C 411 Test Method for Hot-Surface Performance of High-
Temperature Thermal Insulation
1.1 This practice sets forth a testing methodology for
C 518 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure-
evaluating the properties of thermal insulation materials to be
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
used in solar collectors with concentration ratios of less than
the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus
10. Tests are given herein to evaluate the pH, surface burning
C 553 Specification for Mineral Fiber Blanket Thermal
characteristics, moisture adsorption, water absorption, thermal
Insulation for Commercial and Industrial Applications
resistance, linear shrinkage (or expansion), hot surface perfor-
C 687 Practice for Determination of the Thermal Resistance
mance, and accelerated aging. This practice provides a test for
of Loose-Fill Building Insulation
surface burning characteristics but does not provide a method-
D 2842 Test Method for Water Absorption of Rigid Cellular
ology for determining combustibility performance of thermal
Plastics
insulation materials.
E 84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
1.2 The tests shall apply to blanket, rigid board, loose-fill,
Building Materials
and foam thermal insulation materials used in solar collectors.
Other thermal insulation materials shall be tested in accordance
3. Summary of Practice
with the provisions set forth herein and should not be excluded
3.1 The following factors, in most cases, should be consid-
from consideration.
ered when evaluating insulation materials for use in solar
1.3 The assumption is made that elevated temperature,
collectors. Design considerations should dictate priorities in
moisture, and applied stresses are the primary factors contrib-
material test evaluations:
uting to the degradation of thermal insulation materials used in
Factor Reference
solar collectors.
Section
1.4 Solar radiation is not considered a contributing factor
pH 7.2
since insulating materials are not normally exposed to it. Surface Burning Characteristics 7.3
Moisture Adsorption 7.4
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
Water Absorption 7.5
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Thermal Resistance 7.6
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- Linear Shrinkage (or Expansion) 7.7
Hot Surface Performance 7.8
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Chemical Compatibility 7.9
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Outgassing 7.10
Durability 7.11
2. Referenced Documents
4. Significance and Use
2.1 ASTM Standards:
4.1 The exposure conditions in solar collectors, especially
C 177 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure-
under stagnation conditions, may degrade the performance of
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
thermal insulation materials. This practice sets forth a meth-
the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus
odology for evaluating the degree of degradation, if any, of the
C 209 Test Methods for Cellulosic Fiber Insulating Board
thermal insulation materials after exposure to simulated in-
C 356 Test Method for Linear Shrinkage of Preformed
service conditions.
High-Temperature Thermal Insulation Subjected to Soak-
4.2 This practice is also intended to aid in the assessment of
ing Heat
long-term performance by comparative testing of insulation
materials. However, correlations between performance under
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E44 on
laboratory and actual in-service conditions have not been
Solar, Geothermal, and Other Alternative Energy Sources and is the direct
established.
responsibility of Subcommittee E44.05 on Solar Heating and Cooling Subsystems
and Systems.
Current edition approved July 15, 1994. Published September 1994. Originally
published as E 861 – 82. Last previous edition E 861 – 82 (1988). Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.02.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 861
4.3 This practice also sets forth criteria that shall be con- 7.7 Linear Shrinkage— Determine the linear shrinkage (or
sidered in the selection and specification of thermal insulation expansion) of the insulation material in accordance with Test
materials. One such criterion is surface burning characteristics Method C 356, at the expected maximum in-service tempera-
(Test Method E 84), which is used by many code officials as a ture, including stagnation conditions.
reference. This practice does not represent that the numerical
NOTE 1—Maximum in-service temperatures, including stagnation con-
values obtained in any way reflect the anticipated performance
ditions must be determined by testing the solar collector design under
of the thermal insulation under actual fire conditions.
consideration.
5. Sampling and Test Specimens 7.8 Hot Surface Performance—Determine the hot surface
performance in accordance with Test Method C 411. Test
5.1 Representative specimens shall be selected at random
materials at the expected maximum in-service temperature,
from the original sample lot for each test condition.
including stagnation conditions. See Note 1.
5.2 At least three representative specimens shall be mea-
7.9 Chemical Compatibility with Adjoining Material:
sured for each property tested unless otherwise stipulated in a
7.9.1 Cut samples of adjoining materials to be evaluated to
particular test.
100 by 40 mm (3.7 by 1.5 in.) from stock materials and wash
5.3 The size and shape of the representative specimens shall
thoroughly with cr grade isopropyl alcohol. After drying
be as specified in the property measurement test.
overnight in a desiccator, weigh the samples to at least four
5.4 A separate set of test specimens shall be prepared for
significant figures. Then photograph the specimens at a mag-
each test.
nification of 2003.
6. Conditioning
7.9.1.1 Cut samples of the insulation material to be evalu-
6.1 Unless otherwise specified, maintain the test specimens
ated to 145 by 90 mm (5.7 by 3.5 in.) along with a surgical
in a conditioned space at 24°C (75 6 5°F) and 50 6 5%
cotton control sample that has been thoroughly washed with cp
relative humidity for at least 48 h before testing.
grade isopropyl alcohol.
6.2 Maintain test samples in the conditioned space until
7.9.1.2 Prepare test samples of the insulation material and
removed
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