ASTM E970-00
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard describes a procedure for measuring the critical radiant flux of exposed attic floor insulation subjected to a flaming ignition source in a graded radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber. The specimen can be any attic floor insulation. This test method is not applicable to those insulations that melt or shrink away when exposed to the radiant heat energy environment or the pilot burner.
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical radiant flux at the point at which the flame advances the farthest. It provides a basis for estimating one aspect of fire exposure behavior for exposed attic floor insulation. The imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels likely to impinge on the floors of attics whose upper surfaces are heated by the sun through the roof or by flames from an incidental fire in the attic. This fire-test-response standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure component of fires that may develop in attics, but is not intended for use in estimating flame spread behavior of insulation installed other than on the attic floor.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory information. These notes and footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be considered as requirements of this standard.
1.5 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.
1.6 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.
1.7 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide expanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
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An American National Standard
Designation: E 970 – 00
Standard Test Method for
Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using
a Radiant Heat Energy Source
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 970; 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 priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This fire-test-response standard describes a procedure
1.7 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
for measuring the critical radiant flux of exposed attic floor
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
insulation subjected to a flaming ignition source in a graded
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber. The
as requirements of the standard.
specimen is any attic floor insulation. This test method is not
applicable to those insulations that melt or shrink away when
2. Referenced Documents
exposed to the radiant heat energy environment or the pilot
2.1 ASTM Standards:
burner.
C 665 Specification for Mineral Fiber Blanket Thermal
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical
Insulation for Light Frame Construction and Manufactured
radiant flux at the point at which the flame advances the
Housing
farthest. It provides a basis for estimating one aspect of fire
C 764 Specification for Mineral Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal
exposure behavior for exposed attic floor insulation. The
Insulation
imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels
E 84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
likely to impinge on the floors of attics whose upper surfaces
Building Materials
are heated by the sun through the roof or by flames from an
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate a
incidental fire in the attic. This fire-test-response standard was
Measure of Quality of a Lot or Process
developedtosimulateanimportantfireexposurecomponentof
E 176 Terminology Relating to Fire Standards
fires that develop in attics, but is not intended for use in
E 631 Terminology of Building Constructions
estimating flame spread behavior of insulation installed other
E 648 Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of FloorCov-
than on the attic floor.
ering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
2.2 Federal Specifications:
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
HH-I-515 Insulation Thermal (Loose Fill for Pneumatic or
only.
Poured Application), Cellulosic or Wood Fiber
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
HH-I-521, Insulation Blankets, Thermal (Mineral Fiber, for
that provide explanatory information. These notes and foot-
Ambient Temperature)
notes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
HH-I-1030 Insulation, Thermal (Mineral Fiber, for Pneu-
considered as requirements of this standard.
matic or Poured Application)
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
3. Terminology
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method and
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
associated with fire issues refer to the terminology contained in
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
Terminology E 176.
actual fire conditions.
3.2 Definition:
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2.1 attic, n—an accessible enclosed space in a building
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
immediately below the roof and wholly or partly within the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
roof framing.
1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06.
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
Burning. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
Current edition approved July 10, 2000. Published August 2000. Originally AvailablefromStandardizationDocumentsOrderDesk,Bldg.4SectionD,700
published as E 970 – 83. Last previous edition E 970 – 98. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E970–00
3.2.2 See Terminology E 631 for additional definitions of 5.2 Thetestisintendedtobesuitableforregulatorystatutes,
terms used in this test method. specification acceptance, design purposes, or development and
3.3 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard: research.
3.3.1 critical radiant flux, n—the level of incident radiant 5.3 The fundamental assumption inherent in the test is that
heat energy on the attic floor insulation system at the most
critical radiant flux is one measure of the surface burning
2 2
distant flame-out point. It is reported as W/cm (or Btu/ft ·s). characteristicsofexposedinsulationonfloorsorbetweenjoists
3.3.2 radiant flux profile, n—the graph relating incident
of attics.
radiant heat energy on the specimen plane to distance from the 5.4 The test is applicable to attic floor insulation specimens
point of initiation of flaming ignition, that is, 0 mm.
that follow or simulate accepted installation practice.
3.3.3 total flux metre, n—theinstrumentusedtomeasurethe
5.5 In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to one or
level of radiant heat energy incident on the specimen plane at
more specific sets of laboratory fire test exposure conditions. If
any point.
different test conditions are substituted or the anticipated
end-use conditions are changed, caution should be used to
4. Summary of Test Method
predictchangesintheperformancecharacteristicsmeasuredby
or from this test. Therefore, the results are strictly valid only
4.1 A horizontally mounted insulation specimen is exposed
forthefiretestexposureconditionsdescribedinthisprocedure.
to the heat from an air-gas radiant heat energy panel located
5.5.1 If the test results obtained by this test method are to be
above and inclined at 30 6 5° to the specimen. After a short
considered in the total assessment of fire hazard in a building
preheat, the hottest end of the specimen is ignited with a small
structure, then all pertinent established criteria for fire hazard
calibrated flame. The distance to the farthest advance of
assessment developed by Committee E-5 must be included in
flaming is measured, converted to kilowatts per square meter
the consideration.
from a previously prepared radiant flux profile graph, and
reported as the critical radiant flux.
6. Apparatus
5. Significance and Use
6.1 Radiant Panel Test Chamber (Fig. 1), located in a
draft-protected laboratory that maintains a temperature from
5.1 This fire-test-response standard is designed to provide a
basis for estimating one aspect of the fire exposure behavior to 10.0 to 26.7°C (50 to 80°F) and a relative humidity from 30 to
70 %.
exposedinsulationinstalledonthefloorsofbuildingattics.The
test environment is intended to simulate conditions that have 6.1.1 Theradiantpaneltestchamber(Fig.2andFig.3)shall
been observed and defined in full-scale attic experiments. consist of an enclosure 1400 mm (55 in.) long by 500 mm
FIG. 1 Radiant Test Panel Chamber
E970–00
terial with a thermal conductivity at 177°C (350°F) of 0.128
W/(m·K) (0.89 Btu · in./(h·ft ·°F)). One side shall be provided
withanapproximately100by1100mm(4by44in.)draft-tight
fire-resistant glass window so that the entire length of the test
specimen is visible from outside the fire test chamber. On the
same side and below the observation window is a door which,
when open, allows the specimen platform to be moved out for
mounting or removal of test specimens.At the low flux end of
the chamber on the 500 mm side, a draft-tight fire-resistant
window is permitted for additional observations.
6.1.2 The bottom of the test chamber shall consist of a
sliding steel platform which has provisions for rigidly securing
the test specimen holder in fixed and level position. The free,
or air access, area around the platform shall be in the range
2 2
from 0.2580 to 0.3225 m (400 to 500 in. ).
6.1.3 When the flame front advance is to be measured, a
metal scale marked with 10 mm intervals shall be installed on
the back of the platform or on the back wall of the chamber.
6.1.4 The top of the chamber shall have an exhaust stack
NOTE 1—All dimensions in millimetres. 1 in. = 25.4 mm.
with interior dimensions of 102 63mm(4 6 0.13 in.) wide
FIG. 2 Flooring Radiant Tester Schematic, Side Elevation
by 380 6 3 mm (15.00 6 0.13 in.) deep by 318 63mm
(12.506 0.13 in.) high at the opposite end of the chamber from
the radiant energy source.
6.2 Radiant Heat Energy Source, a panel of porous material
mounted in a cast iron or steel frame, with a radiation surface
of 305 by 457 mm (12 by 18 in.). It shall be capable of
operatingattemperaturesupto816°C(1500°F).Thepanelfuel
system shall consist of a venturi-type aspirator for mixing gas
and air at approximately atmospheric pressure, a clean dry air
3 3
supply capable of providing 28.3 m /h (1000 f t/h) at standard
temperature and pressure at 76 mm (3.0 in.) of water, and
suitable instrumentation for monitoring and controlling the
flow of fuel to the panel.
6.2.1 The radiant heat energy panel is mounted in the
chamber at 30 6 5° to the horizontal specimen plane. The
radiant energy panel angle shall be adjusted to obtain the flux
profile within the limits specified in accordance with 10.6. The
horizontal distance from the 0 mark on the specimen fixture to
the bottom edge (projected) of the radiating surface of the
panel is 89 6 3 mm (3.5 6 0.13 in.). The panel-to-specimen
vertical distance is 140 6 3 mm (5.5 6 0.13 in.) (Fig. 2).
6.2.2 Radiation Pyrometer for standardizing the thermal
outputofthepanel,suitableforviewingacirculararea254mm
(10 in.) in diameter at a range of about 1.37 m (54 in.). It shall
be calibrated over the 460 to 510°C (860 to 950°F) operating
blackbody temperature range in accordance with the procedure
described in Annex A1.
NOTE 1—All dimensions in millimetres. 1 in. = 25.4 mm. 6.2.3 Voltmeter, high-impedance or potentiometric, with a
FIG. 3 Flooring Radiant Panel Tester Schematic Low Flux End, suitable millivolt range shall be used to monitor the output of
Elevation
the radiation pyrometer described in 6.2.2.
6.3 Dummy Specimen Holder (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5), con-
(19 ⁄2 in.) deep by 710 mm (28 in.) above the test specimen.
structed from heat-resistant stainless steel (UNS N08330 (AISI
The sides, ends, and top shall be of 13-mm ( ⁄2-in.) calcium
3 3
silicate, 740-kg/m (46-lb/ft ) nominal density, insulating ma-
Marinite I, manufactured by Manville Specialty Products Group, P.O. Box
5108, Denver, CO 80217, available through the local Manville distributor, has been
found satisfactory.
Gas used in this test method shall be either commercial grade propane having
3 3
a heating value of approximately 83.1 MJ/m (2500 Btu/ft ), or natural gas, or
commercial grade methane having a minimum purity of 96 %.
E970–00
nominal density calcium silicate board (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5). It is
250 mm (10 in.) wide by 1070 mm (42 in.) long with 27-mm
(1 ⁄16-in.) diameter holes centered on and along the centerline
atthe100,200,300,.,900,and980-mmlocationsmeasured
from the maximum flux end of the specimen.
6.4.1 To provide proper and consistent seating of the flux
meter in the hole openings, a stainless steel or galvanized steel
bearing plate (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) shall be mounted and firmly
secured to the underside of the calcium silicate board with
holescorrespondingtothosespecifiedabove.Thebearingplate
shall run the length of the dummy specimen board and have a
width of 76 mm (3.0 in.). The thickness of the bearing plate
shall be set in order to maintain the flux meter height specified
in 10.5. The maximum thickness of the bearing plate shall not
exceed 3 mm ( ⁄8 in.).
6.5 Total Heat Flux Transducer, to determine the flux
profile of the chamber in conjunction with the dummy speci-
men (Fig. 4), shall be of the Schmidt-Boelter type, have a
2 2
range from 0 to 15 kW/m (0 to 1.32 Btu/ft ·s) and shall be
calibrated over the operating flux level range from 0.10 to 15
kW/m in accordance with the procedure outlined in Annex
A1.Asource of 15 to 25°C cooling water shall be provided for
this instrument.
NOTE 1—All dimensions in millimetres. 1 in. = 25.4 mm.
6.5.1 Voltmeter, high-impedance or potentiometric, with a
FIG. 4 Zero Reference Point Related to Detecting Plane
range from 0 to 10 mV and reading to 0.01 mV shall be used
to measure the output of the total heat flux transducer during
the flux profile determination.
6.6 Specimen Tray (Fig. 6), constructed from 14-gage
heat-resistant stainless steel (UNS-N08330 (AISI Type 330) or
equivalent), thickness 1.98 mm (0.078 in.). The depth of the
tray is 50 mm (2 in.). The flanges of the specimen tray are
drilled to accommodate two stud bolts at each end; the bottom
surface of the flange is 21 mm (0.83 in.) below the top edge of
the specimen tray. The overall dimensions of the tray and the
width of the flanges shall be such that the tray fills the open
space in the sliding platform. The tray must be adequate to
contain a specimen at least 1000 mm (40 in.) long and 250 mm
(10in.)wide.Thezeroreferencepointonthedummyspecimen
shall coincide with the pilot burner flame impingement point
(Fig. 4).
6.7 Pilot Burner, used to ignite the specimen, is a nominal
1 3
6mm( ⁄4 in.) inside diameter, 10 mm ( ⁄8 in.) outside diameter
stainlesssteeltubelineburnerhaving19evenlyspaced0.7mm
(0.028 in.) diameter (No. 70 drill) holes drilled radially along
the centerline and 16 evenly spaced 0.7 mm (0.028 in.)
diameter (No. 70 drill) holes drilled radially 60 below the
centerline (Fig. 7).
6.7.1 In operation, the gas flow is adjusted to 0.85 to 0.115
NOTE 1—All dimensions in millimetres. 1 in. = 25.4 mm. m /h (3.0 to 4.0 SCFH) (air scale) flow rate. With the gas flow
FIG. 5 Dummy Specimen in Specimen Holder
properly adjusted and the pilot burner in the test position, the
pilot flame will extend from approximately 63.5 mm (2.5 in.)
Type 330) or equivalent) having a thickness of 1.98 mm (0.078
at the ends to approximately 127 mm (5 in.) at the center.
in.) and an overall dimension of 1140 by 320
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