ASTM C516-80(1996)e1

Standard Specification for Vermiculite Loose Fill Thermal Insulation

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the composition and physical properties of expanded or exfoliated vermiculite loose fill insulation. The specification also includes the testing procedures by which the acceptability of the material may be determined. These testing procedures deal primarily with material performance in the temperature range associated with the thermal envelope of buildings; however, the commercially usable temperature range for this insulation is from -459 to 1400°F (-272 to +760°C). For specialized applications, refer to manufacturer's instructions.  
1.2 The specification also covers the composition and properties of vermiculite that has been surface-treated to produce water repellency for installations where liquid moisture may be a factor.  
1.3 When the installation or use of thermal insulation materials, accessories, and systems may pose safety or health problems, the manufacturer shall provide the user with appropriate current information regarding any known problems associated with the recommended use of the company's products, and shall also recommend protective measures to be employed in their safe utilization.  
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods portion, Section 9 of this specification: 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. For specific hazard statements, see Section 12.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-1996
• ICS: 91.100.60 - Thermal and sound insulating materials
• Technical Committee: C16 - Thermal Insulation
• Drafting Committee: C16.23 - Blanket and Loose Fill Insulation

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM C516-02 - Standard Specification for Vermiculite Loose Fill Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Oct-2002
• Referred By: ASTM C1558-19 - Standard Guide for Development of Standard Data Records for Computerization of Thermal Transmission Test Data for Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1996
• Referred By: ASTM C1630-19 - Standard Guide for Development of Coverage Charts for Loose-Fill Thermal Building Insulations
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1996

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the lastest information
e1
Designation:C516–80 (Reapproved 1996)
Standard Specification for
Vermiculite Loose Fill Thermal Insulation
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C516; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
e NOTE—Keywords were added editorially in December 1996.
1. Scope C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulating Materi-
als
1.1 This specification covers the composition and physical
C177 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure-
properties of expanded or exfoliated vermiculite loose fill
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
insulation. The specification also includes the testing proce-
the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus
dures by which the acceptability of the material may be
C390 Criteria for Sampling and Acceptance of Preformed
determined. These testing procedures deal primarily with
Thermal Insulation Lots
material performance in the temperature range associated with
C518 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure-
the thermal envelope of buildings; however, the commercially
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
usable temperature range for this insulation is from−459 to
the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus
1400°F (−272 to+760°C). For specialized applications, refer
C520 Test Methods for Density of Granular Loose Fill
to manufacturer’s instructions.
Insulations
1.2 The specification also covers the composition and prop-
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
erties of vermiculite that has been surface-treated to produce
Building Materials
waterrepellencyforinstallationswhereliquidmoisturemaybe
E136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical
a factor.
Tube Furnace at 750°C
1.3 When the installation or use of thermal insulation
materials, accessories, and systems may pose safety or health
3. Terminology
problems, the manufacturer shall provide the user with appro-
3.1 The terms used in this specification are defined in
priate current information regarding any known problems
Terminology C168.
associated with the recommended use of the company’s
products, and shall also recommend protective measures to be
4. Classification
employed in their safe utilization.
4.1 Vermiculite insulation shall be specified by two type
1.4 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the
designations and five classes, as follows:
test methods portion, Section 9, of this specification: This
4.1.1 Vermiculite Loose Fill Insulation—Type I—The prod-
standarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,
uct that results from the expanding or exfoliating of natural
ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuser
vermiculite ore by grading and heating to meet the require-
of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
ments of this specification.
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limita-
4.1.2 VermiculiteLooseFillInsulation—TypeII—Expanded
tions prior to use. For specific hazard statements, see Section
vermiculite that has been surface-treated to produce water
12.
repellency and limit absorption of moisture from both liquid
2. Referenced Documents and vapor phase.
4.1.3 Vermiculite loose fill insulation has five grade desig-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
nations established by range of particle size distribution as
C136 Test Method for Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse
2 shown in Table 1.
Aggregates
5. Ordering Information
5.1 All purchase orders should designate both type and
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C-16 on
gradeofinsulationdesired.Iftypedesignationisomitted,Type
Thermal Insulation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.23 on
Blanket and Loose Fill Insulation.
Current edition approved Oct. 31, 1980. Published March 1981. Originally
published as C516–63T. Last previous edition C516–75. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06.
2 4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
C516
TABLE 1 Density Specifications
accordance with Criteria C390.
3 3
Bulk Density, lb/ft (kg/m )
Grade Designation
9. Test Methods
min max
9.1 The physical properties, as enumerated in Section 7,
0—Premium 3.0 (48) 5.0 (80)
1—Large 3.7 (59) 5.5 (88) shallbedeterminedinaccordancewiththefollowingmethods:
2—Medium 4.0 (64) 6.0 (96)
9.1.1 Bulk Density—Test Methods C520, Method A.
3—Fine 4.5 (72) 7.0 (112)
9.1.2 Grading—Test Method C136, except that when a
4—Super Fine 5.5 (88) 8.0 (128)
mechanical sieving device is used, the sieving time shall be 5
min and the test specimen shall be 50 g of material.
I will be furnished. The type and grade classifications in this
specification differ from the classifications in earlier issues.
TABLE 2 Thermal Resistance
Purchasers referencing this specification should include the
A
Thermal Resistance for 1 in. (25.4 mm) Thickness
date of issue.
2 2
°F·h·ft /Btu (K·m /W) Mean Temperature, °F (°C)
Grade Designation
6. Materials and Manufacture −119 (−84) 40 (4) 75 (24)
0—Premium . . 2.3 (0.41)
6.1 Vermiculite is a micaceous mineral which is mined and
1—Large . . 2.3 (0.41)
processed to produce a high-purity concentrate. The concen-
2—Medium . . 2.3 (0.41)
trate, in the form of flakes of varying size and thickness
3—Fine . . 2.3 (0.41)
3 3
4—Super Fine 3.4 (0.58) 2.5 (0.43) 2.3 (0.41)
weighing 55 lb/ft (880 kg/m ), is expanded in high-
A
The thermal values in this table are given at 1 in. (25.4 mm) of thickness with
temperature furnaces to densities in the range from 3.0 to 8.0
3 3
a gradient of 50°F (28°C). Test data that cover the thickness range from 1 to 6 in.
lb/ft (148to128kg/m ).Asanaturallyoccurringmineral,itis
showthatthermalresistanceperinchofthicknessisessentiallylinearwithrespect
classifiable as an elementary building material. It is noncom-
tothickness.Testvaluesdonotdeviateonthelowsidefromthevalueinthetable
by more than 5 %.
bustible as determined by Test Method E136. Material must
pass combustion test criteria of Test Method E136.
9.1.3 ThermalResistance—Testsforthermalresistancemay
7. Physical Requirements
bemadeinaccordancewithTestMethodsC177orC518.Test
7.1 The physical requirements listed in this section are
at the design density. The thermal resistance of the various
defined as Inspection Requirements (see Criteria C390, 5.1.2;
typesshallnotbelowerthanthevalueslistedinTable2,except
see also Terminology C168). The insulation shall conform to
that the average thermal resistance of any four specimens may
the following requirements:
fall up to 5% below the value in the table. Determine the
Type I Type II
3 3 thermal resistance (R-value) at mean temperature of 75°F
Bulk density, lb/ft (kg/m ) See Table 1
Grading (particle size) See Table 3
(24°C) and 40°F (4°C), at design density and in accordance
Water properties, max g wicked in 5 min N.A. 3
with the current editions of Test Methods C177 or C518.
7.2 The physical properties listed in this section of the Report the direction of heat flow. Thermal resistance at other
mean temperatures may be determined if required.
specification are defined as Qualification Requirements (see
9.1.4 Moisture Absorption—The test specimen shall be a
Criteria C390, 5.1.1). The insulation shall conform to the
sample of approximately 50 g. Loose fill the sample and level
following requirements:
into a sample holder 9 by 9 by 5 in. (228 by 228 by 127 mm)
Thermal resistance, °F·h·ft /Btu See Table 2
(K·m /W)
deep.
Moisture absor
...