ASTM E2257-03

Standard Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and Assemblies

SCOPE
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
1.2 This test method is intended to evaluate, under specified fire-exposure conditions, the contribution to room fire growth provided by wall or ceiling materials and assemblies, or both. The method is not intended to evaluate the fire endurance of assemblies or fires originating in the wall assembly. The method provides a means to evaluate the effectiveness of thermal barriers in restricting the contribution of combustible materials in the wall assembly to fire growth in a room fire.
1.3 This test method, simulating a fire in the corner of a 2420 by 3630 mm (8 by 12 ft) room containing a single open doorway, provides a means to evaluate the relative performance of specified wall and ceiling materials or assemblies when they are used together in the same relationship within an enclosure, and simulating the manner in which they will be used.
1.4 This test method is intended to evaluate the contribution to fire growth provided by a surface product using a specified ignition source. It shall, however, be noted that the type, position and heat output of the ignition source will considerably influence fire growth. The thermal exposure conditions from the ignition source specified in this method will result in flashover during the 20 min duration for many common finish materials, in particular if specimens are mounted on the walls and the ceiling (standard configuration).
1.5 This test method provides a means for evaluating wall and ceiling finish materials and assemblies, including panels, tiles, boards, sprayed or brushed coatings, etc. This test method is not intended to evaluate flooring materials or furnishings.
1.6 This method shall be used in conjunction with Guide E 603, which covers instrumentation and the general effect of various parameters, and Guide E 2067, which deals with full-scale oxygen consumption calorimetry.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The units given in parentheses are for information only.
1.8 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory information. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.9 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.
1.10 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: 09-May-2003
• ICS: 13.220.50 - Fire-resistance of building materials and elements
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.21 - Smoke and Combustion Products

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E2257-08 - Standard Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and Assemblies
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2008
• Referred By: ASTM E2280-21 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of the Effect of Upholstered Seating Furniture Within Patient Rooms of Health Care Facilities
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E176-21ae1 - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2886/E2886M-20 - Standard Test Method for Evaluating the Ability of Exterior Vents to Resist the Entry of Embers and Direct Flame Impingement
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2574/E2574M-17(2021) - Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of School Bus Seat Assemblies
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E603-23 - Standard Guide for Room Fire Experiments
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1590-23 - Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Mattresses
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E800-20 - Standard Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Generated During Fires
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2707-22 - Standard Test Method for Determining Fire Penetration of Exterior Wall Assemblies Using a Direct Flame Impingement Exposure
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1591-20 - Standard Guide for Obtaining Data for Fire Growth Models
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F1870-22 - Standard Guide for Selection of Fire Test Methods for the Assessment of Upholstered Furnishings in Detention and Correctional Facilities
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1537-22 - Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2912-17 - Standard Test Method for Fire Test of Non-Mechanical Fire Dampers Used in Vented Construction
• Effective Date: 10-May-2003

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 latest information
An American National Standard
Designation:E2257–03
Standard Test Method for
Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and
Assemblies
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2257; 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 1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The units given in parentheses are for information
1.1 This is a fire-test-response standard.
only.
1.2 This test method is intended to evaluate, under specified
1.8 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
fire-exposure conditions, the contribution to room fire growth
which provide explanatory information. These notes and foot-
provided by wall or ceiling materials and assemblies, or both.
notes (excluding those in figures) shall not be considered as
The method is not intended to evaluate the fire endurance of
requirements of the standard.
assemblies or fires originating in the wall assembly. The
1.9 This standard is used to measure and describe the
method provides a means to evaluate the effectiveness of
responseofmaterials,products,orassembliestoheatandflame
thermal barriers in restricting the contribution of combustible
under controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate
materials in the wall assembly to fire growth in a room fire.
all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk assessment of the
1.3 This test method, simulating a fire in the corner of a
materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
2420 by 3630 mm (8 by 12 ft) room containing a single open
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the
doorway, provides a means to evaluate the relative perfor-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
mance of specified wall and ceiling materials or assemblies
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
when they are used together in the same relationship within an
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
enclosure, and simulating the manner in which they will be
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
used.
1.4 This test method is intended to evaluate the contribution
2. Referenced Documents
to fire growth provided by a surface product using a specified
2.1 ASTM Standards:
ignition source. It shall, however, be noted that the type,
E 84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
position and heat output of the ignition source will consider-
Building Materials
ably influence fire growth. The thermal exposure conditions
E 136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical
from the ignition source specified in this method will result in
Tube Furnace at 750°C
flashover during the 20 min duration for many common finish
E 603 Guide for Room Fire Experiments
materials, in particular if specimens are mounted on the walls
E 2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calo-
and the ceiling (standard configuration).
rimetry Fire Tests
1.5 This test method provides a means for evaluating wall
2.2 ISO Standards:
and ceiling finish materials and assemblies, including panels,
ISO 9705 Fire Tests—Reaction to Fire—Room Fire Test
tiles,boards,sprayedorbrushedcoatings,etc.Thistestmethod
ISO 13943 Fire Safety—Vocabulary
is not intended to evaluate flooring materials or furnishings.
2.3 NFPA Standards:
1.6 This method shall be used in conjunction with Guide
NFPA 265 Standard Method of Tests for Evaluating Room
E 603, which covers instrumentation and the general effect of
Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Wall Coverings
various parameters, and Guide E 2067, which deals with
full-scale oxygen consumption calorimetry.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
1 3
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1 rue de
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.13 on Large Scale Varembé, Case postale 56, CH-1211, Geneva 20, Switzerland.
Fire Tests. Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
Current edition approved May 10, 2003. Published July 2003. Park, Quincy, MA 02269-9101.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E2257–03
NFPA286 Standard Method of Tests for Evaluating Contri- conditions in an enclosure. The test indicates the maximum
bution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire extent of fire growth in a room, the rate of heat release, and if
Growth
they occur, the time to flashover, and the time to flame
extension beyond the doorway following flashover. It deter-
3. Terminology
mines the extent to which the wall and ceiling materials or
assembliescontributetofiregrowthinaroomandthepotential
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this stan-
forfirespreadbeyondtheroom,undertheparticularconditions
dard, see Terminology E 176 and ISO 13943. In case of
simulated. It does not measure the contribution of the room
conflict, the definitions given in Terminology E 176 shall
prevail. contents. (See Appendix X1, Commentary.)
3.1.1 assembly, n—a unit or structure composed of a com-
NOTE 1—Timetoflashoverisdefinedhereinaseitherthetimewhenthe
bination of materials or products, or both. E 176
radiant flux onto the floor exceeds 20 kW/m or the average temperature
3.1.2 flashover, n—the rapid transitionto a state of total
of the upper hot gas layer reaches 600°C (1100°F) or flames exit the
surface involvement in a fire of combustible materials within
doorway or spontaneous ignition of a paper target on the floor occurs.The
an enclosure. E 176
spontaneous ignition of a crumpled single sheet of newspaper placed on
3.1.3 heat flux, n—heat transfer to a surface per unit area, the floor 0.9 m (3 ft) out from the center of the rear wall provides a visual
indication of flashover.
per unit time. E 176
3.1.4 heat release rate, n—the heat evolved from the
5.1.1 The potential for the spread of fire to other objects in
specimen per unit time. E 176
the room, remote from the ignition source, is evaluated by
3.1.5 optical density of smoke, n—a measure of the attenu-
measurements of: (a) the total heat flux incident on the center
ation of a light beam through smoke, expressed as the common
ofthefloor,and(b)acharacteristicupperlevelgastemperature
logarithm of the ratio of the incident flux, I , to the transmitted
in the room.
flux, I. E 176
5.1.2 The potential for the spread of fire to objects outside
3.1.6 oxygen consumption principle, n—the expression of
the room of origin is evaluated by the measurement of the rate
the relationship between the mass of oxygen consumed during
of heat release of the fire.
combustion and the heat released. E 176
5.1.3 Measurements of the rate of production of carbon
3.1.7 smoke, n—the airborne solid and liquid particulates
monoxide, carbon dioxide, and visible smoke are taken.
and gases evolved when a material undergoes pyrolysis or
combustion. E 176
5.1.4 The overall performance of the test specimen is
3.1.8 smoke obscuration, n—reduction of light transmission
visually documented by full-color photographic records.Video
by smoke as measured by light attenuation. E 176
taping of the complete fire test is an acceptable alternative to
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
the photographic record. Such records show when each area of
3.2.1 specimen, n—representative piece of the product,
the test specimen becomes involved in the fire.
which is to be tested together with any substrate or treatment.
5.2 In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to a
specific set of laboratory fire test exposure conditions. If
4. Summary of Test Method
different test conditions are substituted or the anticipated
4.1 This method uses a gas burner to produce a diffusion
end-use conditions are changed, it is not known whether it is
flame in contact with the walls and ceiling in the corner of a
possible by use of this test to predict changes in the perfor-
2420 by 3630 by 2420 mm (8 by 12 by 8 ft) high room. The
mance characteristics measured. Therefore, the results are
burner produces a prescribed net rate of heat output of 100 kW
strictly valid only for the fire test exposure conditions de-
(5690 Btu/min) during the first 10 min, followed by 300 kW
scribed in this procedure.
(17 060 Btu/min) during the next 10 min. The contribution of
the wall and ceiling materials or assemblies to fire growth is
6. Ignition Source
measured in terms of the time history of the incident heat flux
6.1 Theignitionsourceforthetestshallbeagasburnerwith
on the center of the floor, the time history of the temperature of
a nominal 170 by 170 mm (6.7 by 6.7 in.) porous top surface
the gases in the upper part of the room, the time to flashover,
of a refractory material, as shown in Fig. 1.
and the rate of heat release. The test is conducted with natural
6.2 The top surface of the burner through which the gas is
ventilation to the room provided through a single doorway 780
supplied shall be located horizontally, 170 mm (6.7 in.) off the
by 2015 mm (30 by 80 in.) in width and height. The
floor, and the burner enclosure shall be in contact with both
combustion products are collected in a hood feeding into a
plenum connected to an exhaust duct in which measurements walls in a corner of the room opposite from the door, and the
edge of the diffusion surface shall be flush with the wall.
are made of the gas velocity, temperature, light obscuration,
and concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon
6.3 The burner shall be supplied with C.P. grade propane
monoxide.
(99 % purity), with a net heat of combustion of 46.5 6 0.5
MJ/kg (20 000 6 200 Btu/lb.) The gas flow to the burner shall
5. Significance and Use
be measured with an accuracy of at least 63 %. The flow
5.1 This fire test is applicable to a description of certain fire measuring equipment shall be calibrated per the manufactur-
er’s instructions at least once per year. The heat output to the
performance characteristics in appraising wall and ceiling
materials, products, or systems under specified fire-exposure burnershallbecontrolledwithin 65 %oftheprescribedvalue.
E2257–03
FIG. 1 Gas Burner Ignition Source
100 kW, and 202.0 L/min at 300 kW for propane with a net heat of
6.4 The gas supply to the burner shall produce a net heat
combustion of 46.5 MJ/kg, under standard conditions of 101 kPa pressure
output of 100 6 3 kW (5690 6 170 Btu/min) for the first 10
and 20°C temperature.
min, followed by 300 6 10 kW(17060 6 570 Btu/min) for the
next 10 min.
6.5 The burner shall be ignited by a pilot burner or a
remotely controlled spark igniter.
NOTE 2—This corresponds to a flow of approximately 67.3 L/min at
E2257–03
FIG. 2 Room Geometry and Placement of Heat Flux Meter
6.6 Burner controls shall be provided for automatic gas 7.4 If self-supporting panels are tested, a separate exterior
supply shut-off if flameout occurs. frame or block compartment is not required.
7. Compartment Geometry and Construction
8. Instrumentation in the Fire Room
NOTE 3—The choices for the size of compartment fire experiments are
8.1 The following are minimum requirements for instru-
discussed in Guide E 603. The compartment dimensions and tolerances
mentation for this test. Added instrumentation is desirable for
defined in this section have been chosen to make it convenient to utilize
further information.
both standard U.S. size 1.22 by 2.44 m (4 by 8 ft) building materials or
panels and standard 1.2 by 2.4 m panel sizes common outside the U.S. 8.2 Heat Flux:
8.2.1 Specification—The total heat flux meters shall be of
7.1 The room shall consist of four walls at right angles,
theGardon(foil)ortheSchmidt-Boelter(thermopile)typewith
floor, and ceiling and shall have the following inner dimen-
2 2
a design range of approximately 50 kW/m (4.4 Btu/ft s). The
sions: 3630 6 30 mm (12 ft) in length, 2420 6 20 mm (8 ft)
target receiving radiation, and possibly to a small extent
in width, and 2420 6 20 mm (8 ft) in height (see Fig. 2). The
convection, shall be flat, circular, not more than 15 mm ( ⁄8 in.)
room shall be placed indoors in an essentially draft free,
in diameter and coated with a durable matt black finish. The
conditioned space, large enough to ensure that there is no
target shall be contained within a water-cooled body whose
influence on the test fire. In order to facilitate the mounting of
front face shall be of highly polished metal, flat, coinciding
the instruments and of the ignition source, it is convenient to
with the plane of the target and circular, with a diameter of not
place the test room so that the floor is accessible from beneath.
more than 50 mm (2 in.) The heat flux meter shall have an
7.2 There shall be a doorway in the center of one of the
accuracy of at least 6 3 % and a repeatability within 6 0.5 %.
2420 by 2420 mm (8 by 8 ft) walls, and no other wall, floor or
In operation, the meter shall be maintained at a constant
ceilingopeningsthatallowventilation.Thedoorwayshallhave
temperature, at least 5°C above the dew point.
the following dimensions: 780 6 20 mm (30 in.) in width, and
8.2.2 Location—Theheatfluxmetershallbemountedatthe
2015 6 15 mm (80 in.) in height.
geometric center of the floor (see Fig. 2). The target area shall
7.3 The test compartment shall be a framed or a concrete-
1 1
be between 5 and 30 mm ( ⁄4 and 1 ⁄4 in.) above the floor
block structure. If the former type of structure is used, the
surface.
interior walls and ceiling of the frame shall be lined with
8.2.3 Calibration—The heat flux meters shall be calibrated
gypsum wallboard or calcium silicate board with a density of
3 3
at yearly intervals.
500 to 800 kg/m (31 to 50 lb/ft ). The minimum thickness of
the lining material shall be 20 mm ( ⁄4 in.). 8.3 Gas Temperatures:
E2257–03
FIG. 3 Room Geometry and Thermocouple Placement
8.3.1 Specification—BareType K Chromel-Alumel thermo- 8.4.1 Specification—Photographic or video equipment shall
couples 0.5 mm (20 mil) in diameter shall be used at each be used to record continuously the fire spread in the room and
required location. The thermocouple wire, within 13 mm ( ⁄2 the fire projection from the door of the room. The location of
in.) of the bead, shall be run along expected isotherms the camera shall avoid interference with the air inflow. When
(horizontally) to minimize conduction errors. The insulation wall linings are
...