Standard Test Methods for Performance of Permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings

SCOPE
1.1 These test methods describe procedures to be followed in testing the performance of permanent metal railing systems (guard, stair, and ramp-rail systems) and rails (hand, wall, grab, and transfer rails) installed in and for agricultural, assembly, commercial, educational, industrial, institutional, recreational, and residential buildings.  
1.2 These test methods are applicable to such railing systems and rails having major structural components made of metal, with their secondary components made of metal or other materials such as wood, plastic, and glass.  
1.3 These test methods can be used to determine whether permanent metal railing systems and rails comply with anticipated performance requirements of the applicable specifications, codes, and standards, such as those described in Specification E985.  
1.4 Specifically, these test methods cover procedures for determining the static strength of metal railing systems and rails as structural elements when installed and fastened to concrete, masonry, wood, and metal as well as related products.  
1.5 No consideration is given in these test methods to any possible deterioration of metal railing systems, rails, and connections, resulting from adverse environmental conditions. The performance of special tests covering this aspect may be desirable.  
1.6 These test methods are limited to the application of concentrated loads described herein. Whenever given uniformly distributed loads are to be resisted by a railing system or rail in accordance with governing specifications, codes, and standards, the effects of such uniformly distributed loads on the member stresses shall be determined by calculation and the corresponding concentrated loads shall be given consideration during testing and data evaluation.  
1.7 Should computations make it possible to provide the needed information, testing can be employed for verification.  
1.8 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 a specific hazard statement, see Note 1.

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ASTM E935-00e1 - Standard Test Methods for Performance of Permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings
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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
e1
Designation: E 935 – 00
Standard Test Methods for
Performance of Permanent Metal Railing Systems and Rails
for Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 935; 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.
e NOTE—Editorial corrections were made in August 2000.
1. Scope 1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 These test methods describe procedures to be followed
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
in testing the performance of permanent metal railing systems
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
(guard,stair,andramp-railsystems)andrails(hand,wall,grab,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific
and transfer rails) installed in and for agricultural, assembly,
hazard statement, see Note 1.
commercial, educational, industrial, institutional, recreational,
and residential buildings.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 These test methods are applicable to such railing sys-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
tems and rails having major structural components made of
E 4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines
metal, with their secondary components made of metal or other
E 575 Practice for Reporting Data from Structural Tests of
materials such as wood, plastic, and glass.
Building Constructions, Elements, Connections, and As-
1.3 These test methods can be used to determine whether
semblies
permanent metal railing systems and rails comply with antici-
E 631 Terminology of Building Constructions
pated performance requirements of the applicable specifica-
E 894 Test Method for Anchorage of Permanent Metal
tions, codes, and standards, such as those described in Speci-
Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings
fication E 985.
E 985 Specification for Permanent Metal Railing Systems
1.4 Specifically, these test methods cover procedures for
and Rails for Buildings
determining the static strength of metal railing systems and
E 1481 Terminology of Railing Systems and Rails for
rails as structural elements when installed and fastened to
Buildings
concrete,masonry,wood,andmetalaswellasrelatedproducts.
1.5 No consideration is given in these test methods to any
3. Terminology
possible deterioration of metal railing systems, rails, and
3.1 Definitions: For definitions of terms used in these test
connections, resulting from adverse environmental conditions.
methods, see Terminology E 631 and Terminology E 1481.
The performance of special tests covering this aspect may be
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
desirable.
3.2.1 infill—in the context of this standard, the balusters of
1.6 These test methods are limited to the application of
abalusterrailingsystemandthestructuralaswellasdecorative
concentrated loads described herein. Whenever given uni-
elements, including panels, mesh, and similar elements, of a
formly distributed loads are to be resisted by a railing system
panel railing system, located between top and bottom rails and
or rail in accordance with governing specifications, codes, and
posts; to serve the twofold purpose of (a) protecting bodies
standards,theeffectsofsuchuniformlydistributedloadsonthe
from penetrating and falling through the baluster and panel
member stresses shall be determined by calculation and the
infillareasand(b)providingaspecifiedresistancetohorizontal
corresponding concentrated loads shall be given consideration
thrusts as are potentially encountered within the infill area.
during testing and data evaluation.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—Infills shall be designed in such a way
1.7 Should computations make it possible to provide the
as to deter climbing of the railing system.
needed information, testing can be employed for verification.
3.2.2 infill area—the field of baluster and panel railing
systems, bordered by rails, including top, intermediate, and
bottom rails, and posts, including end and intermediate posts.
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-6 on
Performance of Buildings and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E06.56
on Performance of Railing Systems and Rails for Buildings.
Current edition approved March 10, 2000. Published May 2000. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
published as E 935 – 83. Last previous edition E 935 – 93 (1998). Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.11.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 935
4. Significance and Use 7.2 Test a minimum of three representative replicate speci-
mens of each type of infill when performance testing in
4.1 These test methods are intended to provide information
accordance with either Test Method C or D is required (see
from which applicable design data can be derived for the
Section 5).
performance of metal railing systems and rails installed and
7.3 If sequential testing of the same specimen in accordance
fastened to structural elements of concrete, masonry, wood,
with Test MethodsA, B, C, and D is permissible, Test Method
and metal as well as related products. Typical floor-mounted
B or D shall be followed by Test Method A or C.
railings are shown in Fig. 1.
8. Test Specimens
5. Test Selection
8.1 Specimen Conditioning and Curing— If aging, season-
5.1 The only tests that need to be performed are those that
ing,orcuringconditionsaffecttheperformanceandcapacityof
are considered necessary to provide information required by
the anchorage system of the railing system or rail, take
the requesting party, testing agency, and regulatory body
appropriate measures, in accordance with the manufacturer’s
involved.
recommendations, to age, season, or cure the anchorage
elements or components prior to testing. Report such condi-
6. Installation
tions in detail. Observe their physical effects and fully describe
6.1 Install the railing system or rail being investigated in
them in the test report.
accordance with the manufacturer’s or designer’s specifica-
8.2 Specimen Moisture Content and Temperature Condi-
tions.
tions (applicable only to hygroscopic products)—If the pre-
vailing moisture content and temperature conditions can affect
7. Sampling
the performance of the elements and components of the
7.1 Test a minimum of three representative replicate speci-
anchorage system, hold these parameters constant for a given
mens of each type of railing system or rail when performance
series of tests on the performance of railing systems and rails.
testing in accordance with either Test Method A or B is
The choice of the controlled conditions depends on the
required (see Section 5).
environments of the field conditions to be given consideration.
Such field conditions shall be simulated. Testing shall begin
only after the test specimens have reached approximately
stable conditions with regard to temperature and moisture
content.
8.3 Specimen Description—Examples of typical floor-
mounted test specimens are shown in Fig. 1 in diagrammatic
form. The specimen installation, including the post spacing,
shall be the same as the actual field installation. The specimen
shall have a minimum of three posts if this is in line with the
actual field installation simulated.
9. Calculation
9.1 Load-Deformation Data—Determine the unadjusted,
adjusted, and appropriate average load-deformation data for
each loading point of each of the test series (see Section 15 and
19).
9.1.1 Calculate the unadjusted deformation (D) at a given
load (or released load) for an individual test in the following
manner:
D5 A 2 A (1)
n 1
where:
A = the instrument reading at a given load (or released
n
load), and
A = the initial instrument reading.
9.1.2 Obtain the adjusted deformation (or residual deforma-
tion) by plotting the unadjusted deformation versus the applied
load (or released load) and extrapolating a smooth curve
through the data points back to zero load (or deformation).The
adjusted deformation at maximum load or any other test load is
observed from the plot relative to the zero load.
9.1.3 Obtain the appropriate average adjusted deformation
FIG. 1 Front Views of Sections of Three Typical Railing Systems at maximum load or any other test load for each of the test
E 935
series as the arithmetic mean of the appropriate individual to load application. These devices shall have sufficient mea-
deformation determinations at a given load in a given series. surementcapabilitytoindicatethedisplacementthroughoutthe
9.2 Required Test-Load and Maximum-Load Data— test range.
Determine the average required test load and maximum load
for given assembly as the arithmetic mean of the appropriate 13. Test Specimen
test and maximum loads for each of the test series depending
13.1 Specimens—Load one specimen at the top of the rail at
on the test requirements.
an end post. A second specimen shall have two equal loads
applied at the top of the rail midway between posts. The third
10. Report
specimen shall be a repeat of the weaker of the first two
10.1 Report the applicable information as listed in Practice specimens.
E 575 and specifically the following information:
10.1.1 Relevant physical-strength properties of the railing- 14. Procedure
system or rail materials used for the test specimens.
14.1 Positioning of Railing System or Rail—Position the
10.1.2 Description of the procedure used for the assembly
railing system or rail in the support system in such a way that
and installation of the railing system or rail.
the load is applied, as shown in Fig. 2, to the structural member
10.1.3 Description of the anchorage system.
perpendicular to the plane of the railing system or rail without
10.1.4 Age, in days, at time of test of the railing or rail
causing any local failure at the point of load application.
anchorage system, if this information is of any significance.
14.2 Mounting of Instruments—Mount the three dial gages,
10.1.5 Age, in hours or days, since assembly and installa-
measurement devices, or sensors at each loading point as is
tion of the railing system or rail, if this information is of any
shown in Fig. 2. Place the sensing elements of the instruments
significance.
in contact with and normal to the surface or an extension of the
10.1.6 Species, oven-dry specific gravity, and moisture
surface of the structural element or component being tested in
content at time of test, in percent of the oven-dry weight and
such a way as to measure displacement in the direction of the
volume, of any wood members or components of the anchor-
applied load.
age system.
10.1.7 Actual rate of loading between increments.
15. Load Application
15.1 If the rail is not supported by posts, apply the load in
11. Precision and Bias
the same manner as described in 13; that is, at the rail end, at
11.1 No statement is made on the precision or on the bias of
the rail middle, and, for the third specimen, at the rail end or
these test methods since no data are available at this time that
rail middle, whichever resulted in the weakest of the two
are based on the use of the test methods described.
previously tested specimens.
15.2 Initial Loading—Apply the initial load corresponding
TEST METHOD A—APPLICATION OF HORIZONTAL
to 50 % of the required test load in order to bring all members
STATIC LOAD TO TOP RAIL
in full bearing. After release of the preload to 50 % of the
preload, apply the required test load or the maximum load
12. Apparatus
depending on the test requirements by initiating the step
12.1 Testing Machine—Any testing machine or loading testing.
device, capable of imposing forces accurate to within 61% 15.3 Initial Deflection Reading—Observe the initial deflec-
when calibrated in accordance with Practices E 4, is suitable tions immediately after application of the initial test load and
and may be used provided the requirements of specified rate of its release.
loading and unloading are met. The testing device shall be of 15.4 Final Load Application—In the required step loading
sufficient capacity to prevent yielding of its various compo-
during constant-level increment loading up to the required test
nents and shall insure that the applied load remains essentially load or maximum load, each increment of load shall amount to
parallel to the relevant axis of the assembly during testing. not more than 15 % of the estimated maximum load and shall
12.2 Test System—A diagrammatic test set-up for applying be maintained as constant as is practical for a 2-min period.
horizontal tension forces to the assembly is shown in Fig. 2. Instead of such continuous step loading with 2-min constant-
The bearing plates, normally 150-mm (6-in.) long, shall be of load intervals, the step loading may be interrupted by releasing
sufficient size to prevent local failure of the surrounding each step load to the initial test load and observing the residual
structural members or components.The loading device shall be deflection at the initial test load in order to make it possible to
attached to the assembly by means of pins or a swivel determine the total residual deflection for any loading condi-
connector to prevent the direct transfer of any flexural forces tion. Plot the initial and 2-min readings of the force and
through the connection. deflection gages at each load point in the form of load-
12.3 Deflection Measurements—Dial gages, having a small- deformation curves. Maintain complete load-deformation time
est division of not more than 0.25 mm (0.01 in.), or any records throughout the test. If application of a given load is
suitable measurement devices or calibrated sensors of at least required for a certain period, such as 24 h, take deformation
comparable accuracy and sensitivity shall be used to measure readings at the beginning, at intervals during this period, and at
the horizontal displacements of the top of the railing system or the end of this period, to allow satisfactory plotting of a
rail relative to its original location at each loading point prior time-deformation curve for the complete period.
E 935
NOTE 1—Any shear forces applied to the top rail shall be transmitted by any existing connections between top rail and railing post. A continuous top
rail of uniform cross section along its span should not fail in shear, but in flexure, since the top rail usually acts like a long beam where existing shear
stresses, as compared to existing fle
...

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