ASTM E84-05

Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard for the comparative surface burning behavior of building materials is applicable to exposed surfaces such as walls and ceilings. The test is conducted with the specimen in the ceiling position with the surface to be evaluated exposed face down to the ignition source. The material, product, or assembly shall be capable of being mounted in the test position during the test. Thus, the specimen shall either be self-supporting by its own structural quality, held in place by added supports along the test surface, or secured from the back side.
1.2 The purpose of this test method is to determine the relative burning behavior of the material by observing the flame spread along the specimen. Flame spread and smoke developed index are reported. However, there is not necessarily a relationship between these two measurements.
1.3 The use of supporting materials on the underside of the test specimen has the ability to lower the flame spread index from those which might be obtained if the specimen could be tested without such support. These test results do not necessarily relate to indices obtained by testing materials without such support.
1.4 Testing of materials that melt, drip, or delaminate to such a degree that the continuity of the flame front is destroyed, results in low flame spread indices that do not relate directly to indices obtained by testing materials that remain in place.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.6 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 the standard.
1.7 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.
1.8 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2005
• ICS: 13.220.50 - Fire-resistance of building materials and elements
• ICS: 91.100.01 - Construction materials in general
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.22 - Surface Burning

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E84-04 - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Replaced By: ASTM E84-05e1 - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM E861-13(2021) - Standard Practice for Evaluating Thermal Insulation Materials for Use in Solar Collectors
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D7445-18 - Standard Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Siding with Foam Plastic Backing (Backed Vinyl Siding)
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C11-23 - Standard Terminology Relating to Gypsum and Related Building Materials and Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM D3794-22 - Standard Guide for Testing Coil Coatings
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C1427-21 - Standard Specification for Extruded Preformed Flexible Cellular Polyolefin Thermal Insulation in Sheet and Tubular Form
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C534/C534M-23 - Standard Specification for Preformed Flexible Elastomeric Cellular Thermal Insulation in Sheet and Tubular Form
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C1029-20 - Standard Specification for Spray-Applied Rigid Cellular Polyurethane Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM E162-22 - Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C610-17(2023) - Standard Specification for Molded Expanded Perlite Block and Pipe Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C1728-23 - Standard Specification for Flexible Aerogel Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM E2307-23a - Standard Test Method for Determining Fire Resistance of Perimeter Fire Barriers Using Intermediate-Scale, Multi-story Test Apparatus
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM C612-14(2019) - Standard Specification for Mineral Fiber Block and Board Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Referred By: ASTM E1822-21 - Standard Test Method for Fire Testing of Stacked Chairs
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005

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:E84–05
Standard Test Method for
1
Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE84;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
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.
1. Scope assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
actual fire conditions.
1.1 This fire-test-response standard for the comparative
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
surface burning behavior of building materials is applicable to
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
exposed surfaces such as walls and ceilings. The test is
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
conducted with the specimen in the ceiling position with the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
surface to be evaluated exposed face down to the ignition
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
source. The material, product, or assembly shall be capable of
being mounted in the test position during the test. Thus, the
2. Referenced Documents
specimen shall either be self-supporting by its own structural
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
quality, held in place by added supports along the test surface,
A390 Specification for Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel
or secured from the back side.
Poultry Fence Fabric (Hexagonal and Straight Line)
1.2 The purpose of this test method is to determine the
C36 Specification for Gypsum Wallboard
relative burning behavior of the material by observing the
C1186 Specification for Flat Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement
flame spread along the specimen. Flame spread and smoke
Sheets
developedindexarereported.However,thereisnotnecessarily
D4442 TestMethodsforDirectMoistureContentMeasure-
a relationship between these two measurements.
ment of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
1.3 The use of supporting materials on the underside of the
D4444 TestMethodsforUseandCalibrationofHand-Held
test specimen has the ability to lower the flame spread index
Moisture Meters
from those which might be obtained if the specimen could be
E69 Test Method for Combustible Properties of Treated
tested without such support. These test results do not neces-
Wood by the Fire-Tube Apparatus
sarily relate to indices obtained by testing materials without
E136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical
such support.
Tube Furnace at 750°C
1.4 Testing of materials that melt, drip, or delaminate to
E160 Test Method for Combustible Properties of Treated
suchadegreethatthecontinuityoftheflamefrontisdestroyed,
3
Wood by the Crib Test
resultsinlowflamespreadindicesthatdonotrelatedirectlyto
E162 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials
indices obtained by testing materials that remain in place.
Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
as the standard.
E286 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Building
1.6 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
3
Materials Using an 8-ft (2.44-m) Tunnel Furnace
that provide explanatory information. These notes and foot-
E2231 Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of
notes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
Pipe and Duct Insulation Materials to Assess Surface
considered as requirements of the standard.
Burning Characteristics
1.7 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 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk
method refer to Terminology E176. The term flame spread
1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Burning. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2005. Published March 2005. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1950. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as E84–04. Discontinued.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E84–05
index from Terminology E176 is of particular interest to this 5. Apparatus
standard and is defined in 3.1.1.
5.1
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
Designation:E84–04 Designation:E84–05
Standard Test Method for
1
Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE84;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This fire-test-response standard for the comparative surface burning behavior of building materials is applicable to exposed
surfacessuchaswallsandceilings.Thetestisconductedwiththespecimenintheceilingpositionwiththesurfacetobeevaluated
exposedfacedowntotheignitionsource.Thematerial,product,orassemblyshallbecapableofbeingmountedinthetestposition
during the test. Thus, the specimen shall either be self-supporting by its own structural quality, held in place by added supports
along the test surface, or secured from the back side.
1.2 The purpose of this test method is to determine the relative burning behavior of the material by observing the flame spread
along the specimen. Flame spread and smoke developed index are reported. However, there is not necessarily a relationship
between these two measurements.
1.3 The use of supporting materials on the underside of the test specimen has the ability to lower the flame spread index from
those which might be obtained if the specimen could be tested without such support. These test results do not necessarily relate
to indices obtained by testing materials without such support.
1.4 Testingofmaterialsthatmelt,drip,ordelaminatetosuchadegreethatthecontinuityoftheflamefrontisdestroyed,results
in low flame spread indices that do not relate directly to indices obtained by testing materials that remain in place.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard.
1.6 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 the standard.
1.7 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.
1.8 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A390 Specification for Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel Poultry Fence Fabric (Hexagonal and Straight Line)
C36 Specification for Gypsum Wallboard
C1186 Specification for Flat Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement Sheets
D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
D4444 Test Methods for Use and Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters
E69 Test Method for Combustible Properties of Treated Wood by the Fire-Tube Apparatus
E136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C
3
E160 Test Method for Combustible Properties of Treated Wood by the Crib Test
E162 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
3
E286 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Building Materials Using an 8-ft (2.44-m) Tunnel Furnace
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface Burning.
Current edition approved Jan.Feb. 1, 2004.2005. Published February 2004.March 2005. Originally approved in 1950. Last previous edition approved in 20032004 as
E84–03b.E84–04.
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail] Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Discontinued.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E84–05
E2231 Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Pipe and Duct Insulation Materia
...