ASTM E84-20

Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This test method is intended to provide only comparative measurements of surface flame spread and smoke density measurements with that of select grade red oak and fiber-cement board surfaces under the specific fire exposure conditions described herein.  
4.2 This test method exposes a nominal 24-ft (7.32-m) long by 20-in. (508-mm) wide specimen to a controlled air flow and flaming fire exposure adjusted to spread the flame along the entire length of the select grade red oak specimen in 51/2 min.  
4.3 This test method does not provide for the following:  
4.3.1 Measurement of heat transmission through the tested surface.  
4.3.2 The effect of aggravated flame spread behavior of an assembly resulting from the proximity of combustible walls and ceilings.  
4.3.3 Classifying or defining a material as noncombustible, by means of a flame spread index by itself.
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 Test Method E84 is a 10-min fire-test response method. The following standards address testing of materials in accordance with test methods that are applications or variations of the test method or apparatus used for Test Method E84:  
1.2.1 Materials required by the user to meet an extended 30-min duration tunnel test shall be tested in accordance with Test Method E2768.  
1.2.2 Wires and cables for use in air-handling spaces shall be tested in accordance with NFPA 262.  
1.2.3 Pneumatic tubing for control systems shall be tested in accordance with UL 1820.  
1.2.4 Combustible sprinkler piping shall be tested in accordance with UL 1887.  
1.2.5 Optical fiber and communications raceways for use in air handling spaces shall be tested in accordance with UL 2024.  
1.3 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.  
1.4 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.  
1.5 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.  
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.7 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.  
1.8 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.  
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, as...

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 29-Feb-2020
• 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

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
Designation: E84 − 20 An American National Standard
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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* 1.4 The use of supporting materials on the underside of the
test specimen has the ability to lower the flame spread index
1.1 This fire-test-response standard for the comparative
from those which might be obtained if the specimen could be
surface burning behavior of building materials is applicable to
tested without such support. These test results do not neces-
exposed surfaces such as walls and ceilings. The test is
sarily relate to indices obtained by testing materials without
conducted with the specimen in the ceiling position with the
such support.
surface to be evaluated exposed face down to the ignition
source. The material, product, or assembly shall be capable of 1.5 Testing of materials that melt, drip, or delaminate to
being mounted in the test position during the test. Thus, the suchadegreethatthecontinuityoftheflamefrontisdestroyed,
specimen shall either be self-supporting by its own structural resultsinlowflamespreadindicesthatdonotrelatedirectlyto
quality, held in place by added supports along the test surface, indices obtained by testing materials that remain in place.
or secured from the back side.
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
1.2 Test Method E84 is a 10-min fire-test response method. as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
The following standards address testing of materials in accor- conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
dance with test methods that are applications or variations of and are not considered standard.
the test method or apparatus used for Test Method E84:
1.7 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
1.2.1 Materials required by the user to meet an extended
that provide explanatory information. These notes and
30-min duration tunnel test shall be tested in accordance with
footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
Test Method E2768.
considered as requirements of the standard.
1.2.2 Wires and cables for use in air-handling spaces shall
1.8 This standard is used to measure and describe the
be tested in accordance with NFPA 262.
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
1.2.3 Pneumatictubingforcontrolsystemsshallbetestedin
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
accordance with UL 1820.
incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk
1.2.4 Combustible sprinkler piping shall be tested in accor-
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
dance with UL 1887.
actual fire conditions.
1.2.5 Optical fiber and communications raceways for use in
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
airhandlingspacesshallbetestedinaccordancewithUL2024.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.3 The purpose of this test method is to determine the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
relative burning behavior of the material by observing the
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
flame spread along the specimen. Flame spread and smoke
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
developedindexarereported.However,thereisnotnecessarily
1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
a relationship between these two measurements.
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
conducting these tests.
1.11 This international standard was developed in accor-
1
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
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
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Burning.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
Current edition approved March 1, 2020. Published March 2020. Originally
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
approved in 1950. Last previous edition approved in 2019 as E84-19b. DOI:
10.1520/E0084-20. Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E84−20
4
2. Referenced Documents 2.2 NFPA Stan
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This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM 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.
Designation: E84 − 19b E84 − 20 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
1
Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E84; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This fire-test–responsefire-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 Test Method E84 is a 10-min fire-test response method. The following standards address testing of materials in accordance
with test methods that are applications or variations of the test method or apparatus used for Test Method E84:
1.2.1 Materials required by the user to meet an extended 30-min duration tunnel test shall be tested in accordance with Test
Method E2768.
1.2.2 Wires and cables for use in air-handling spaces shall be tested in accordance with NFPA 262.
1.2.3 Pneumatic tubing for control systems shall be tested in accordance with UL 1820.
1.2.4 Combustible sprinkler piping shall be tested in accordance with UL 1887.
1.2.5 Optical fiber and communications raceways for use in air handling spaces shall be tested in accordance with UL 2024.
1.3 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.
1.4 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.
1.5 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.
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.7 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.
1.8 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.
1.9 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting
these tests.
1.11 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
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 July 1, 2019March 1, 2020. Published July 2019Marc
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