Standard Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Plastic Composites for Use as Deck Boards, Stair Treads, Guards or Handrails to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Plastic composite materials for use as deck boards, stair treads, guards or handrails are evaluated in accordance with Test Method E84 to comply with building or residential code requirements. This Practice describes specimen mounting procedures for such materials.  
5.2 The material to be tested shall be representative of the materials used in actual field installations.
Note 2: Test Method E84 assesses the comparative burning behavior of building materials. Thus, this practice addresses specimen preparation and mounting of materials at use thickness, with full width tunnel coverage.  
5.3 The limitations for this procedure are those associated with Test Method E84.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes a procedure for specimen preparation and mounting when testing plastic composite materials for use as deck boards, stair treads, guards or handrails to assess flame spread index as a surface burning characteristic using Test Method E84.  
1.2 This practice applies to plastic composite materials, including plastic lumber and wood-plastic composites. The test specimens shall be self-supporting or held in place by added supports along the test surface, in accordance with Annex A4 of Test Method E84.  
1.3 This practice does not provide pass/fail criteria that can be used as a regulatory tool.  
1.4 This practice is applicable to (a) materials that are self-supporting and (b) materials that are not self-supporting but where the test specimen is held in place by added supports throughout the test duration without such severe sagging that it interferes with the effect of the gas flame on the test specimen.
Note 1: Paragraph 1.4 reflects requirements contained in plastic lumber specifications.  
1.5 Use the values stated in inch-pound units as the standard in referee decisions. The values in the SI system of units are given in parentheses, for information only; see IEEE/ASTM SI-10 for further details.  
1.6 This fire standard cannot be used to provide quantitative measures.  
1.7 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently hazardous and adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests. Fire testing involves hazardous materials, operations and equipment.  
1.8 This practice gives instructions on specimen preparation and mounting but the fire-test-response method shall be conducted in accordance with Test Method E84. See also Section 8 for information on operator safety.  
1.9 The text of this practice references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered requirements of the standard.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
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.

General Information

Status
Historical
Publication Date
31-Aug-2019
Technical Committee
Drafting Committee
Current Stage
Ref Project

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ASTM E3202-19 - Standard Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Plastic Composites for Use as Deck Boards, Stair Treads, Guards or Handrails to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics
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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: E3202 − 19
Standard Practice for
Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Plastic Composites
for Use as Deck Boards, Stair Treads, Guards or Handrails
1
to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3202; 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.
1. Scope ducted in accordance with Test Method E84. See also Section
8 for information on operator safety.
1.1 This practice describes a procedure for specimen prepa-
1.9 The text of this practice references notes and footnotes
ration and mounting when testing plastic composite materials
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
for use as deck boards, stair treads, guards or handrails to
assess flame spread index as a surface burning characteristic (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
requirements of the standard.
using Test Method E84.
1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the
1.2 This practice applies to plastic composite materials,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
including plastic lumber and wood-plastic composites.The test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
specimens shall be self-supporting or held in place by added
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
supports along the test surface, in accordance with Annex A4
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
of Test Method E84.
1.11 This international standard was developed in accor-
1.3 This practice does not provide pass/fail criteria that can
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
be used as a regulatory tool.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
1.4 This practice is applicable to (a) materials that are
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
self-supporting and (b) materials that are not self-supporting mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
but where the test specimen is held in place by added supports
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
throughout the test duration without such severe sagging that it
2. Referenced Documents
interferes with the effect of the gas flame on the test specimen.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
NOTE 1—Paragraph 1.4 reflects requirements contained in plastic
D883 Terminology Relating to Plastics
lumber specifications.
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
1.5 Use the values stated in inch-pound units as the standard
Building Materials
in referee decisions. The values in the SI system of units are
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
given in parentheses, for information only; see IEEE/ASTM
E2579 Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of
SI-10 for further details.
Wood Products to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics
1.6 This fire standard cannot be used to provide quantitative
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 International System of Units (SI) The
measures.
Modernized Metric System
1.7 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently
3. Terminology
hazardous and adequate safeguards for personnel and property
shall be employed in conducting these tests. Fire testing
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this prac-
involves hazardous materials, operations and equipment. tice and associated with fire issues refer to Terminology E176.
1.8 This practice gives instructions on specimen preparation For definitions of terms used in this practice and associated
and mounting but the fire-test-response method shall be con- with plastics issues refer to Terminology D883.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire
2
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Burning. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2019. Published September 2019. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E3202-19. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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E3202 − 19
3.2.1 flame spread index, n—a comparative measure ex- 5.3 The limitations for this procedure are those associated
pressed as a dimensionless number, derived from visual mea- with Test Method E84.
surements of the spread of flame versus time in Test Method
6. Specimen Preparation and Mounting
E84. E1
...

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