ASTM E84-03

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: 09-Apr-2003
• 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 E84-01 - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM E84-03b - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Aug-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1795-20a - Standard Specification for Non-Reinforced Liquid Coating Encapsulation Products for Leaded Paint in Buildings
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F3319-20 - Standard Specification for Selection and Application of Field-Installed Cryogenic Pipe and Equipment Insulation Systems on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-Fueled Ships
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1852-20 - Standard Guide for Product Selection/Delivery Systems for Aerosol Foam Sealants and Adhesives
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5424-23a - Standard Test Method for Smoke Obscuration of Insulating Materials Contained in Electrical or Optical Fiber Cables When Burning in a Vertical Cable Tray Configuration
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C516-19 - Standard Specification for Vermiculite Loose Fill Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1594-23 - Standard Specification for Polyimide Rigid Cellular Thermal Insulation
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E970-17e1 - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F3459-21 - Standard Specification for Rigid Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) Exterior Profiles Used for Sound Walls
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1696-20 - Standard Guide for Industrial Thermal Insulation Systems
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E760/E760M-92(2023) - Standard Test Method for Effect of Impact on Bonding of Sprayed Fire-Resistive Material Applied to Structural Members
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D3730-17(2022) - Standard Guide for Testing High-Performance Interior Architectural Wall Coatings
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E2257-22 - Standard Test Method for Room Fire Test of Wall and Ceiling Materials and Assemblies
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1224-22 - Standard Specification for Reflective Insulation for Building Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
An American National Standard
Designation: E 84 – 03
Standard Test Method for
1
Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 84; 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.
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
2.1 ASTM Standards:
quality, held in place by added supports along the test surface,
A 390 Specification for Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel
or secured from the back side.
2
Poultry Fence Fabric (Hexagonal and Straight Line)
1.2 The purpose of this test method is to determine the
3
C 36 Specification for Gypsum Wallboard
relative burning behavior of the material by observing the
D 4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure-
flame spread along the specimen. Flame spread and smoke
4
ment of Wood and Wood-Base Materials
developed index are reported. However, there is not necessarily
D 4444 Test Methods for Use and Calibration of Hand-Held
a relationship between these two measurements.
4
Moisture Meters
1.3 The use of supporting materials on the underside of the
E 69 Test Method for Combustible Properties of Treated
test specimen has the ability to lower the flame spread index
4
Wood by the Fire-Tube Apparatus
from those which might be obtained if the specimen could be
E 160 Test Method for Combustible Properties of Treated
tested without such support. These test results do not neces-
5
Wood by the Crib Test
sarily relate to indices obtained by testing materials without
E 162 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials
such support.
6
Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
1.4 Testing of materials that melt, drip, or delaminate to
6
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
such a degree that the continuity of the flame front is destroyed,
E 286 Test Method for Surface Flammability of Building
results in low flame spread indices that do not relate directly to
7
Materials Using an 8-ft (2.44-m) Tunnel Furnace
indices obtained by testing materials that remain in place.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3. Terminology
as the standard.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
1.6 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
method refer to Terminology E 176. The term flame spread
that provide explanatory information. These notes and foot-
index from Terminology E 176 is of particular interest to this
notes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
standard and is defined in 3.1.1.
considered as requirements of the standard.
3.1.1 flame spread index, n—a number or classification
1.7 This standard is used to measure and describe the
indicating a comparative measure derived from observations
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
made during the progress of the boundary of a zone of flame
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
under defined test conditions.
incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.06.
1 3
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E5 on Fire Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.01.
4
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.10.
5
Burning. Discontinued; see 1993 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
6
Current edition approved March 10, 2003. Published April 2003. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
7
approved in 1950. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as E 84– 01 . Discontinued; see 1991 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
...