ASTM E970-23
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This fire-test-response standard is designed to provide a basis for estimating one aspect of the fire exposure behavior to exposed insulation installed on the floors of building attics. The test environment is intended to simulate conditions that have been observed and defined in full-scale attic experiments.
5.2 The test is intended to be suitable for regulatory statutes, specification acceptance, design purposes, or development and research.
5.3 The fundamental assumption inherent in the test is that critical radiant flux is one measure of the surface burning characteristics of exposed insulation on floors or between joists of attics.
5.4 The test is applicable to attic floor insulation specimens that follow or simulate accepted installation practice.
5.5 In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to one or more specific sets of laboratory fire test exposure conditions. If different test conditions are substituted or the anticipated end-use conditions are changed, caution should be used to predict changes in the performance characteristics measured by or from this test. Therefore, the results are strictly valid only for the fire test exposure conditions described in this procedure.
5.5.1 If the test results obtained by this test method are to be considered in the total assessment of fire hazard in a building structure, then all pertinent established criteria for fire hazard assessment developed by Committee E-5 must be included in the consideration.
SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard describes a procedure for measuring the critical radiant flux of exposed attic floor insulation subjected to a flaming ignition source in a graded radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber. The specimen is any attic floor insulation. This test method is not applicable to those insulations that melt or shrink away when exposed to the radiant heat energy environment or the pilot burner.
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical radiant flux at the point at which the flame advances the farthest. It provides a basis for estimating one aspect of fire exposure behavior for exposed attic floor insulation. The imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels likely to impinge on the floors of attics whose upper surfaces are heated by the sun through the roof or by flames from an incidental fire in the attic. This fire-test-response standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure component of fires that develop in attics, but is not intended for use in estimating flame spread behavior of insulation installed other than on the attic floor.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 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 this standard.
1.5 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.
1.6 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.
1.7 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardizatio...
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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.
Designation: E970 − 23 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using
1
a Radiant Heat Energy Source
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E970; 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 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This fire-test-response standard describes a procedure
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
for measuring the critical radiant flux of exposed attic floor
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
insulation subjected to a flaming ignition source in a graded
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber. The
1.7 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
specimen is any attic floor insulation. This test method is not
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
applicable to those insulations that melt or shrink away when
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
exposed to the radiant heat energy environment or the pilot
as requirements of the standard.
burner.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
radiant flux at the point at which the flame advances the
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
farthest. It provides a basis for estimating one aspect of fire
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
exposure behavior for exposed attic floor insulation. The
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
likely to impinge on the floors of attics whose upper surfaces
are heated by the sun through the roof or by flames from an
2. Referenced Documents
incidental fire in the attic. This fire-test-response standard was
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
developed to simulate an important fire exposure component of
C167 Test Methods for Thickness and Density of Blanket or
fires that develop in attics, but is not intended for use in
Batt Thermal Insulations
estimating flame spread behavior of insulation installed other
C665 Specification for Mineral-Fiber Blanket Thermal Insu-
than on the attic floor.
lation for Light Frame Construction and Manufactured
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
Housing
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
C739 Specification for Cellulosic Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal
only.
Insulation
C764 Specification for Mineral Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
Insulation
that provide explanatory information. These notes and
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
Building Materials
considered as requirements of this standard.
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the
Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
Lot or Process
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
ASTM Test Methods
actual fire conditions.
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E648 Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-
Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
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
2
Burning. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2023. Published October 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
ɛ1
approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as E970 –17 . DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E0970-23. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, P
...
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.
´1
Designation: E970 − 17 E970 − 23 An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using
1
a Radiant Heat Energy Source
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E970; 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
ε NOTE—Fig. 5 and SI units were updated editorially in July 2022.
1. Scope*Scope
1.1 This fire-test-response standard describes a procedure for measuring the critical radiant flux of exposed attic floor insulation
subjected to a flaming ignition source in a graded radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber. The specimen is any attic
floor insulation. This test method is not applicable to those insulations that melt or shrink away when exposed to the radiant heat
energy environment or the pilot burner.
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical radiant flux at the point at which the flame advances the farthest. It
provides a basis for estimating one aspect of fire exposure behavior for exposed attic floor insulation. The imposed radiant flux
simulates the thermal radiation levels likely to impinge on the floors of attics whose upper surfaces are heated by the sun through
the roof or by flames from an incidental fire in the attic. This fire-test-response standard was developed to simulate an important
fire exposure component of fires that develop in attics, but is not intended for use in estimating flame spread behavior of insulation
installed other than on the attic floor.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 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 this standard.
1.5 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.
1.6 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 healthsafety, health, and environmental practices and determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.8 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, 2017Oct. 1, 2023. Published July 2017October 2023. Originally approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 20142017 as
ɛ1
E970 –14. –17 . DOI: 10.1520/E0970-17E01.10.1520/E0970-23.
*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
1
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E970 − 23
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C167 Test Methods for Thickness and Density of Blanket or Batt Thermal Insulations
C665 Specification for Mineral-Fiber Blanket Thermal Insulation for Light Frame Construction and Manufactured Housing
C739 Specification for Cellulosic Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal Insulation
C764 Specification for Mineral Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal Insulation
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or
Process
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precis
...
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