ASTM D2898-10(2017)

Standard Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood for Fire Testing

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice describes different methods of exposing fire-retardant-treated wood products or assemblies to controlled accelerated weathering or conditioning.  
4.2 The conditioning simulates effects of leaching, drying, temperature, and, in two methods, UV light.  
4.3 Method A is the method normally specified for regulatory purposes when testing fire-retardant-treated wood that is intended for exterior applications.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice addresses the durability of a fire-retardant treatment of wood products by exposure to accelerated cycles of wetting, drying, or ultraviolet (UV) exposure, or combination thereof, prior to evaluation by a fire response test. Four conditioning methods are described.  
1.2 This practice is applicable to wood products that have been treated with fire-retardant chemicals by pressure impregnation.  
1.3 The test specimens are to be in the form of, or suitable for fabrication into, test specimens, such as those described in Test Methods E84, E108, and E1354 and other standard test methods for evaluating the fire performance of fire-retardant-treated wood products.  
1.4 The text of these methods references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of these test methods.  
1.5 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.  
1.6 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 health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jan-2017
• ICS: 71.100.50 - Wood-protecting chemicals
• Technical Committee: D07 - Wood
• Drafting Committee: D07.07 - Fire Performance of Wood

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D2898-10 - Standard Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood for Fire Testing
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2017
• Refers: ASTM E176-24 - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2024
• Refers: ASTM E84-23d - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2023
• Refers: ASTM E84-23c - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2023
• Refers: ASTM E108-20 - Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings
• Effective Date: 15-Mar-2020
• Refers: ASTM E84-19b - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2019
• Refers: ASTM E84-19a - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2019
• Refers: ASTM E84-19 - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2019
• Refers: ASTM E176-18a - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 15-Dec-2018
• Refers: ASTM E84-18b - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Refers: ASTM E84-18a - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Refers: ASTM E84-18 - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2018
• Refers: ASTM E176-18 - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2018
• Refers: ASTM E84-17a - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2017
• Refers: ASTM E84-17 - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2017

Overview

ASTM D2898-10(2017) - Standard Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood for Fire Testing is a widely recognized ASTM standard that specifies accelerated weathering or conditioning procedures for wood products treated with fire-retardant chemicals. It simulates the effects of exposure to environmental elements-such as wetting, drying, ultraviolet (UV) light, and temperature-before conducting fire response tests. The standard is essential for evaluating the durability and real-world performance of fire-retardant treatments on wood intended for exterior and structural applications.

This practice provides testing laboratories, manufacturers, architects, and regulatory bodies with reliable methods to assess weathering effects on fire-retardant-treated wood, ensuring the safety and compliance of building materials in accordance with fire regulations.

Key Topics

• Scope of Application

  • Targets wood products treated by pressure impregnation with fire-retardant chemicals.
  • Designed for products intended to be used where fire-resistance is required, particularly in exterior environments.
  • Applicable to test specimens compatible with widely accepted fire performance standards (such as ASTM E84, E108, and E1354).

• Weathering and Conditioning Methods

  • Four different accelerated weathering cycles (Methods A, B, C, and D) are described.
    • Cycles incorporate periods of wetting, drying, temperature variation, and, in some methods, UV light exposure.
    • Method A is commonly specified for regulatory testing of exterior fire-retardant-treated wood.
  • Simulates real-world conditions such as leaching, repeated drying, and sun exposure, replicating the natural aging processes that may affect fire-retardant chemicals and wood performance.

• Test and Reporting Procedures

  • Specifies specimen preparation, apparatus requirements, and calibration of water spray and temperature controls.
  • Outlines the importance of documenting exposure cycles, specimen description, treatment details, apparatus setup, and any deviations.
  • Advises recording water characteristics (pH, hardness) and air movement parameters for reliable and reproducible results.

• Safety and Units

  • Emphasizes user responsibility to follow appropriate safety and regulatory measures.
  • Measurements are provided in both inch-pound and metric (SI) units for international compliance.

Applications

ASTM D2898 serves multiple practical purposes within the fire safety, construction, and wood products industries:

• Quality Assurance:
  • Enables fire-retardant wood product manufacturers to validate treatment durability and quality through standardized accelerated aging processes.
• Regulatory Compliance:
  • Used by testing laboratories and regulatory agencies to verify that fire-retardant-treated wood meets fire safety codes and building regulations after exposure to weather.
• Product Comparison and Research:
  • Facilitates performance comparisons between different fire-retardant formulations and treatments, supporting innovation and improvement in fire safety technology.
• Roof Coverings and Building Materials:
  • Particularly relevant for roof deck assemblies and other critical exterior applications, where long-term fire performance post-weathering is a regulatory and safety concern.

Related Standards

Several standards and documents are either referenced by or closely related to ASTM D2898 for wood fire testing and accelerated weathering:

• ASTM E84 – Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
• ASTM E108 – Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings
• ASTM E1354 – Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter
• ICC AC107 – Acceptance Criteria for Classified Wood Roof Systems
• UL 790 – Tests for Fire Resistance of Roof Covering Materials
• ASTM D9 / ASTM E176 – Terminology relating to wood products and fire standards

Keywords: fire-retardant-treated wood, accelerated weathering, fire testing, building materials, wood durability, ASTM D2898, code compliance, exterior wood applications, performance testing, regulatory standards, fire safety.

Standards Content (Sample)

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: D2898 − 10 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Practice for
Accelerated Weathering of Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood for
Fire Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D2898; 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 E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
Building Materials
1.1 This practice addresses the durability of a fire-retardant
E108 Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings
treatment of wood products by exposure to accelerated cycles
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
of wetting, drying, or ultraviolet (UV) exposure, or combina-
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release
tion thereof, prior to evaluation by a fire response test. Four
Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Con-
conditioning methods are described.
sumption Calorimeter
1.2 This practice is applicable to wood products that have
2.2 ICC Evaluation Service Acceptance Criteria:
been treated with fire-retardant chemicals by pressure impreg-
AC 107 Classified Wood Roof Systems
nation.
2.3 UL Standards:
1.3 The test specimens are to be in the form of, or suitable UL 790 Tests for Fire Resistance of Roof Covering Material
for fabrication into, test specimens, such as those described in
3. Terminology
Test Methods E84, E108, and E1354 and other standard test
methods for evaluating the fire performance of fire-retardant- 3.1 Definitions—Definition used in this practice are in
treated wood products. accordance withTerminologies D9 and E176, unless otherwise
indicated.
1.4 Thetextofthesemethodsreferencesnotesandfootnotes
that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
4. Significance and Use
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
4.1 This practice describes different methods of exposing
as requirements of these test methods.
fire-retardant-treated wood products or assemblies to con-
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
trolled accelerated weathering or conditioning.
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
4.2 The conditioning simulates effects of leaching, drying,
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
temperature, and, in two methods, UV light.
and are not considered standard.
4.3 Method A is the method normally specified for regula-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tory purposes when testing fire-retardant-treated wood that is
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
intended for exterior applications.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5. Apparatus
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.1 The test apparatus shall be capable of subjecting the
2. Referenced Documents
specimen uniformly to the test conditions described in Section
7.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D9 Terminology Relating to Wood and Wood-Based Prod-
5.2 No special means of protecting the specimen back and
ucts
edges are required, but water shall not impinge directly on
those surfaces which are not exposed either to the weather in
the assembled form, or to fire in the subsequent test. Water
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D07 on Wood and
spray nozzles shall be provided and arranged so as to distribute
are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D07.07 on Fire Performance ofWood.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2017. Published March 2017. Originally water evenly over the exposed specimen surface.
approved in 1970. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as D2898 – 10. DOI:
10.1520/D2898-10R17.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available from ICC Evaluation Service, Inc., 5360 Workman Mill Road,
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Whittier, CA 90601, http://icc-es.org.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road,
the ASTM website. Northbrook, IL 60062, http://www.ul.com.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D2898 − 10 (2017)
5.3 Accompany drying cycles with heating that is thermo- 7. Exposure Cycle
statically controlled. The controlling temperature shall be the
7.1 Method A:
air temperature measured 1 in. (25 mm) above the specimen
7.1.1 The total duration of this method is twelve weeks (84
surface. When sunlamps are part of the method, the
days).
temperature-measuring device must be shielded from the UV
7.1.2 Subject the specimens to an exposure cycle consisting
radiation of the sunlamps. Accompany drying with uniform
of twelve one-week cycles. Each cycle is to consist of 96 h (4
forced air movement across the surface of the decks at a rate of
days) of water exposure and 72 h (3 days) of drying.
at least 25 ft/min (0.127 m/s). Forced air movement shall be
7.1.3 Applywaterinamoderatelyfinesprayuniformlyover
uniform across the specimen surface, with provisions made for
the exposed specimen surfaces by spray nozzles that deliver an
adequate air changes to assure thorough drying.
average of 0.7 in. of water per hour (0.005 mm/s) or 0.0073
2 2
5.4 In Methods B and C, UV light shall be distributed as
gal/min·ft (0.30L/min·m )ofspecimensurface)atatempera-
evenly as possible over the specimen surface. Use sunlamps
ture between 35 and 60°F (2 and 16°C).
providing UV characteristics of 5.0 W/m irradiance at a
7.1.3.1 Recirculation of the water is not permitted.
wavelength of 315 to 400 nm at 1 m directed normal to and
7.1.3.2 For decks intended for testing by Test Methods
mounted 26 6 6 in. (660 6 152 mm) above the specimen
E108, nozzles shall be mounted approximately seven feet (2.1
measured from the bottom of the lamp. One lamp shall be used
m) above the test decks.
2 2
for each 8 ft (0.74 m ) of specimen, or fraction thereof.
7.1.4 Dry at a thermostatically controlled temperature of
135 to 140°F (57 to 60°C).
5.5 Water Spray Calibrations:
7.1.5 At the end of one or more cycles, change the position
5.5.1 Measurethehorizontalprojectedareaoverwhicheach
of the specimens within the apparatus so that each specimen
nozzle discharges water to the nearest square foot (0.09 m ).
occupies every location within the apparatus for an approxi-
Measure the discharge of water for each nozzle for 1 min.
mately equal number of cycles.
5.5.2 Monitor the total water use during the test.Acommer-
cial water meter is suitable for this purpose.
7.2 Method B:
5.5.2.1 For Method A, the water usage shall be 42 6 1
7.2.1 The total duration of this method is 1000 h (41 days,
2 2
gal/ft (1711 6 41 L/m ) for a four-day cycle or 73 6 1.7
16 h).
2 2
gal/ft (2975 6 69 L/m ) for a seven-day cycle.
7.2.2 Subject the specimen to a exposure cycle consisting of
5.5.3 Each day during the water cycle, visually check the
forty-two 24-h cycles. Each cycle is to consist of 4 h wetting,
water flow from each nozzle for obvious water obstruction in
4 h drying, 4 h wetting, 4 h drying, and 8 h rest. The last cycle
the nozzle and uneven spray patterns. Make adjustments when
is terminated without the 8-h rest period.
necessary.
7.2.3 Applywaterinamoderatelyfinesprayuniformlyover
5.5.4 Review the total water flow at the end of each day and
the exposed specimen surface at a rate of 0.3 6 0.02 gal/
2 2
at the end of each water cycle. Correct the cause of any
min·ft (12.2 6 0.8 L/min·m ) of specimen surface. The
off-limit conditions.
temperature shall not exceed 90°F (32°C). During the first
5.5.5 The characteristics or quality of the water shall be
three cycles, drain all water rather than recirculate it. In each
noted (see Note 1). subsequent wetting period, circulate a volume of at least 5 gal
(19 L) of fresh water through each spray head.
NOTE 1—Note water quality, especially pH and hardness, as it can
7.2.4 Dry at a temperature of 150 6 5°F (66 6 3°C), with
impact the accelerated weathering of the treated specimens.
this temperature attained within 15 min from the start of
drying. Exposure to the UV sunlamps shall be continuous
6. Test Specimen
throughout the drying period.
6.1 The test specimen shall include all parts of the
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