ASTM E970-08
(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
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.
The test is intended to be suitable for regulatory statutes, specification acceptance, design purposes, or development and research.
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.
The test is applicable to attic floor insulation specimens that follow or simulate accepted installation practice.
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.
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 and health 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.
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An American National Standard
Designation: E 970 – 08
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 E 970; 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 priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 This fire-test-response standard describes a procedure
1.7 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
for measuring the critical radiant flux of exposed attic floor
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
insulation subjected to a flaming ignition source in a graded
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber. The
as requirements of the standard.
specimen is any attic floor insulation. This test method is not
applicable to those insulations that melt or shrink away when
2. Referenced Documents
exposed to the radiant heat energy environment or the pilot
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
burner.
C 665 Specification for Mineral-Fiber Blanket Thermal In-
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical
sulation for Light Frame Construction and Manufactured
radiant flux at the point at which the flame advances the
Housing
farthest. It provides a basis for estimating one aspect of fire
C 764 Specification for Mineral Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal
exposure behavior for exposed attic floor insulation. The
Insulation
imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
likely to impinge on the floors of attics whose upper surfaces
Building Materials
are heated by the sun through the roof or by flames from an
E 122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,
incidental fire in the attic. This fire-test-response standard was
With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic
developedtosimulateanimportantfireexposurecomponentof
of a Lot or Process
fires that develop in attics, but is not intended for use in
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
estimating flame spread behavior of insulation installed other
E 631 Terminology of Building Constructions
than on the attic floor.
E 648 Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
2.2 Federal Specifications:
only.
HH-I-515 Insulation Thermal (Loose Fill for Pneumatic or
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
3
Poured Application), Cellulosic or Wood Fiber
that provide explanatory information. These notes and foot-
HH-I-521, Insulation Blankets, Thermal (Mineral Fiber, for
notes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
3
Ambient Temperature)
considered as requirements of this standard.
HH-I-1030 Insulation, Thermal (Mineral Fiber, for Pneu-
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the
3
matic or Poured Application)
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
3. Terminology
incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method and
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
associated with fire issues refer to the terminology contained in
actual fire conditions.
Terminology E 176.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2 Definition:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface the ASTM website.
3
Burning. Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, DODSSP, Bldg. 4,
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2008. Published November 2008. Originally Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5098, http://
approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as E 970 – 07. www.dodssp.daps.mil.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E970–08
3.2.1 attic, n—an acces
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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.
An American National Standard
Designation:E970–07 Designation: E 970 – 08
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 E 970; 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
1.1 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 health 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 665 Specification for Mineral-Fiber Blanket Thermal Insulation for Light Frame Construction and Manufactured Housing
C 764 Specification for Mineral Fiber Loose-Fill Thermal Insulation
E 84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E 122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or
Process
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E 631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E 648 Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
2.2 Federal Specifications:
3
HH-I-515 Insulation Thermal (Loose Fill for Pneumatic or Poured Application), Cellulosic or Wood Fiber
3
HH-I-521, Insulation Blankets, Thermal (Mineral Fiber, for Ambient Temperature)
3
HH-I-1030 Insulation, Thermal (Mineral Fiber, for Pneumatic or Poured Application)
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 JulyOct. 1, 2007.2008. Published August 2007.November 2008. Originally approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 20002007 as
E 970 – 007.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, DODSSP, Bldg. 4, Section D, 700 Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5098, http://www.dodssp.daps.mil.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box
...
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