NFPA Committee on Fire Tests

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1 NFPA Committee on Fire Tests M E M O R A N D U M TO: FROM: NFPA Technical Committee on Fire Tests Linda MacKay DATE: September 21, 2009 SUBJECT: NFPA 251, 253, 262, 265, 285, 286 ROP Letter Ballot Final Results The Final Results of the NFPA 251, 253, 262, 265, 285, 286 ROP Letter Ballots are as follows: NFPA Members Eligible to Vote 1 Ballot Was Not Returned (Hartzell) 18 Affirmative on All 2 Negatives on one or more proposals as noted in report (Badders, Hirschler) 0 Abstentions on one or more proposals as noted in report According to the final ballot results, all ballot items received the necessary 2/3 required affirmative votes to pass ballot. (21 eligible to vote - 1 not returned - 0 abstentions= = 14) NFPA Members Eligible to Vote 2 Ballots Not Returned (Hartzell, Hogan) 13 Affirmative on All 5 Negatives on one or more proposals as noted in report (Badders, Fitch, Hough, McPhee, Sumathipala) 1 Abstentions on one or more proposals as noted in report (Milke) B. Fitch and K. Sumathipala submitted changes in vote during circulation. According to the final ballot results, all ballot items received the necessary 2/3 required affirmative votes to pass ballot. (21 eligible to vote - 2 not returned 1 abstention = = 12)

2 NFPA Members Eligible to Vote 2 Ballots Not Returned (Hartzell, Hogan) 17 Affirmative on All (R. Bill w/affirmative comment on one or more proposals as noted in report) 0 Negatives on one or more proposals as noted in report 2 Abstentions on one or more proposals as noted in report (Hirschler, Milke) According to the final ballot results, all ballot items received the necessary 2/3 required affirmative votes to pass ballot. (21 eligible to vote - 2 not returned - 2 abstentions = = 12) NFPA Members Eligible to Vote 2 Ballots Not Returned (Hartzell, Hogan) 13 Affirmative on All (R. McPhee w/affirmative comment on one or more proposals as noted in report) 5 Negatives on one or more proposals as noted in report (Fitch, Lathrop, McPhee, Sumathipala, Thornberry) 1 Abstentions on one or more proposals as noted in report (Milke) K. Sumathipala and R. Thornberry submitted changes in vote during circulation. According to the final ballot results, all ballot items received the necessary 2/3 required affirmative votes to pass ballot. (21 eligible to vote - 2 not returned - 1 abstention = = 12) NFPA Members Eligible to Vote 2 Ballots Not Returned (Hartzell, Hogan) 15 Affirmative on All (M. Hirschler w/affirmative comment on one or more proposals as noted in report) 1 Negatives on one or more proposals as noted in report (McPhee) 3 Abstentions on one or more proposals as noted in report (Beitel, Milke, Thornberry) R. Thornberry changed his vote during circulation. According to the final ballot results, all ballot items received the necessary 2/3 required affirmative votes to pass ballot. (21 eligible to vote - 2 not returned - 3 abstentions = = 11) NFPA Members Eligible to Vote 1 Ballots Not Returned (Hartzell) 18 Affirmative on All (R. Bill w/affirmative comment on one or more proposals as noted in Report) 0 Negatives on one or more proposals as noted in report 2 Abstentions on one or more proposals as noted in report (McPhee, Milke) According to the final ballot results, all ballot items received the necessary 2/3 required

3 affirmative votes to pass ballot. (21 eligible to vote - 1 not returned - 2 abstentions = = 12) Reasons for negative votes, etc. from alternate members are not included unless the ballot from the principal member was not received. The following alternate members submitted votes for their principals; P. Hough for T. Fritz, S. Adams for A. Hogan, and J. Lathrop for W. Koffel. The number of affirmative votes necessary for the ballot to pass balloting is based on the number eligible to vote, minus the not returned and abstentions. Therefore, based on the responses received the final results show that the aforementioned ROP ballots achieved the necessary 2/3 majority needed to pass ballot. R. McPhee and D. Sheppard submitted ballots during circulation. ATTACHMENT: Final Report

4 286-1 Log #1 Revise text to read as follows: This method is intended for the evaluation of the flammability characteristics of wall and ceiling interior finish, other than textile wall coverings, where such materials constitute the exposed interior surfaces of buildings. Codes permit that all materials, including textile wall coverings, be tested using NFPA 286. MCPHEE, R.: I have not had enough time to review all material Log #2 Revise text to read as follows: This fire test method is not intended for the evaluation of fire resistance endurance of assemblies, nor is it intended for the evaluation of the effect of fires that originate within a wall assembly. The term fire endurance is being replaced in all NFPA documents by the preferred term fire resistance. 1

5 286-3 Log #3 Revise text to read as follows: ASTM Publication. American Society for Testing and Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA ASTM C 36, Standard Specification for Gypsum Wallboard, ASTM C 1396/C1396M (2006a), Specification for Gypsum Board The following substrates shall be acceptable: (1) Noncombustible fiber-reinforced silicate board with a dry density of 680 kg/m 3 ± 50 kg/m 3 (42 lb/ft 3 ± 3 lb/ft 3 ), at a thickness of 9 mm to 13 mm ( in. to ½ in.) (2) Noncombustible board with a dry density of 1650 kg/m 3 ± 150 kg/m 3 (103 lb/ft 3 ± 9 lb/ft 3 ), at a thickness of 9 mm to 13 mm ( in. to ½ in.) (3) Ordinary particleboard with a density of 680 kg/m3 ± 50 kg/m 3 (42 lb/ft 3 ± 3 lb/ft 3 ) at normal conditioning atmosphere of 50 ± 5 percent relative humidity and 23 C ± 2 C (73 F ± 4 F) temperature, at a thickness of 9 mm to 13 mm ( in. to ½ in.) (4)* Gypsum wallboard, complying with ASTM C 1396/C1396M, Specification for Gypsum Board ASTM C 36, Standard Specification for Gypsum Wallboard, at a thickness of 12.7 mm to 15.9 mm (½ in. to in.) ASTM C36 has now been withdrawn and has been replaced by ASTM C1396/C1396M. No other change is being made Log #CP4 Technical Committee on Fire Tests, Revise 2.4 to read: NFPA 265, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Coverings on Full Height Panels and Walls, edition. Reference standard updated. 2

6 286-5 Log #4 Add new text to read as follows: Site-fabricated stretch system. A system, fabricated on site and intended for acoustical, tackable or aesthetic purposes, that is comprised of three elements: (a) a frame (constructed of plastic, wood, metal or other material) used to hold fabric in place, (b) a core material (infill, with the correct properties for the application), and (c) an outside layer, comprised of a textile, fabric or vinyl, that is stretched taut and held in place by tension or mechanical fasteners via the frame. This new definition is needed because site-fabricated stretch systems are extensively used as interior finish and could be tested using NFPA 286. In a separate proposal an appropriate mounting method for such systems is being proposed. This definition is taken from ASTM E 2573, which describes a mounting method for site-fabricated stretch systems in the Steiner tunnel Log #CP2 Technical Committee on Fire Tests, Revise to read: The ignition source for the test shall be a gas burner with a nominal 305 mm 305 mm (12 in. 12 in.) porous top surface of refractory material as shown in Figure The refractory material specified in 4.1.1, through which the gas is supplied, shall be either of the following: (1) A nominal 25 mm (nominal 1 in.) thick porous ceramic fiberboard over a 152 mm ± 5 mm (6 in. ± 0.2 in.) plenum (2) A a minimum 102 mm (4 in.) layer of white Ottawa sand used to provide the horizontal surface through which the gas is supplied. Revised to clarify the construction and materials used in the burner. An option no longer used is removed. 3

7 286-7 Log #10 Arthur J. Parker, Hughes Associates, Inc. Delete the following text: The edge of the diffusion surface shall be located 25 mm ± 0.3 mm (1 in. ± 0.1 in.) from the wall Sections and provide conflicting requirements for the placement of the burner with respect to the wall surface. In Section , the burner enclosure is required to be in contact with the walls. In Section , the edge of the diffusion surface is required to be 1 inch from the walls. While the construction of the burner enclosure is not specified anywhere in Section 4.1, most if not all of the testing laboratories construct their burners using sheet steel with a nominal wall thickness of 3/16-inch. With a burner construction using sheet steel, the specifications of and cannot be met. To standardize the testing, it is proposed to delete Section such that the burner is in direct contact with the wall surface being evaluated. 4

8 286-8 Log #6 Revise text to read as follows: 5.7 Wall or Ceiling Covering Materials 5.7.1* Whenever a wall or ceiling covering system uses an adhesive to attach a wall or ceiling covering material, the adhesive specified by the manufacturer shall be used for construction of the test specimen in accordance with the wall or ceiling covering manufacturer application instructions If the wall or ceiling covering system is a factory-produced wall panel, the adhesive shall be the same one used in the manufacture of the factory-produced wall or ceiling panel Wall or Ceiling Coverings Intended to be Applied Directly to a Noncombustible Wall or Ceiling Surface - If the wall or ceiling coverings are intended to be applied directly to a noncombustible wall or ceiling surface, the specimens shall consist of the wall or ceiling covering mounted on a 6 mm (1/4 in.) thick fiber-cement board, complying with ASTM C 1186, Standard Specification for Flat Fiber-Cement Sheets, (Grade II) and passing ASTM E 136, Standard Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750 C Wall or Ceiling Coverings Intended to be Applied over Gypsum Board - If the wall or ceiling coverings are intended to be applied over gypsum board, the specimens shall consist of the wall or ceiling covering mounted on a 16 mm (5/8 in.) thick Type X gypsum board, complying with ASTM C 1396/C 1396M, Specification for Gypsum Board. The gypsum board shall not be required to be mounted on studs Whenever a wall or ceiling covering has been tested using the test specimen described in (over gypsum board), it shall not be required to be additionally tested mounted on a fiber-cement board Wall or Ceiling Coverings Intended to be Applied over a Wood Substrate - If the wall or ceiling coverings are intended to be applied over a wood substrate, the specimens shall consist of the wall or ceiling covering mounted on untreated plywood, with a face veneer of Douglas fir. The plywood shall have the same thickness as the wood substrate used in field practice, and shall comply with NIST Voluntary Product Standard PS 1-07, Structural Plywood. The plywood shall carry a grade stamp indicating that the plywood has been graded PS 1-07 A-B and is for exterior exposure. The plywood shall contain a grade stamp issued by a quality control agency. Alternatively, the plywood shall be permitted to be stamped as conforming to CSA Standard O121 (Douglas fir plywood) Wall or Ceiling Coverings Intended to be Applied over Substrates other than Wood, Gypsum Board or Noncombustible Surfaces - If the wall or ceiling coverings are intended to be applied over substrates other than wood, gypsum board or noncombustible surfaces, the specimens shall consist of the wall or ceiling covering mounted on the substrate to which they are to be applied for actual use according to the adhesive and application technique specified by the manufacturer Wall or Ceiling Coverings Not Intended to be Adhered Directly to a Wall or Ceiling Surface, but Intended to be Otherwise Supported by Framing or a Track System The specimens shall consist of the wall or ceiling covering mounted for test in a manner that is representative of its installation Wall coverings, such as vinyl coatings and wallpaper, shall be mounted using one of the following methods: (1) On gypsum wallboard, as specified in (4) (2) On the actual substrate to which they are to be applied for actual use according to the adhesive and application technique specified by the manufacturer Where a wall or ceiling covering has a distinct directionality, the sample wall or ceiling covering shall be mounted such that the machine direction is vertical, unless the manufacturer indicates that a different method of mounting will be used in actual installations. A It has been shown that the specific adhesive used to secure a specimen can significantly affect the fire performance of a wall or ceiling covering system, and therefore the adhesive utilized should be the same as that intended for actual use. NFPA 286 is now used for code application for all wall coverings. The present section 5.7 is too vague 5

9 and needs to be made more specific and more detailed. This information came from ASTM E 24204, a specimen preparation and mounting practice for vinyl, paper and textile wall coverings in the Steiner tunnel test, ASTM E 84. ASTM E The committee notes that ASTM E is not correct in the substantiation and should be BILL, JR., R.: Section numbering associated with proposal numbers and require renumbering. 6

10 286-9 Log #5 Add new text to read as follows: 5.7* Site-fabricated stretch systems The material is to be tested in the form of panels that are 1.22 m (4 feet) wide and extend the full height of each portion of the wall test specimen (from floor to ceiling) and the full width of each portion of the ceiling test specimen (from wall to wall) Each panel shall be constructed with the frame material on the panel perimeter, the core material, and the textile, fabric or vinyl covering (see 3.3.2). The panel shall have a longitudinal midseam (made from the frame pieces or from a joining piece) running the entire length of the panel. Details of the panel constructions shall follow the manufacturer s instructions and shall be noted in the test report There shall be two panels on the end wall, three on each side wall and three on the ceiling The frames of each panel shall be joined by abutting successive frames along the wall or ceiling and attached to the fire-rated gypsum wallboard (or calcium silicate board) comprising the fire test room inside wall and ceiling surface by using mechanical fasteners. A.5.7 The mounting method is based on the mounting method used for site-fabricated stretch systems in the ASTM E 84 fire test as described in ASTM E It is very important that all components of the system be exposed to the burner flame. Site-fabricated stretch systems are extensively used as interior finish and could be tested using NFPA 286. In a separate proposal a definition for such systems is being proposed. It is important that an appropriate mounting method be added to the test method. The key issue is that each component of the three component system be included in all panels. This means there will be two vertical panels on the back wall, three vertical panels on each side wall and three vertical panels on the ceiling. Accept the proposal with revised A.5.7 to read as follows: A.5.7 The mounting method is based on the mounting method used for site-fabricated stretch systems in both the ASTM E 84 and ANSI/UL 723 fire tests as described in ASTM E It is very important that all components of the system be exposed to the burner flame. The committee action adds a reference to ANSI/UL 723 as an alternative to ASTM E 84. The committee action should meet the submitter's intent. BILL, JR., R.: Section numbering associated with proposal numbers and require renumbering. 7

11 Log #7 Revise text to read as follows: A.1.1 The fire performance of textile wall coverings is addressed specifically in NFPA 265, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Coverings on Full Height Panels and Walls. Further information on testing of textile wall coverings can be found in Fisher et al., Room Fire Tests of Textile Wall Coverings. The fire performance of other all wall covering systems, including textile wall coverings, is addressed in this standard. Some interior finish materials, such as expanded vinyl wall coverings, are required permitted to be tested in the same manner as textile wall coverings by using NFPA 265 (e.g., in NFPA 101, Life Safety Code). Codes permit that all materials, including textile wall coverings, be tested using NFPA 286. Codes permit NFPA 265 to be used for textile wall coverings and for expanded vinyl wall coverings Log #CP5 Technical Committee on Fire Tests, 1. Revise C.1.1 to read: NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, edition. NFPA 265, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Coverings on Full Height Panels and Walls, edition. NFPA 271, Standard Method of Test for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter, edition. 2. Revise C as shown: ASTM E 800, Standard Guide for Measurement of Gases Present or Generated During Fires (Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 4.07), Reference standards in Annex C are updated. 8

12 Log #8 Add Annex C to read as follows: Annex C Acceptance Criteria C1. The acceptance criteria in C2 are used by NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code and the International Building Code and the International Fire Code, issued by the International Code Council. C2.Interior finish materials should be considered as demonstrating satisfactory performance if the following conditions are met: During the 40kWexposure, the interior finish should comply with Item 1. During the 160 kw exposure, the interior finish should comply with Item 2. During the entire test, the interior finish should comply with Items 3 and During the 40kW exposure, flames should not spread to the ceiling. 2. During the 160 kw exposure, the interior finish should comply with the following: 2.1. Flame should not spread to the outer extremity of the sample on any wall or ceiling Flashover should not occur. 3. The peak rate of heat release throughout the test should not exceed 800 kw. 4. The total smoke released throughout the test should not exceed 1,000 m 2. This is being added in order to provide information, similar to what exists in NFPA