Significance and Use

Building products made with caulks and sealants are often used for applications for which Test Method E84 is used for compliance with building, life safety code or mechanical code requirements. This practice describes, in detail, specimen mounting procedures for those caulks and sealants which are not able to be supported by their own structural characteristics during the test.

Codes are often silent with regard to testing caulks and sealants for the assessment of flame spread and smoke development as surface burning characteristics. This practice describes specimen preparation and mounting procedures for such materials and products.

The material shall be representative of the materials used in actual field installations.

The limitations for this procedure are those associated with Test Method E84 .

1. Scope

1.1 This practice describes procedures for specimen preparation and mounting when testing caulks and sealants intended to be applied up to 8 in. (203.2 mm) in width to assess flame spread and smoke development as surface burning characteristics using Test Method E84 . Caulks and sealants intended to be applied in excess of 8 in. (203.2 mm) are to be tested applied to a substrate so as to completely cover the substrate in a full tunnel width application of Test Method E84 .

1.2 This practice applies to caulks and sealants intended for various uses within buildings. The caulks and sealants addressed in this practice are not able to be supported by their own structural characteristics during the test unless they are applied to a substrate.

1.3 Testing is conducted in accordance with Test Method E84 .

1.4 This practice does not provide pass/fail criteria that can be used as a regulatory tool.

1.5 This practice does not apply to materials for which the test specimen does not remain in place before and during the test until maximum flame propagation has occurred.

1.6 This practice is not for system evaluation. It is for the comparison of the materials only.

1.7 The results obtained by using this mounting procedure are confined to the materials themselves as tested and are not comparable to those obtained with materials that are tested in a full tunnel width application.

1.8 This fire standard cannot be used to provide quantitative measures.

1.9 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests.

1.10 This standard gives instructions on specimen preparation and mounting, but the fire-test-response method is given in Test Method E84 . See also Section 9.

1.11 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes shall not be considered requirements of the standard.

1.12 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.

1.13 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.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

C717 Terminology of Building Seals and Sealants

E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials

E176 Terminology of Fire Standards

Keywords

caulk; fire; fire test; flame spread; plastic; sealants; smoke developed;Caulking compounds and sealants; Fire testing; Flame spread; Smoke development; Surface burning characteristics;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.220.50 (Fire-resistance of building materials and elements); 91.100.50 (Binders. Sealing materials)

DOI: 10.1520/E2690-10E02

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM E2690