ASTM E136: Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C
Standard: ASTM E136 - Standard Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C
Certification Required: The International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) prescribes this test for materials that are required to be non-combustible. In order to provide third-party assurance of a material's non-combustibility, manufacturers may find it beneficial to obtain an Intertek certification (ETL Mark) or have this standard referenced in a Code Compliance Research Report (CCRR) by Intertek.
Scope: Per ASTM E136, "this test method uses a furnace to expose building materials to a temperature of 750°C (1382°F) until failure occurs or for at least 30 minutes… While actual building fire exposure conditions are not duplicated, this test method will assist in indicating those materials which do not act to aid combustion or add appreciable heat to an ambient fire."
Applicable Products: Any material, to show non-combustibility.
Test Procedure: Test specimens are conditioned in an oven set at 60°C for 24 hours prior to testing. The specimen are then instrumented with two thermocouples: one is placed on the outside surface and the other is placed inside the center of the specimen. After instrumentation, the specimen is placed into a vertical furnace consisting of an enclosed refractory tube surrounded by a heating coil with a cone-shaped airflow stabilizer. The furnace is set at 750°C and specimens are exposed for 30 minutes.
End Result: The material is considered to pass if 3 of 4 test specimens meet the requirements for weight loss, temperature rise, and flaming.
Special Notes: (None)
Intertek Testing Locations: York, PA; Middleton, WI; Coquitlam, BC
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