ASTM E2231-02

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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An American National Standard
Designation: E 2231 – 02
Standard Practice for
Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Pipe and Duct
Insulation Materials to Assess Surface Burning
Characteristics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2231; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope C 168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulating Materi-
als
1.1 This practice describes procedures for specimen prepa-
E 84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
ration and mounting when testing pipe and duct insulation
Building Materials
materials to assess flame spread and smoke development as
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
surface burning characteristics using Test Method E 84.
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 International System of Units (SI) The
1.2 Testing is conducted with Test Method E 84.
Modernized Metric System
1.3 This practice does not provide pass/fail criteria that can
2.2 UL Standards:
be used as a regulatory tool.
UL 181 Standard for Safety for Factory-Made Air Ducts and
1.4 Use the values stated in inch-pound units as the stan-
Connectors
dard, in referee decisions. The values in the SI system of units
are given in parentheses, for information only; see IEEE/
3. Terminology
ASTM SI-10 for further details.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this prac-
1.5 This fire standard cannot be used to provide quantitative
tice refer to the terminology contained in Terminology E 176.
measures.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.6 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently
3.2.1 composite, n—as related to a pipe or duct insulation,
hazardous, and adequate safeguards for personnel and property
see duct insulation system or pipe insulation system.
shall be employed in conducting these tests. Fire testing
3.2.2 duct, n—as related to heating ventilating, air condi-
involves hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This
tioning or exhaust systems, a passageway made of sheet metal
standard gives instructions on specimen preparation and
or other suitable material used for conveying air or other gases.
mounting, but the fire-test-response method is given in Test
3.2.3 duct insulation system, n—as related to fire testing,
Method E 84. See also Section 8.
system intended to insulate and cover, continuously for an
1.7 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
extended length, the outside surface of a duct; the system shall
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
have an insulation core, with or without a covering or vapor
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered
retarder facing which includes longitudinal closure systems (if
requirements of the standard.
used) and perhaps other duct insulation supplementary mate-
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
rials such as adhesives, fasteners, or tapes (if used).
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.2.3.1 Discussion—Duct system components, including
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tapes, sealants, and fitting covers, that do not cover the duct
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
continuously for an extended length, but which are associated
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
with the duct insulation system are considered separately (see
2. Referenced Documents duct insulation supplementary materials). An extended length
is not intended to imply a length of 25 ft, but a length of at least
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3 ft.
A 390 Specification for Zinc-coated (Galvanized) Steel
3.2.4 duct insulation supplementary materials, n—as re-
Poultry Fence Fabric (Hexagonal and Straight Line)
lated to fire testing, components, including tapes and sealants
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06.
Burning. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
Current edition approved Nov. 10, 2002. Published November 2002. Available from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Corporate Progress, 333
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.06. Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E2231–02
used for transverse joints as well as fitting covers that are 5. Significance and Use
intermittently spaced, as needed, within the duct insulation
5.1 Pipe and duct insulation systems are often evaluated
system, as well as adhesives used to bond the insulation to the
with Test Method E 84 to comply with building or mechanical
duct substrate and that do not cover the duct continuously for
code requirements. This practice describes, in detail, specimen
an extended length.
preparation and mounting procedures for single-component
3.2.5 duct lining, n—material such as an insulation, coating
pipe or duct insulation systems and for multi-component pipe
or film, including adhesive, used to line the inside surface of a
or duct insulation systems.
duct.
5.2 The material, system, composite, or assembly tested
3.2.6 insulation blanket, n—a relatively flat and flexible
shall be representative of the completed insulation system used
insulation in coherent sheet form furnished in units of substan-
6 in actual field installations, in terms of the components,
tial area.
including their respective thicknesses.
3.2.7 pipe, n—as related to heating, ventilating, or air
5.3 Pipe and duct insulation systems consist of a variety of
conditioning systems, a cylindrical conduit for the conveyance
materials and constructions.
of liquids or semi-solids.
3.2.8 pipe insulation system, n—as related to fire testing,
5.4 Some testing laboratories have developed a number of
system intended to insulate and cover, continuously for an
protocols for testing pipe or duct insulation systems which
extended length, the outside surface of a pipe; the system shall
utilize one generic type of materials, all of them with an
have an insulation core, with or without a covering or vapor
insulation core and a jacket. Those protocols are the origin of
retarder facing which includes longitudinal closure systems (if
this practice, which makes them generic, to reduce material
used) and perhaps other pipe insulation supplementary mate-
bias in the standard; they have resulted in the procedures
rials such as adhesives, fasteners, or tapes (if used).
presented in 6.1. The procedures presented in 6.2-6.5 address
3.2.8.1 Discussion—Pipe system components, including
other types of pipe or duct insulation systems.
tapes, sealants, and fitting covers, that do not cover the pipe
5.5 This practice addresses specimen preparation and
continuously for an extended length, but which are associated
mounting of systems of the types described in 5.5.1-5.5.3 and
with the pipe insulation system are considered separately (see
testing of supplementary materials as described in 5.6.
pipe insulation supplementary materials). An extended length
5.5.1 Multi-component systems containing an insulation
is not intended to imply a length of 25 ft, but a length of at least
core and a jacket, with or without adhesive between insulation
3 ft.
core and jacket, not intended to be bonded to a pipe or duct
3.2.9 pipe insulation supplementary materials, n—as re-
substrate. Specimen preparation and mounting for such sys-
lated to fire testing, components, including tapes and sealants
tems is described in 6.1 if they are self-supporting and in 6.2 if
used for transverse joints as well as fitting covers that are
they are not self-supporting.
intermittently spaced, as needed, within the pipe insulation
5.5.2 Single component systems, not intended to be bonded
system, as well as adhesives used to bond the insulation to the
to a pipe or duct substrate. Specimen preparation and mounting
pipe substrate and that do not cover the pipe continuously for
for such systems is described in 6.3 if they are self-supporting
an extended length.
and in 6.4 if they are not self-supporting.
3.2.10 self-supporting specimen, n—a specimen that re-
mains in place by its own structural characteristics both before 5.5.3 Systems intended to be bonded to a pipe or duct
substrate. Specimen preparation and mounting for such sys-
and during the fire test.
tems is described in 6.5.
4. Summary of Practice
5.5.4 Specimen preparation and mounting procedures for
4.1 This practice describes procedures for specimen prepa-
systems not described in this practice shall be added as the
ration and mounting when testing pipe and duct insulation
information becomes available.
materials to assess flame spread and smoke development as
5.6 Supplementary Materials:
surface burning characteristics using Test Method E 84.
5.6.1 It is recognized that supplementary materials for pipe
4.2 Pipe or duct insulation systems (or composites related to
or duct insulation systems are normally able to generate heat,
pipe or duct insulation) consist of an insulation core, with or
flame or smoke. Thus, the fire safety of the entire system
without a jacket, and with or without an adhesive. Pipe or duct
depends, at least to some extent, on the fire performance of
insulation systems shall be tested in accordance with the
supplementary materials. Consequently, the fire-test-response
specimen preparation and mounting procedures described in
characteristics of all supplementary materials shall be assessed
this practice, using Test Method E 84.
to obtain a full assessment of the fire-test-response of the pipe
4.3 Supplementary materials for pipe or duct insulation
or duct insulation system. See Appendix X1.
systems, including tapes, joint sealants, and fitting covers, that
5.6.2 Supplementary materials are often present intermit-
are intermittently spaced, shall be tested for flame spread and
tently spaced, and not for an extended length, in a pipe or duct
smoke development as single-component systems, using Test
insulation system. Thus, it is not always possible to suitably
Method E 84.
test them in conjunction with a pipe or duct insulation system.
5.6.3 Testing of Supplementary Materials—Supplementary
materials that have not been fully tested in conjunction with the
This definition is similar to the definition of “blanket insulation” in Terminol-
ogy C 168 from committee C16 on Thermal Insulation. pipe or duct insulation system, in accordance with Section 6,
E2231–02
FIG. 1 Insulation and Jacket with No Adhesive (see 6.1.1.1)
shall be tested for flame spread and smoke development as 6.1.2.1 In this construction, the insulation board specimens,
single-component systems, in accordance with Test Method 20 to 24 in. (510 to 610 mm) by the appropriate length, shall
E 84. be produced in a flat cross-section with the jacket (facing)
5.7 The limitations for this procedure are those associated adhered to one side of the insulation core (see Fig. 2).
with Test Method E 84. 6.1.2.2 Each test shall be conducted using a factory or field
joint along the longitudinal centerline of the test specimen,
6. Specimen Preparation and Mounting with a longitudinal seam created in the approximate centerline
using the same method of closure used in actual field installa-
6.1 Self-supporting multi-component systems, not intended
tions.
to be bonded to a pipe or duct substrate:
6.1.2.3 It shall be permitted to represent the field joint by
6.1.1 Hollow cylindrical insulation core inside a jacket, with
introducing a longitudinal slit cut along the longitudinal
a longitudinal joint system, to be used without adhesive
centerline of the specimen jacket and applying the manufac-
between jacket and insulation core:
turer’s recommended field closure system (if applicable).
6.1.1.1 In this construction, the insulation board specimens,
6.1.2.4 For each test, mount the specimens on the ledges of
20 to 24 in. (510 to 610 mm) by the appropriate length, shall
the Test Method E 84 furnace without using an auxiliary
be produced in a flat cross-section with the jacket (facing) with
support mechanism.
a seam created at the approximate longitudinal centerline using
6.1.3 Hollow cylindrical insulation core inside a jacket, with
the same method of closure used in actual field installations.
longitudinal adhesive beads or stripes in a stitch pattern
The jacket (facing) shall be mechanically attached to the
attaching the jacket to the insulation core:
insulation core using 0.5 in. (13 mm) divergent point steel
6.1.3.1 In this construction, the insulation board specimens,
flared staples. The staples shall be applied, around the perim-
20 to 24 in. (510 to 610 mm) by the appropriate length, shall
eter of the board, at 6 6 3 in. (152 6 76 mm) on center
be produced in a flat cross-section with the jacket (facing)
spacing, as well as adjacent to and along both sides of the
laminated to one side of the insulation core. The adhesive bead
longitudinal seam, at approximately 1 in. from the seam (see
or stripe spacing shall be the same as used in the actual field
Fig. 1).
installation. Divergent point steel flared staples, 0.5 in. (13
6.1.1.2 Mount the specimens on the ledges of the Test
mm) in size, shall be applied, around the perimeter of the
Method E 84 furnace without using an auxiliary support
board, at 6 6 3 in. (152 6 76 mm) on center spacing, as well
mechanism.
as adjacent to and along both sides of the longitudinal seam, at
6.1.2 Hollow cylindrical insulation core inside a jacket, with
approximately 1 in. from the seam (see Fig. 3).
a full coat adhesive attaching the jacket to the insulation core:
6.1.3.2 For each test, mount the specimens on the ledges of
the Test Method E 84 furnace without using an auxiliary
support mechanism.
The specimen preparation and mounting procedures in 6.1, including poten-
tially slitting the facing or jacket, mirror those used by Underwriters Laboratories,
and described in their documents “BRER GuideInfo—Pipe and Equipment
Coverings—[Building Materials] (Surface Burning Characteristics)” and “BIYR
GuideInfo—Acoustical Materials—[Building Materials] (Surface Burning Charac- This testing is intended to investigate the contribution of all combustibles to the
teristics).” Similar concepts are also used in the testing of Factory-made Air Ducts flame spread and smoke developed by the system to be used in the actual field
and Air Connectors by Test Method E 84 in UL 181. installation.
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