ASTM E2579-23b

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM 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.
Designation: E2579 − 23a E2579 − 23b An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Wood Products to
Assess Surface Burning Characteristics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2579; 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 practice describes procedures for specimen preparation and mounting when testing wood products to assess flames spread
and smoke development as surface burning characteristics using Test Method E84 or Test Method E2768.
1.1.1 Test Method E2768 uses the same test equipment as Test Method E84.
1.2 This practice applies also to laminated products factory-produced with a wood substrate (see 8.6). This practice does not apply
to wood veneers or facings intended to be applied on site over a wood substrate, which are covered by Practice E2404.
1.3 Testing is conducted with Test Method E84 or with Test Method E2768.
1.4 Testing for the reporting of the moisture content of the test specimen is conducted with Test Methods D4442.
1.5 This practice does not provide pass/fail criteria that can be used as a regulatory tool.
1.6 Units—Use the values stated in inch-pound units as the standard, in referee decisions. The values in the SI system of units are
given in parentheses, for information only; see IEEE/ASTM SI-10 for further details.
1.7 This fire standard cannot be used to provide quantitative measures.
1.8 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory materials. These notes and footnotes shall
not be considered requirements of the standard.
1.9 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently hazardous, and adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be
employed in conducting these tests. Fire testing involves hazardous materials and equipment. This standard gives instructions on
specimen preparation and mounting, but the fire-test-response method is given in Test Method E84, or in Test Method E2768, as
appropriate. See also Section 10.
1.10 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
This practice 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 March 1, 2023Nov. 1, 2023. Published March 2023November 2023. Originally approved in 2007. Last previous edition approved in 2023 as
E2579 – 23.E2579 – 23a. DOI: 10.1520/E2579-23A.10.1520/E2579-23B.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2579 − 23b
1.11 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C1396/C1396M Specification for Gypsum Board
D9 Terminology Relating to Wood and Wood-Based Products
D1038 Terminology Relating to Veneer, Plywood, and Wood Structural Panels
D1554 Terminology Relating to Wood-Base Fiber and Particle Panel Materials
D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measurement of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
D4444 Test Method for Laboratory Standardization and Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters
D7438 Practice for Field Calibration and Application of Hand-Held Moisture Meters
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E2404 Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Textile, Paper or Polymeric (Including Vinyl) and Wood Wall or
Ceiling Coverings, Facings and Veneers, to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics
E2768 Test Method for Extended Duration Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (30 min Tunnel Test)
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
2.2 CSA Standard:
CSA O121 Douglas Fir Plywood
2.3 HPVA Standard:
ANSI/HPVA HP-1 American National Standard for Hardwood and Decorative Plywood
2.4 NIST Standard:
Voluntary Product Standard PS 1 Structural Plywood
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this practice refer to the terminology contained in Terminologies E176, D9,
D1038, D1554, and ANSI/HPVA HP-1.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 This practice describes procedures for specimen preparation, mounting, and reporting, when testing wood products to assess
flame spread and smoke development as surface burning characteristics using Test Method E84.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The surface burning characteristics of wood products are often evaluated with Test Method E84 to comply with code
requirements. This practice describes specimen preparation and mounting procedures for such materials and systems.
5.2 If it can be demonstrated that none of the methods described in this practice are applicable to a particular wood product, other
mounting methods shall be permitted to be used. This information shall be included in the report.
5.3 The limitations for this procedure are those associated with Test Method E84.
6. Conditioning
6.1 The test specimens shall be conditioned as described in the section on specimen conditioning in Test Method E84.
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 Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from Canadian Standards Association (CSA), 178 Rexdale Blvd., Toronto, ON Canada M9W 1R3.
Available from the Decorative Hardwoods Association, 42777 Trade West Dr, Sterling, VA 20166, www.decorativehardwoods.org.
Available from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Dr., Stop 3460, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-3460.
E2579 − 23b
7. Test Specimens
7.1 The test specimen sizes shall comply with those described in the test specimen section of Test Method E84. The test specimens
shall be butted against the vent end of the fire test chamber and shall consist of a continuous, unbroken length, or of sections joined
or butted end-to-end. The test specimens shall have a width of 20 to 24 in. (510 to 610 mm), a length of 24 ft + 12 in. – 6 in. (7.32
m + 305 mm – 152 mm) and a maximum thickness of 4 in. (101 mm).
7.2 Wood product test specimens shall be prepared as described in Section 8.
8. Test Specimen Preparation
8.1 General:
8.1.1 Wood products shall be representative of the materials which the test is intended to examine.
8.1.2 The preparation of test specimens of wood products treated by pressure impregnation or by other means shall be identical
to that specified for untreated wood products.
8.1.3 Test specimens for wood products shall be prepared as required by 8.1.3.1 – 8.1.3.7.
8.1.3.1 Test specimens for Panel Products with Sufficient Structural Integrity to Support Themselves shall comply with 8.3.
8.1.3.2 Test specimens for Wood Veneers and Panel Products with Insufficient Structural Integrity to Support Themselves shall
comply with 8.4.
8.1.3.3 Test specimens for Wood Veneers and Panel Products Intended to be Applied over Gypsum Board shall comply with 8.5.
8.1.3.4 Test specimens for Laminated Products Factory-Produced with a Wood Substrate shall comply with 8.6.
8.1.3.5 Test specimens for Wood Veneers or Facings Intended to be Applied on Site over a Wood Substrate shall comply with 8.7.
8.1.3.6 Test specimens for Wood Shingles and Shakes shall comply with 8.8.
8.1.3.7 Test specimens for all other wood products shall comply with 8.2.
8.2 Wood Products Not Required to Comply With 8.1.3.1 – 8.1.3.6:
8.2.1 General construction outline for decks made of wood products not covered in 8.3 through 8.8 is shown in Fig. 1.
8.2.2 The thickness of the test material pieces shall be representative of the material which the test is intended to examine.
FIG. 1 General Construction Outline for Decks Made of Wood Products Covered in 8.2
E2579 − 23b
8.2.3 Batten strips shall be nominal 2 by ⁄16 in. (51 by 5 mm) 5 mm) and shall be constructed of metal.
8.2.4 Use either cement coated nails or No. 8, 10 or 12 wood screws, two per wood piece per batten, and of sufficient length to
penetrate through the battens and not less than 75 % of the test material.
8.2.5 For outside edges, use the longest available wood product strips. If shorter than 96 in. (2.44 m), use 6 in. (152 mm) (152 mm)
long batten strips. Do not use wood product strips less than 24 in. (610 mm) 24 in. (610 mm) long on outside edges.
8.2.6 Allow 6 in. (152 mm) minimum distance between other joints on adjacent wood product strips.
8.2.7 While fastening with nails or screws, use cabinet clamps or other suitable means to ensure there are no cracks, or gaps
between the wood product strips in the deck surface.
8.2.8 Mount the specimens on the ledges of the Test Method E84 furnace without using additional means of support.
8.3 Panel Products with Suffıcient Structural Integrity to Support Themselves:
8.3.1 Panel products with sufficient structural integrity to support themselves shall be cut to the width of the fire test chamber,
butted end-to-end, and mounted on the ledges of the Test Method E84 furnace without using additional means of support.
8.3.2 Panel products ⁄4 in. (6.3 mm) or less in thickness not intended to be applied over gypsum board or a wood substrate shall
be cut to the width of the fire test chamber, butted end-to-end, and mounted on the ledges of the Test Method E84 furnace without
additional means of support if they have sufficient integrity to support themselves within the test chamber without sagging ⁄16 in.
(1.5 mm) or more when measured at the centre-line of the test chamber.
8.4 Wood Veneers and Panel Products with Insuffıcient Structural Integrity to Support Themselves:
8.4.1 Wood veneers and panel products with insufficient structural integrity to support themselves shall be cut to the width of the
fire test chamber, butted end-to-end and supported within the fire test chamber by steel rods not more than ⁄8 in. (3 mm) in diameter
spanning the width of the tunnel. The rods shall be placed approximately 2 in. (51-mm)(51 mm) from each end of each panel and
at approximately 24 in. (610 mm) intervals starting with the fire end of each panel.
8.4.2 Wood veneers and panel products ⁄8 in. (3 mm) or less in thickness not intended to be applied over gypsum board or a w
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