ASTM F964-13(2019)

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.
Designation:F964 −13 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Specification for
Rigid Poly (Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Exterior Profiles Used for
Fencing and Railing
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF964;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This specification establishes requirements for the ma- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
terialpropertiesandphysicalproperties,includingdimensional D618Practice for Conditioning Plastics for Testing
tolerances, extrusion quality, and weatherability, of rigid poly D635Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and
vinyl-chloride (PVC) exterior profiles used for agricultural, Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position
commercial, residential fencing and railing. Methods for test- D696TestMethodforCoefficientofLinearThermalExpan-
ing and for identifying exterior profile extrusions that comply sion of Plastics Between −30°C and 30°C with a Vitreous
with this specification are also provided. Silica Dilatometer
D883Terminology Relating to Plastics
NOTE 1—Information with regard to application, assembly, and instal-
D1435Practice for Outdoor Weathering of Plastics
lation should be obtained from the manufacturer or in accordance with
D1600TerminologyforAbbreviatedTermsRelatingtoPlas-
Practice F1999, or both.
NOTE 2—Loadbearing characteristics for fence and railing assemblies
tics
are not addressed within this specification (for example, windload,
D1898Practice for Sampling of Plastics (Withdrawn 1998)
horizontal or vertical guardrail loading).
D2565Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics In-
1.2 The material used in these exterior profiles is limited to
tended for Outdoor Applications
rigid poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) compounds in a single
D4216Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC)
homogeneous extrusion or in a coextrusion of two or more
and Related PVC and Chlorinated Poly(Vinyl Chloride)
PVC compounds in distinct layers.
(CPVC) Building Products Compounds
D4226Test Methods for Impact Resistance of Rigid Poly-
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC) Building Products
as the standard. The values in parentheses are provided for
D4726Specification for Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chloride) (PVC)
information only.
Exterior-Profile Extrusions Used forAssembled Windows
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
and Doors
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
F1999Practice for Installation of Rigid Poly(Vinyl Chlo-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ride) (PVC) Fence Systems
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
G154Practice for Operating Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV)
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
Lamp Apparatus for Exposure of Nonmetallic Materials
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3. Terminology
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3.1 General—DefinitionsareinaccordancewithTerminolo-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
gies D883 and D1600, unless otherwise indicated.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1 2
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F14 on Fences For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F14.30 on Rigid Polymer Fence contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Systems. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved May 1, 2019. Published June 2019. Originally the ASTM website.
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as F964–13. DOI: The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
10.1520/F0964-13R19. www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F964−13 (2019)
3.2.1 capstock—the outer layer in a coextrusion exposed to Compounds that have higher cell classification because one or
weathering. morepropertiesaresuperiortothoseinthespecifiedcompound
are acceptable.
3.2.2 coextrusion—the process of coextruding profiles from
two or more concentric streams of PVC compounds. 5.3 Color—Thecoloroftheprofilesshallbeasagreedupon
between the purchaser and the seller. The color specified shall
NOTE 3—Separate PVC materials may be coextruded to form a
be uniform throughout a single material extrusion or through-
multi-layered profile with each layer having different physical character-
out the capstock layer of a coextruded profile for profiles
istics such as strength and weathering.
intended to be of uniform color.
3.2.3 color-hold guidelines—predictive target color regions
within a three-dimensional model which constitute acceptable 5.4 The extruded profiles shall be free from visible cracks,
voids, or foreign inclusions.
appearance retention levels of color change resulting from
weathering of specific product type and color.
5.5 The PVC compound, when tested in accordance with
Test Method D635, shall not exceed an average extent of burn
NOTE4—Commercialproductswhichdemonstrateweatheringbehavior
within reasonable conformance to these target guidelines during a 2–year of 4 in. (100 mm), with an average time of burn not to exceed
test period can be anticipated to weather without exhibiting unacceptable
10 s.Asample thickness of 0.090 6 0.009 in. (2.3 6 0.2 mm)
color changes during the service life of the product.
shall be used.
3.2.4 longitudinal bow—refers to bow along the span. Lon-
NOTE 5—The flammability testing data, conclusions, and recommen-
gitude is measured along the span.
dations of Test Method D635 relate solely to the measurement and
descriptionofthepropertiesofmaterials,products,orsystemsinresponse
3.2.5 reworked material—material from the manufacturer’s
toheatandflameundercontrolledlaboratoryconditionsandshouldnotbe
facility of known, compatible composition meeting the mate-
used for the description or appraisal of the fire hazard of materials,
rial requirement of this specification that has been reground,
products, or systems under actual fire conditions.
pelletized, or solvated after having been previously processed
NOTE 6—No recycled (post consumer waste) may be used in the
by molding, extrusion, and so forth. production of fence profiles.
5.6 Reworked Material—Clean reworked material may be
3.2.6 single layer profile—profiles extruded from a single
used, provided that the fence profiles produced in whole or in
PVC compound. Weathering and other physical characteristics
part from the reworked materials meet all of the requirements
are uniform throughout the profile.
of this specification.
3.2.7 substrate—inner layer(s) of a coextrusion not exposed
5.7 The PVC compound in extruded section shall maintain
to weathering.
uniform color and be free of any visual surface or structural
3.2.8 temperate northern climate—in weather testing, a
changes,suchaspeeling,chipping,cracking,flaking,orpitting
North American metropolitan area testing site located within
after weathering for six months and one year for white and for
73 to 100° W longitude and 37 to 45° N latitude.
six months, one year, and two years for all other colors in hot,
dry climate such as Phoenix,AZ; a hot humid climate, such as
4. Significance and Use
Miami, FL; and a temperate northern climate, when tested in
4.1 The purpose of this specification is to establish a
accordance with 7.1.1 – 7.1.4.
recognized standard of quality for rigid poly vinyl chloride
5.8 The PVC compound shall have a minimum impact
(PVC) exterior profiles for use in assembling agricultural,
resistance of 0.6 in.-lb/mil (2670 J/m) after weathering six
commercial, and residential fencing and railing. The term
monthsandoneyearinahot,dryclimatesuchasPhoenix,AZ;
“PVCfence”referstocompletefencingandrailingssystemsin
a hot, humid climate, such as Miami, FL; and a temperate
which the primary structural members such as posts, rails,
northernclimate,whentestedinaccordancewith7.1.1–7.1.4.
spindles, pickets, and gates are made from PVC exterior
5.9 The PVC compound shall have successfully met the
profiles. Accessory components (not included in this
weathering requirements prescribed in 5.7 and 5.8 for six
specification), including bolts, screws, hinges, latches, caps,
months at each climatic testing site prior to use in production
and brackets, may be made from PVC or non-PVC materials,
of exterior-profile extrusions, when tested in accordance with
or both. The information contained in this specification is
7.1.1 – 7.1.4.
intended to be helpful to producers, distributors, and users and
NOTE 7—The six-month test requirement constitutes a screening
to promote understanding between purchasers and sellers.
process to eliminate catastrophic failure.
5. Materials and Manufacture
6. Physical Requirements
5.1 The rigid poly vinyl chloride (PVC) compound for
6.1 Length, Height, and Width—The specified length,
exterior-profile extrusions meeting the requirements of this
height, and width of the fencing profiles shall be as agreed
specification are categorized by the cell class requirements in
upon between the purchaser and the seller, or by established
accordance with Specification D4216.
internal process control standards. The actual length shall be
5.2 ThePVCcompoundsusedfortheproductsmeetingthis within 6 ⁄4 in. (6.4 mm) of the specified length and the actual
specification shall meet a minimum cell class of 1-20233-23 height and width shall be within ⁄16 in. (1.6 mm) of the
for PVC profiles and 3-20233-23 for PVC substrate with specified height and width when measured in accordance with
alernate capstock materials as defined in Specification D4216. 8.4 and 8.5.
F964−13 (2019)
TABLE 1 Allowable Bow for Common Length Extrusions as
6.2 Weight Tolerance—Profile extrusion weight shall not be
Measured per 8.7
more than 10% below the specified profile weight indicated in
Profile Length Allowable Bow per Piece
the manufacturer’s specifications.
72 in. 0.141 in.
96 in. 0.250 in.
6.3 Impact Resistance—All profiles are to be tested in
144 in. 0.563 in.
accordance with Test Methods D4226, Procedure “B,” using
192 in. 1.000 in.
impactorC.125.Flatsectionsoftheprofileextrusionshallhave
240 in. 1.563 in.
a minimum impact failure of 1.5 in. lb/mil (6675 J/m).
6.4 Longitudinal Bow—The maximum longitudinal bow
allowable shall be calculated using the following formula:
6.6 Coeffıcient of Linear Expansion—The fencing profiles
2 2
shall have a coefficient of linear expansion not greater than 4.4
=
B 5 4608.125 2 ~4608.125 2 ~0.5 l! !
−5 −5
×10 in./in. · °F (7.9 × 10 mm/mm · °C) when tested in
where
accordance with Test Method D696.
B = longitudinal bow
NOTE 10—Expansion and contraction of the fence profile lengths must
r = radius of bow circle
be taken in consideration in the design of the fencing system.
l = length of extruded profile
6.7 Thickness of PVC Capstock—PVC extruded profiles
NOTE 8—The Longitudinal Bow formula was derived from the Py-
produced by coextrusion, which contain two or more layers,
thagoreanTheoremusingarighttriangleinscribedwithinacirclewiththe
shall have an outer layer (capstock) that is no less than
radius equivilant to the arc formed by a 96 in. line with a 0.25 in. bow at
0.010in. (0.25mm) thick at any point on all surfaces exposed
the center of the line. See Fig. 1 for more detail.
to UV rays upon completed installation.
6.8 Bond—For PVC profiles produced by coextrusion, the
bond between the layers shall be strong and uniform. It shall
notbepossibletoseparateanytwolayerswithaprobeorpoint
of a knife blade so that the layers separate at any point.
7. Performance Requirements
7.1 Weathering
7.1.1 The exposures listed in Table 2 shall be conducted in
order to meet the requirements of this specification. All
exposures shall be conducted at an angle of 45 degrees South,
plywood backed, in accordance with Practice D1435.
7.1.2 After six months and one year exposure times, the
minimum mean impact for 20 measurements conducted on the
2 2 2
Pythagorean Theorem — a 1b 5c
exposedspecimensshallbeatleast0.6in.lb/mil(2670J/m)in
The length of “a” is calculated using Pythagorean Theorem
accordance with 8.9.
2 2 2
a 1b 5c
7.1.3 After each exposure time, the tested specimens shall
2 2 2
a 5c 2b
maintain a uniform color and be free of any visual surface or
a5c2 sc 2 bd
œ
The Longitudinal Bow is calculated by the diagram above by: structural changes such as peeling, chipping, cracking, flaking,
and pitting when tested in accordance with Practice D1435.
2 2
B5c2 sc 2 b d
l œ
7.1.4 Weatherability conformance testing requirements are
or simplified to convential terms where
to reflect performance of a “typical” extrusion system profile
B = longitudinal bow
l
representingaspecificPVCcompoundandaspecificextrusion
r = radius of bow circle (“c”)
techno
...