ASTM C553-13(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:C553 −13 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Specification for
Mineral Fiber Blanket Thermal Insulation for Commercial
and Industrial Applications
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C553; 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.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.1 Thisspecificationcoverstheclassification,composition,
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
physical properties, and dimensions of mineral fiber (rock,
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
slag, or glass) blanket intended for use as thermal insulation on
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
surfaces operating at temperatures between 0°F (–18°C) and
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1200°F (649°C). For specific applications, the actual tempera-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
ture limits shall be agreed upon between the supplier and the
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
purchaser.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 The orientation of the fibers within the blanket is
primarily parallel to the principal surface (face). This specifi-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
cation does not cover fabricated pipe and tank wrap insulation
C167 Test Methods for Thickness and Density of Blanket or
where the insulation has been cut and fabricated to provide a
Batt Thermal Insulations
fiber orientation that is perpendicular to the surface (face).
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
C177 Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measure-
1.3 For satisfactory performance, properly installed protec-
ments and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of
tivevaporretardersmustbeusedinbelowambienttemperature
the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus
applications to reduce movement of water vapor through or
C390 Practice for Sampling and Acceptance of Thermal
around the insulation towards the colder surface. Failure to use
Insulation Lots
a vapor retarder can lead to insulation and system damage.
C411 Test Method for Hot-Surface Performance of High-
Refer to Practice C921 to aid material selection. Although
Temperature Thermal Insulation
vapor retarders are not part of this specification, properties
C447 Practice for Estimating the Maximum Use Tempera-
required in Specification C1136 are pertinent to application or
ture of Thermal Insulations
performance.
C518 Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission
1.4 This standard does not purport to provide the perfor-
Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus
mance requirements of hourly-rated fire systems. Consult the
C665 Specification for Mineral-Fiber Blanket Thermal Insu-
manufacturer for the appropriate system.
lation for Light Frame Construction and Manufactured
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded Housing
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical C680 Practice for Estimate of the Heat Gain or Loss and the
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only Surface Temperatures of Insulated Flat, Cylindrical, and
and are not considered standard. Spherical Systems by Use of Computer Programs
C795 Specification for Thermal Insulation for Use in Con-
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tact with Austenitic Stainless Steel
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
C921 Practice for Determining the Properties of Jacketing
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Materials for Thermal Insulation
C1045 Practice for Calculating Thermal Transmission Prop-
erties Under Steady-State Conditions
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C16 on
Thermal Insulation and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C16.23 on
Blanket and Loose Fill Insulation. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2019. Published October 2019. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1964. Last previous edition approved 2013 as C553 – 13. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/C0553-13R19. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C553−13 (2019)
A
TABLE 1 Physical Property Requirements
Properties Type I Type II Type III Type IV Type V Type VI Type VII
Maximum Use Temperature °F (°C) Up to 450 Up to 450 Up to 450 Up to 850 Up to 1000 Up to 1000 Up to 1200
See Paragraph 6.2.1 - Note 1 (232) (232) (232) (454) (538) (538) (649)
Apparent Thermal Conductivity
Max. Btu·in./h·ft ·°F (W/m·K)
Mean Temperatures
°F (°C)
25 (-4) 0.35 (0.051) 0.30 (0.043) 0.25 (0.036) 0.24 (0.035) 0.30 (0.043) 0.25 (0.036) 0.24 (0.035)
75 (24) 0.36 (0.052) 0.31 (0.045) 0.26 (0.038) 0.25 (0.036) 0.31 (0.045) 0.26 (0.038) 0.25 (0.036)
100 (38) 0.39 (0.056) 0.33 (0.048) 0.28 (0.040) 0.27 (0.039) 0.33 (0.048) 0.28 (0.040) 0.27 (0.039)
200 (93) 0.55 (0.079) 0.44 (0.063) 0.36 (0.052) 0.34 (0.049) 0.44 (0.063) 0.36 (0.052) 0.34 (0.049)
300 (149) 0.76 (0.110) 0.60 (0.087) 0.46 (0.066) 0.43 (0.062) 0.60 (0.087) 0.46 (0.066) 0.43 (0.062)
400 (204) 0.55 (0.079) 0.89 (0.128) 0.60 (0.087) 0.55 (0.079)
500 (260) 0.70 (0.101) 1.10 (0.159) 0.80 (0.115) 0.70 (0.101)
600 (316) 1.50 (0.216) 1.05 (0.151) 0.89 (0.128)
700 (371) 1.13 (0.163)
B
Water Vapor Sorption 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
% by Weight, max
Surface Burning Characteristics
Flame Spread Index, max 25 25 25 25 25 25 25
Smoke Developed Index, max 50 50 50 50 50 50 50
A
Additional physical property requirements, refer to Section 7.
B
It is possible that water sorption characteristics will change after the product is subject to elevated temperatures within normal service conditions.
C1058 Practice for Selecting Temperatures for Evaluating 3.2.2 shot—shot is defined, for the purposes of this
and Reporting Thermal Properties of Thermal Insulation document, as that material which cannot be brushed or me-
C1101/C1101M Test Methods for Classifying the Flexibility chanically shaken through No. 100 (150µm) sieve.
or Rigidity of Mineral Fiber Blanket and Board Insulation
C1104/C1104M Test Method for Determining the Water 4. Classification
Vapor Sorption of Unfaced Mineral Fiber Insulation
4.1 Mineral fiber blanket insulation covered by this speci-
C1114 Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission
fication shall be classified into seven types shown in Table 1.
Properties by Means of the Thin-Heater Apparatus
The classification is based upon the maximum use temperature
C1136 Specification for Flexible, Low Permeance Vapor
and apparent thermal conductivity of the insulations.
Retarders for Thermal Insulation
C1304 Test Method for Assessing the Odor Emission of
5. Ordering Information
Thermal Insulation Materials
5.1 The type, dimensions, maximum use temperature, and
C1335 Test Method for Measuring Non-Fibrous Content of
facing shall be specified by the purchaser. A product certifica-
Man-Made Rock and Slag Mineral Fiber Insulation
tion (if required) shall be specified in the purchase order.
C1338 Test Method for Determining Fungi Resistance of
Insulation Materials and Facings
6. Materials and Manufacture
C1617 Practice for Quantitative Accelerated Laboratory
Evaluation of Extraction Solutions Containing Ions
6.1 Composition—Mineral fiber blanket insulation shall be
Leached from Thermal Insulation on Aqueous Corrosion
composed of rock, slag, or glass processed from the molten
of Metals
state into fibrous form bonded with an organic or inorganic
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of
binder, or both. Asbestos shall not be used as an ingredient or
Building Materials
component part of the product.
2.2 Other Referenced Documents:
6.2 Facings:
CAN/ULC-S102 Standard Method ofTest for Surface Burn-
3 6.2.1 The purchaser shall specify whether the insulation
ing Characteristics of Building Materials andAssemblies
shall be supplied plain or with facing, and if faced, shall
specify the type and its requirements.
3. Terminology
NOTE1—Theuserofthisspecificationisadvisedthatthemaximumuse
3.1 Definitions—For definitions used in this specification,
temperature of facing and adhesives may be lower than the maximum use
refer to Terminology C168.
temperature of the insulation. The user of this specification shall ensure
that sufficient insulation thickness is installed so that none of these
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
accessory items (facings and adhesives) are exposed to temperatures
3.2.1 mean temperature—the sum of the cold surface tem-
above their maximum use temperature. Practice C680 can be used to
perature and the hot surface temperature divided by two.
determine surface temperatures.
6.2.2 The vapor retarder facings shall be in accordance with
3 specification C1136.
Available from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), 2600 N.W. Lake Rd., Camas,
WA 98607-8542, http://www.ul.com. 6.2.3 Typical facing is as follows (others are available):
C553−13 (2019)
A
TABLE 2 Sizes and Tolerances
6.2.3.1 Aluminum foil, reinforced fiber glass scrim, and
Mineral Fiber Blanket
natural (brown) kraft paper laminate (facing) is known as FRK
Sizes Tolerances
or FSK,
Length
Rolls 50 ft. (15 m) −0 in., excess permitted
6.2.3.2 White kraft paper, reinforced fiber glass scrim, and
75 ft. (23 m)
aluminum foil laminate (facing) is known as ASJ (All Service
100 ft. (30 m)
Jacket),
150 ft. (48 m)
200 ft. (61 m)
6.2.3.3 Aluminum foil, reinforced fiber glass scrim, and
Blanket 24 in. (610 mm) ± ⁄2 in. (12.7 mm)
plastic film (example: polyethylene) laminate (facing) is
36 in. (914 mm)
48 in. (1219 mm)
known as FSP (Foil - Scrim - Polyethylene),
96 in. (2438 mm)
6.2.3.4 Aluminum foil, and
Width
Rolls 24 in. (610 mm) ± ⁄2 in. (12.7 mm)
6.2.3.5 Vinyl film.
48 in. (1219 mm)
96 in. (2438 mm)
7. Physical Property Requirements
Blanket 12 in. (305 mm) ± ⁄2 in. (12.7 mm)
24 in. (610 mm)
7.1 Theinsulationshallbeclassifiedasflexible,whentested
36 in. (914 mm)
48 in. (1219 mm)
in accordance with 11.7.
Thickness
1 in. (25.4 mm) to 6 in. (152 − ⁄8 in. (3.2 mm) excess
7.2 The insulation type shall conform to the following
mm) in ⁄2 in. (12.7 mm) permitted
requirements in Table 1:
increments
7.2.1 Apparent Thermal Conductivity—Test in accordance A
Other sizes available upon request.
with 11.2.
7.2.2 Maximum Use Temperature—Test in accordance with
...