ASTM E84-23d

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: E84 − 23d An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
1
Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E84; 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* developed index are reported. However, there is not necessarily
a relationship between these two measurements.
1.1 This fire-test-response standard for the comparative
surface burning behavior of building materials is applicable to
1.4 The use of supporting materials on the underside of the
exposed surfaces such as walls and ceilings. The test is
test specimen has the ability to lower the flame spread index
conducted with the specimen in the ceiling position with the
from those which might be obtained if the specimen could be
surface to be evaluated exposed face down to the ignition
tested without such support. These test results do not neces-
source. The material, product, or assembly shall be capable of
sarily relate to indices obtained by testing materials without
being mounted in the test position during the test. Thus, the
such support.
specimen shall either be self-supporting by its own structural
1.5 Testing of materials that melt, drip, or delaminate to
quality, held in place by added supports along the test surface,
such a degree that the continuity of the flame front is destroyed,
or secured from the back side.
results in low flame spread indices that do not relate directly to
1.2 Test Method E84 is a 10-min fire-test response method.
indices obtained by testing materials that remain in place.
The following standards address testing of materials in accor-
1.6 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be
dance with test methods that are applications or variations of
regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are
the test method or apparatus used for Test Method E84:
mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for
1.2.1 Materials required by the user to meet an extended
information only and are not considered standard.
30-min duration tunnel test shall be tested in accordance with
Test Method E2768. 1.7 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
1.2.2 Wires and cables for use in air-handling spaces shall
that provide explanatory information. These notes and
be tested in accordance with NFPA 262. footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
1.2.3 Pneumatic tubing for control systems shall be tested in
considered as requirements of the standard.
accordance with UL 1820.
1.8 This standard is used to measure and describe the
1.2.4 Combustible sprinkler piping shall be tested in accor-
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
dance with UL 1887.
flame under controlled conditions, but does not by itself
1.2.5 Optical fiber and communications raceways for use in
incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk
air handling spaces shall be tested in accordance with UL 2024.
assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under
actual fire conditions.
NOTE 1—Annex A13 includes additional information describing a
standard other than those listed in this section that also utilizes a
1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
modification of the apparatus used for Test Method E84.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.3 The purpose of this test method is to determine the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
relative burning behavior of the material by observing the
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
flame spread along the specimen. Flame spread and smoke
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.10 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
1
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface conducting these tests.
Burning.
1.11 This international standard was developed in accor-
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2023. Published January 2024. Originally
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
approved in 1950. Last previous edition approved in 2023 as E84 – 23c. DOI:
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
10.1520/E0084-2
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