ASTM E2599-22

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: E2599 − 18 E2599 − 22 An American National Standard
Standard Practice for
Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Reflective
Insulation, Radiant Barrier and Vinyl Stretch Ceiling
Materials for Building Applications to Assess Surface
Burning Characteristics
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2599; 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 a procedure for specimen preparation and mounting when testing reflective insulation, radiant barrier
and vinyl stretch ceiling materials to assess flame spread and smoke development as surface burning characteristics using Test
Method E84.
1.2 This practice is for reflective insulation materials and radiant barrier materials intended for mechanical fastening to substrates
or building structural members, or intended to be mounted to a substrate with an adhesive.
1.3 Specimens of reflective insulation materials and radiant barrier materials intended for mechanical fastening shall be prepared
and mounted in accordance with 6.1. Specimens of reflective insulation materials and radiant barrier materials intended to be
mounted to a substrate with an adhesive shall be prepared and mounted in accordance with 6.2. If the reflective insulation material
or sheet radiant barrier material includes manufacturer recommended installation instructions with the option to be installed either
by mechanical attachment or adhered, the insulation material shall be tested by both mounting procedures as outlined in 6.1 and
6.2.
1.4 Specimens of vinyl stretch ceiling materials shall be prepared and mounted in accordance with 6.1.
NOTE 1—Vinyl stretch ceiling materials are mechanically fastened.
1.5 This practice shall apply to reflective insulation materials and radiant barrier materials as defined in Section 3.
1.6 This practice shall apply to reflective plastic core insulation materials as defined in 3.2.3. Reflective plastic core insulation
materials are one specific type of reflective insulation materials.
1.7 This practice shall apply to vinyl stretch ceiling materials as defined in Section 3.
1.8 This practice shall not apply to rigid foam plastics with or without reflective facers.
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, 2018Nov. 1, 2022. Published April 2018November 2022. Originally approved in 2009. Last previous edition approved in 20162018
as E2599-16.E2599-18. DOI: 10.1520/E2599-18.10.1520/E2599-22.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2599 − 22
1.9 This practice shall not apply to site-fabricated stretch systems covered by Practice E2573.
1.10 Testing is conducted in accordance with Test Method E84.
1.11 This practice does not provide pass/fail criteria that can be used as a regulatory tool.
1.12 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.
1.13 This fire standard cannot be used to provide quantitative measures.
1.14 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, operations and equipment. This practice gives
instructions on specimen preparation and mounting but the fire-test-response method is given in Test Method E84. See also Section
8.
1.15 The text of this practice references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered requirements of the standard.
1.16 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.
1.17 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:
C168 Terminology Relating to Thermal Insulation
C1224 Specification for Reflective Insulation for Building Applications
C1313 Specification for Sheet Radiant Barriers for Building Construction Applications
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E2231 Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Pipe and Duct Insulation Materials to Assess Surface Burning
Characteristics
E2573 Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Site-Fabricated Stretch Systems to Assess Surface Burning
Characteristics
IEEE/ASTM SI-10 International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System
2.2 ICC Codes:
International Building Code (2021 edition)
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions: For definitions of terms used in this practice and associated with fire issues, refer to the terminology contained
in Terminologies E176. For definitions of terms used in this practice and associated with thermal insulation issues refer to
Terminology C168.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 radiant barrier, n—a low emittance (0.1 or less) surface used in the construction of a radiant barrier system.
3.2.1.1 Discussion—
Radiant barrier materials are defined in Specification C1313.
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 International Code Council (ICC), 500 New Jersey Ave., NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001, http://www.iccsafe.org.
E2599 − 22
3.2.2 reflective insulation, n—thermal insulation consisting of one or more low emittance surfaces bounding one or more enclosed
air spaces.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—
Reflective insulation materials are defined in Specification C1224.
3.2.3 reflective plastic core insulation, n—an insulation material packaged in rolls, with at least one exterior low emittance surface
(0.1 or less) and a core material containing voids or cells.
3.2.3.1 Discussion—
Reflective plastic core insulation materials are one specific type of reflective insulation materials.
3.2.4 site-fabricated stretch system, n—a system, fabricated on site and intended for acoustical, tackable or aesthetic purposes, that
is comprised of three elements: (a) a frame (constructed of plastic, wood, metal or other material) used to hold fabric in place, (b)
a core material (infill, with the correct properties for the application), and (c) an outside layer, comprised of a textile, fabric or vinyl,
that is stretched taut and held in place by tension or mechanical fasteners via the frame.
3.2.5 vinyl stretch ceiling material, n—a vinyl material stretched and mechanically fastened to a noncombustible frame and
intended to be used as a suspended ceiling without associated backing material.
4. Summary of Practice
4.1 This practice describes a procedure for specimen preparation and mounting when testing reflective insulation, radiant barrier
and vinyl stretch ceiling materials to assess flame spread and smoke development as surface burning characteristics using Test
Method E84.
4.2 Reflective insulation materials and radiant barrier materials intended for mechanical fastening to substrates or building
structural members, or intended to be mounted to a substrate with an adhesive shall be tested in accordance with the specimen
preparation and mounting procedures described in this practice, using Test Method E84.
4.3 Reflective insulation materials and radiant barrier materials intended to be used as pipe and duct insulation materials and
installed without an air gap shall be tested using the specimen installation and mounting procedures described in Practice E2231.
Reflective insulation procedures intended to be used as pipe or duct insulation materials and installed with an air gap shall be tested
using the specimen preparation and mounting procedures described in Section 6 of this practice.
4.4 Vinyl stretch ceiling materials int
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