ASTM E3048-22a

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Designation: E3048 − 22 E3048 − 22a An American National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Determination of Time to Burn-Through Using the
Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL) Radiant Panel
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E3048; 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 fire-test-response test method assesses the response of materials, products, and assemblies to controlled levels of heat flux
with an external igniter.
1.2 The fire-test-response characteristics determined by this test method include the ignitability and time to burn-through of
materials, products, and assemblies under well ventilated conditions.
1.3 Heat, smoke, and mass loss rate are not within the scope of this test method, but are addressed by Test Method E1623.
1.3.1 This test method uses the same burner as that described in Test Method E1623. Two burner types are described (Burner A
and Burner B).
1.4 Specimens are exposed to a constant heat flux up to 50 50 kW kW/m⁄m in a vertical orientation. Hot wires are used to ignite
the combustible vapors from the specimen.
1.5 This test method has been developed for evaluations, design, or research and development of materials, products, or
assemblies, or for code compliance. The specimen shall be tested in thicknesses and configurations representative of actual end
product or system uses.
1.6 Limitations of the test method are listed in 5.7.
1.7 This test method is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
controlled conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the materials,
products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
1.8 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these
tests.
1.9 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.21 on Smoke and Combustion
Products.
Current edition approved April 1, 2022Nov. 1, 2022. Published May 2022November 2022. Originally approved in 2016. Last previous edition approved in 20192022 as
E3048-19a.-22. DOI: 10.1520/E3048-22.10.1520/E3048-22A.
*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
E3048 − 22a
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. Specific information about hazards is given in Section 7.
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:
E119 Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
E603 Guide for Room Fire Experiments
E906/E906M Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using a Thermopile Method
E1354 Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption
Calorimeter
E1623 Test Method for Determination of Fire and Thermal Parameters of Materials, Products, and Systems Using an
Intermediate Scale Calorimeter (ICAL)
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 For definitions of terms used in this test method, refer to Terminology E176.
3.1.2 heat flux, n—heat transfer to a surface per unit area, per unit time (see also initial test heat flux).
3.1.2.1 Discussion—
The heat flux from an energy source, such as a radiant heater, can be measured at the initiation of a test (such as Test Method
E1354, E1623, or E906/E906M) and then reported as the initial test heat flux, with the understanding that the burning of the test
specimen can generate additional heat flux to the specimen surface. The heat flux can also be measured at any time during a fire
test, for example as described in Guide E603, on any surface, and with measurement devices responding to radiative and
2 2 2
convective fluxes. Typical units are kW/m , W/cm , or BTU/(s ft ).
3.1.3 ignitability, n—the propensity tofor ignition, as measured by the time to sustained flaming, in seconds, at a specified heat
flux.
3.1.4 initial test heat flux, n—the heat flux set on the test apparatus at the initiation of the test (see also heat flux).
3.1.5 orientation, n—the plane in which the exposed face of the specimen is located during testing.
3.1.6 time to sustained flaming, n—period of time from start of test to commencement of the first period of flaming lasting long
enough to qualify as sustained flaming (see sustained flaming).
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 burn-through, n—occurrence of sustained flaming on the unexposed side of the test specimen.
3.2.2 sustained flaming, n—existence of flame on or over the specimen surface for periods of at least 5 s.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—
Flaming of less than 5 s duration is identified as flashing or transitory flaming.
3.2.3 time to burn-through, n—time elapsed from the start of the test until burn-through, in seconds.
4. Summary of Test Method
4.1 This is a test method designed to measure the time to burn-through (that is, the time to sustained flaming on the unexposed
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volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
E3048 − 22a
side) of a 1 m specimen in a vertical orientation. The specimen is exposed on one side to a uniform heat flux from a gas fired
radiant panel of up to 50 kW/m . Tests are conducted with piloted ignition. Piloted ignition results from applying wire igniters at
the top and bottom of the test specimen.
4.2 Other measurements can be obtained such as time to sustained flaming on the exposed side, surface temperature, and the
specimen’s interior temperatures at the user’s discretion.
4.3 Each specimen shall be exposed to a uniform heat flux on the exposed face using a radiant panel configuration described in
Test Method E1623 with a heat flux of up to 50 50 kW kW/m⁄m . The time to burn-through shall be recorded for each specimen.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This test method is used primarily to determine the time to burn-through and the time to ignition of materials, products, and
assemblies.
5.2 Representative joints and other characteristics of an assembly shall be included in a specimen when these details are part of
normal design.
5.3 This test method is applicable to end-use products not having an ideally planar external surface. The heat flux shall be adjusted
to be that which is desired at the average distance of the surface from the radiant panel.
5.4 In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to one or more specific sets of laboratory test conditions. If different test
conditions are substituted or the end-use conditions are changed, it is not always possible by or from this test to predict changes
in the fire-test-response characteristics measured. Therefore, the results are valid only for the fire test exposure conditions described
in this procedure.
5.5 Representative materials and thicknesses shall be included in a specimen when these details are part of normal design.
5.6 This method can also be used for research and development of various material types to be included in larger-scale fire test
assemblies (for example, Test Methods E119).
5.7 Test Limitations:
5.7.1 The test results have limited validity if: (a) the specimen melts sufficiently to overflow the drip tray, or (b) explosive spalling
occurs.
5.7.2 Report observations of specimens that sag, deform, or delaminate.
6. Apparatus
6.1 General—Two burner designs are permitted (Burner A or Burner B). See Test Method E1623 Section 6 Apparatus for a
description of the radiant panel system.
6.2 Although heat and smoke release rates are not measured for this procedure, combustion products shall be collected and
exhausted for laboratory safety purposes. Construct the exhaust collection system as described in Test Method E1623 except for
the instrumentation.
6.2.1 Ensure that the system for exhausting smoke (which includes gaseous combustion products) is designed in such a way that
the combustion products leaving the burning specimen are exhausted.
6.3 Thermocouples—(not required - optional - see Annex A1):
6.3.1 Specimen temperature measurements are optional. If specimen temperatures are measured, all thermocouples shall comply
with Annex A1.
E3048 − 22a
6.4 Heat Flux Meter—The total heat flux meter shall be of the Gardon (foil) or Schmidt-Boelter (thermopile) type , with a design
range of about 50 kW/m . The target receiving radiation, and possibly to a small extent convection, shall be flat, circular,
approximately 12.5 mm in diameter, and coated with a durable matt-black finish. The target shall be water cooled. Radiation shall
not pass through any window before reaching the target. The instrument shall be robust, simple to set up and use, and stable in
calibration. The instrument shall have an accuracy of within 63 % and a repeatability of within 60.5 %.
7. Hazards
7.1 The test procedures involve high temperatures and combustion processes. Therefore the potential exists for burns, ignition of
extraneous objects or clothing, and for inhalation of combustion products. The operator shall use protective gloves and clothes
while removing the specimen shield and while moving the specimen trolley toward or away from the radiant panels. The
construction of a viewing wall with windows is recommended for laboratories with small spaces where the operator and viewers
cannot move far enough away from the area of the radiant panel.
7.2 The water cooled shield placed in front of the radiant panel assembly dramatically lowers the heating of the laboratory space
and lowers the potential for harm to operators working in the area.
8. Test Specimens
8.1 Size and Preparation:
8.1.1 Test specimen’s dimensions shall be 1000 mm by 1000 mm and up to 152 mm in thickness. Use the specimen holder as
described in Test Method E1623. If specimens of thickness greater than 152 mm are to be tested, a specimen holder shall be
constructed to accommodate the desired specimen thickness. They shall be representative of the construction of the end-use
product. Test materials and assemblies of normal thickness, 152 mm or less, using their full thickness.
8.1.2 If a product is designed to normally have joints in a field application, then that specimen shall incorporate the joint detail.
Center the joint in the specimen’s vertical or horizontal centerline as appropriate. Also test the specimen without a joint detail if
the design does not include a joint.
8.1.3 Cover the edges of the specimen with 12 mm ceramic wool blanket to eliminate the gap between the holder and the
specimen.
8.2 Conditioning—The test specimen shall be conditioned to a constant weight at a temperature of 23 °C 6 2.8 °C (73.4 °F 6
5 °F) and at a relative humidity of 50 6 5 %.
9. Calibration
9.1 Use calibrated instruments. The instruments required to be calibrated or verified include the infrared pyrometer, heat flux
meter, computerized data acquisition system, and thermocouples.
9.2 Heat Flux/Distance Relationship:
9.2.1 Ignite the radiant panel and allow it to come to equilibrium as indicated by its c
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