ASTM E119-11a

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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.
An American National Standard
Designation:E119–11 Designation:E119–11a
Standard Test Methods for
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Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E119; 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 Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
The performance of walls, columns, floors, and other building members under fire-exposure
conditions is an item of major importance in securing constructions that are safe, and that are not a
menace to neighboring structures or to the public. Recognition of this is registered in the codes of
many authorities, municipal and other. It is important to secure balance of the many units in a single
building, and of buildings of like character and use in a community; and also to promote uniformity
in requirements of various authorities throughout the country. To do this it is necessary that the
fire-resistivepropertiesofmaterialsandassembliesbemeasuredandspecifiedaccordingtoacommon
standard expressed in terms that are applicable alike to a wide variety of materials, situations, and
conditions of exposure.
Such a standard is found in the test methods that follow. They prescribe a standard exposing fire of
controlled extent and severity. Performance is defined as the period of resistance to standard exposure
elapsing before the first critical point in behavior is observed. Results are reported in units in which
field exposures can be judged and expressed.
The test methods may be cited as the “Standard Fire Tests,” and the performance or exposure shall
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be expressed as “2-h,” “6-h,” “ ⁄2-h,” etc.
When a factor of safety exceeding that inherent in the test conditions is desired, a proportional
increase should be made in the specified time-classification period.
1. Scope
1.1 Thetestmethodsdescribedinthisfire-test-responsestandardareapplicabletoassembliesofmasonryunitsandtocomposite
assemblies of structural materials for buildings, including loadbearing and other walls and partitions, columns, girders, beams,
slabs, and composite slab and beam assemblies for floors and roofs. They are also applicable to other assemblies and structural
units that constitute permanent integral parts of a finished building.
1.2 It is the intent that classifications shall register comparative performance to specific fire-test conditions during the period
of exposure and shall not be construed as having determined suitability under other conditions or for use after fire exposure.
1.3 This standard 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.
1.4 Thesetestmethodsprescribeastandardfireexposureforcomparingthetestresultsofbuildingconstructionassemblies.The
results of these tests are one factor in assessing predicted fire performance of building construction and assemblies. Application
of these test results to predict the performance of actual building construction requires the evaluation of test conditions.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.6 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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
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These test methods are under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.11 on Fire Resistance.
Current edition approved MayJuly 1, 2011. Published MaySeptember 2011. Originally approved in 1917. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E119–10b.E119 – 11.
DOI: 10.1520/E0119-11A.
These test methods, of which the present standard represents a revision, were prepared by Sectional Committee on Fire Tests of Materials and Construction, under the
joint sponsorship of the National Bureau of Standards, the ANSI Fire Protection Group, and
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