1、Kurt Reimann, Ph.D.Shanghai April 2011April 2011April 2011U.S. fire safety requirements are not uniform across the country, but building and fire codes require minimum standards be met There is no federal building codeIndividual states can issue their own regulations, as long as they are not contrad
2、ictory to federal regulationsSome states and local jurisdictions can have requirements that exceed IBC requirementsApril 2011International Code Council (ICC) International Code Council (ICC) almost all important building codes in almost all important building codes in U.S.U.S.National Fire Protectio
3、n Association National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)(NFPA)International Association of Plumbing International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO)April 2011ASTM vast majority of fire and ASTM vast majority of fire and performance standardsperf
4、ormance standardsNFPA many are duplicates of ASTM NFPA many are duplicates of ASTM standardsstandardsUL usually for listing (certifying) UL usually for listing (certifying) productsproductsFM Global (Factory Mutual) usually FM Global (Factory Mutual) usually for insurance purposesfor insurance purpo
5、sesTrade associations for their own Trade associations for their own productsproductsApril 2011International Building Code (IBC), Chapter 26, PlasticApril 2011There are exceptions but a minimum There are exceptions but a minimum materialmaterial requirement for requirement for foamed plastics is to
6、pass the ASTM E 84 test with a flame foamed plastics is to pass the ASTM E 84 test with a flame spread index of not more than 75 and a smoke developed index of spread index of not more than 75 and a smoke developed index of not more than 450 (not more than 450 (Class BClass B).).Again, there are exc
7、eptions but generally foamed plastic must Again, there are exceptions but generally foamed plastic must be protected from living spaces by a be protected from living spaces by a thermal barrier thermal barrier of ” of ” gypsum wallboard or a barrier that will limit the average gypsum wallboard or a
8、barrier that will limit the average temperature rise of the unexposed surface to not more than temperature rise of the unexposed surface to not more than 250250o oF (120F (120o oC) after 15 min. of fire exposure using the E 119 C) after 15 min. of fire exposure using the E 119 fire test.fire test.No
9、te that fire tests listed here are almost always for Note that fire tests listed here are almost always for assembliesassemblies of walls or roofs. Polyurethane foam is tested as a of walls or roofs. Polyurethane foam is tested as a material in only the ASTM E 84 surface burning test or the material
10、 in only the ASTM E 84 surface burning test or the potential heat test in NFPA 259.potential heat test in NFPA 259.The following requirements are for flammability characteristics. The following requirements are for flammability characteristics. Other requirements or specifications may also be requir
11、ed, e.g., Other requirements or specifications may also be required, e.g., labeling.labeling.April 2011ASTM E84 Surface burning rateASTM E119 Fire resistanceASTM E108 RoofsNFPA 259 Potential heatNFPA 268 Ignitability for wallsNFPA 275 Thermal barrier for foam plasticsNFPA 285 Multi-story test for hi
12、gh rise bldgs.FM 4450 RoofsFM 4880 Exterior wall, large scale cornerApril 2011Fire Resistance Fire Resistance - where the wall is - where the wall is required to have a fire resistance rating required to have a fire resistance rating (special cases like separation from (special cases like separation
13、 from another living space or being close to another living space or being close to another structure) the wall assembly must another structure) the wall assembly must pass the ASTM E 119 test for the time pass the ASTM E 119 test for the time rating desired/required, e.g., 1 hour or 2 rating desire
14、d/required, e.g., 1 hour or 2 hours.hours.Thermal Barrier Thermal Barrier - any foam plastic must be - any foam plastic must be separated from the building interior by a separated from the building interior by a 15 min. thermal barrier as defined in the 15 min. thermal barrier as defined in the code
15、.code.Potential heat Potential heat Must not be more than Must not be more than 22.7 MJ/m22.7 MJ/m2 2 (2,000 BTU/lb) for siding (2,000 BTU/lb) for siding backer board (PU)backer board (PU)April 2011Flame spread Flame spread Foam plastic insulation Foam plastic insulation must have an ASTM E 84 Class
16、 A ratingmust have an ASTM E 84 Class A ratingMulti-story test Multi-story test A wall assembly A wall assembly must be tested to and pass NFPA 285.must be tested to and pass NFPA 285.Ignition behavior Ignition behavior Wall assemblies Wall assemblies must not exhibit sustained flaming when must not
17、 exhibit sustained flaming when tested to NFPA 268. But there are tested to NFPA 268. But there are exceptions for walls that are well exceptions for walls that are well protected on the outside see code protected on the outside see code language, for example a cement coating.language, for example a
18、 cement coating.April 2011Foamed plastic must meet ASTM E 84 as Foamed plastic must meet ASTM E 84 as at least a Class B material.at least a Class B material.A 15-min. approved thermal barrier must A 15-min. approved thermal barrier must be used to separate the insulation from be used to separate th
19、e insulation from the building interior.the building interior.The roof assembly must have a rating of The roof assembly must have a rating of Class A, B, or C when tested to ASTM E Class A, B, or C when tested to ASTM E 108. Frequently for commercial 108. Frequently for commercial buildings a Class
20、A rating is desired.buildings a Class A rating is desired.April 2011Manufacturers who believe they have Manufacturers who believe they have construction assemblies that meet the construction assemblies that meet the intent of the code but may not pass an intent of the code but may not pass an indivi
21、dual required test may receive a individual required test may receive a “Special Approval” if that assembly “Special Approval” if that assembly passes a full scale test such as NFPA passes a full scale test such as NFPA 286, FM 4880, UL 1040, or UL 1715. 286, FM 4880, UL 1040, or UL 1715. Such testi
22、ng must be related to the Such testing must be related to the actual end use configuration.actual end use configuration.April 2011April 2011ICC/IBC Approved Acceptance Criteria and Evaluation Service ReportsApril 2011ICC issues these in cases where ICC issues these in cases where products may not ex
23、actly meet published products may not exactly meet published code standards or where the code is not code standards or where the code is not specific enoughspecific enoughThey are developed in ICC-ES They are developed in ICC-ES (Evaluation Service) with a company (Evaluation Service) with a company
24、 producing productproducing productThey usually cover a product group as They usually cover a product group as opposed to an individual specific opposed to an individual specific productproductApril 2011AC04 - SANDWICH PANELSAC04 - SANDWICH PANELSAC12 - FOAM PLASTIC INSULATIONAC12 - FOAM PLASTIC INS
25、ULATIONAC142 - FOAM PLASTIC INSULATION APPLIED DIRECTLY TO STEEL AC142 - FOAM PLASTIC INSULATION APPLIED DIRECTLY TO STEEL DECKSDECKSAC181 - RIGID CELLULAR POLYURETHANE PANELSAC181 - RIGID CELLULAR POLYURETHANE PANELSUSED AS EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WALL CLADDINGUSED AS EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR WALL CLADD
26、INGAC309 - FOAM-IN-PLACE POLYURETHANEAC309 - FOAM-IN-PLACE POLYURETHANEFOAM PLASTIC CORE DOORS WITH FIBERGLASS FACERSFOAM PLASTIC CORE DOORS WITH FIBERGLASS FACERSAC377 - SPRAY-APPLIED FOAM PLASTIC INSULATIONAC377 - SPRAY-APPLIED FOAM PLASTIC INSULATIONSee this link to view the AC12 requirements:See
27、 this link to view the AC12 requirements:http:/www.icc-es.org/criteria/dsp.cfm?ac_code=AC12For an example of an ESR for spray PU foam see:For an example of an ESR for spray PU foam see:http:/www.icc-es.org/reports/pdf_files/ICC-ES/ESR-2642.pdfApril 2011April 2011Test results Flame spread index (FSI)
28、 based on time and distance the flame front travels and the smoke developed index (SDI) measured opticallyFSI = 0 for inert board and SDI = 100 for red oakThree classes of materials:Class A: 0 FSI 25 and SDI 450Class B: 26 FSI 75 and SDI 450Class C: 76 FSI 200 and SDI 450April 2011April 2011April 20
29、11Furnace end viewActual test apparatusEvaluates the propensity of ignition of an Evaluates the propensity of ignition of an exterior wall assembly exterior wall assembly Applies to exterior wall assemblies having Applies to exterior wall assemblies having planer or nearly planer, external surfacesp
30、laner or nearly planer, external surfacesAddresses the problem of fire spread from one Addresses the problem of fire spread from one building to an adjacent building building to an adjacent building due to radiant due to radiant ignition of combustible exterior facades ignition of combustible exteri
31、or facades by by specifying a minimum distance to the property specifying a minimum distance to the property linelineIgnition threshold must be equal to or higher Ignition threshold must be equal to or higher than woodthan woodFailure if sustained flaming after the 20 min. ignition periodApril 2011A
32、pril 2011This is only for wall assemblies, also called the Intermediate Multi-Story Test, a large scale testOne of the most important for PU containing insulation walls required for high rise bldgs.Sample one, 4.06 m x 5.33 m high assemblyIgnition two gases burners, Bottom room (up to 904 kW), Windo
33、w (up to 398 kW)Time 30 min.No excessive flamingApril 2011April 2011April 2011Where walls are required to have a fire-resistance rating, data based on E119 tests must be provided to substantiate that they have the rating claimed, e.g., 15 min., 30 min., 1 hour, 2 hours.Test duration Varies, but 15 m
34、in. for most insulated wall assemblies, assemblies, bldg. partitions are usually 1 or 2 hoursResult Average temperature rise 130oC of unexposed side after 15 min.April 2011April 2011New in 2012 IBC code (Chapter 26) is the use of NFPA 285 to qualify a thermal barrierPart 1 of test is similar to E119
35、, but no PU foamPart 2 of test can be one of the following room or corner tests:NFPA 286,UL 1715, UL 1040, or FM 4880Part 2 is a wall assembly with plastic foam insulation behind the thermal barrierApril 2011There are three part of this test:Burning brand test (burn through)Burning brand test (burn through)Intermittent flame test (burn through)Intermittent flame test (burn through)Spread of flame test (surface burning)Spread of flame test (surface burning)As an example, the burning brand test has 3 different sized wood “cribs” or ignition sourcesApril 2011April 2011E108 Test Failure
