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TB-73 SURFACE BURNING CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS TOILET PARTITION MATERIALS Last Updated: 01/21/2008 |
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INDEPENDENT LABORATORY TESTING Samples of different toilet partition materials were sent to independent fire test laboratories for testing and evaluation to determine the relative surface burning characteristics of these materials. The tests were performed in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Material ASTM E 84-01 “Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.”1 ASTM E 84 specifies dimensions of 24'' W x 24' L for each test material for horizontal placement in the fire test chamber. A gas-fed flame source is then applied at one end of test specimen. The rate of flame spread and the degree of obscuration in the tunnel (measured by a photoelectric cell) are recorded throughout the 10-minute test. These results are compared to the burning characteristics of two known products: inorganic reinforced cement board (reference value = 0) and red oak flooring (reference value = 100). ASTM E 84 test results are used by the ICC and NFPA to evaluate burning characteristics of materials classified as Interior Wall and Ceiling Finishes2 in building materials. A full description of the test is available from ASTM. Bobrick selected this ASTM standard because it is required by the International Building Code® and the NFPA 101® Life Safety Code® for classification of Interior Wall and Ceiling Finish. Additionally, in our opinion, this standard provided an objective, repeatable, and comparable procedure with which to analyze the relative surface burning characteristic of different types of toilet partition materials to evaluate their relative flame spread and smoke development characteristics. A copy of the independent laboratory test results is available upon request. See attached bulletin for full results
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