Fire Performance Requirements
Building codes set prescriptive performance requirements for construction and materials. To support performance reliability, the requirements are satisfied through use of specific product and testing standards referenced in the codes. These referenced standards are developed by various standards development organizations (SDOs) including ASTM International (ASTM), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), FM Approvals (FM), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC).
Material and product standards set minimum requirements for various properties or characteristics, such as surface burning characteristics, thermal resistance, dimensional stability, and density. Test standards establish appropriate specimens, procedures and methodologies used to evaluate properties or characteristics of materials, products, and assemblies in a consistent and repeatable way. A list of fire test standards referenced by the building codes in context of building envelope requirements includes:
- UL – UL 263, UL 723, UL 790, UL 1256
- ASTM – E84, E108, E119, E136, E814, E1354, E1966, E2307
- NFPA – NFPA 259, NFPA 268, NFPA 275, NFPA 285, NFPA 286
- FM Approvals – FM 4450, FM 4470, FM 4880
For example, the International Building Code® (IBC) includes requirements that limit surface burning characteristics for many building materials and their uses when tested in accordance with ASTM E84.
Building codes have specific requirements for the use of foam plastic insulation and other combustible building materials and types of assemblies. For example, the IBC contains provisions that allow the omission of the prescribed thermal barrier separation of foam plastic insulation from the interior of the building upon successful performance in certain full-scale tests. Other examples include fire test requirements for fire-resistant assemblies (ASTM E119, UL 263) and flame propagation of exterior wall assemblies containing combustible components (NFPA 285).
It is important to remind users that fire test standards evaluate and compare the response of materials, products, and assemblies to heat and flame under controlled conditions. By themselves, fire testing and test results do not incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk assessment of the materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
