Fire Testing Resistance and Reaction to Fire

Fire testing/fire endurance tests and fire safety standards help manufacturers to design and build better, safer products – and this saves lives. ICC NTA offers Fire Resistance testing and Reaction to Fire testing to various industries, including testing of building materials, to ensure that products are safe and meet the requirements of relevant standards and codes. With leading-edge testing equipment and a state-of-the-art facility in Bryan, Texas, ICC NTA is one of the top fire testing labs in the U.S. and is dedicated to providing fast and comprehensive Fire Resistance and Reaction to Fire test data for a variety of materials, products, and assemblies, including, but not limited to:

  • Cladding
  • Deck & Railing
  • Doors
  • Electrical/Wiring
  • Insulation
  • Interior Finishes
  • Gypsum/Drywall
  • Plastics & Polymers
  • Roofing
  • Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs)
  • Underlayment
  • Wall Systems

ICC NTA laboratories are accredited to the ISO 17025 standard, which ensures that you and your customers can rely on the validity of our results. Our team also understands how important test results are for your business goals and objectives — all our team members work together with you to efficiently conduct tests and prepare the test reports you need. We conduct fire tests for various products, including but not limited to:

  • Afterflame – measurement of length of time for flaming to cease
  • Afterglow – measurement of length of time for flaming and glowing to cease
  • Decomposition – measurement of product’s degradation when exposed to fire
  • Fire Resistance – measurement of a product’s ability to resist catching fire
  • Flame Spread – measurement of a product’s potential to ignite and expand
  • Reaction to Fire – measurement of a product’s reaction when exposed to fire
  • Smoke Density – measurement of smoke generated in the presence of flame

As part of the International Code Council Family of Solutions, we work directly with ICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES) to create tailored test plans that capture specialized requirements for innovative products, such as those found in the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria. Test plans help ensure your innovative product has a clear path through the certification process with agreement from all participants. Below is a list of standards or criteria that may be included in fire test plans:

Reaction to Fire:

  • ASTM D635 – Standard Test Method for Rate of Burning and/or Extent and Time of Burning of Plastics in a Horizontal Position
  • ASTM D1929 – Standard Test Method of Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics
  • ASTM D2843 – Standard Test Method for Density of Smoke from the Burning or Decomposition of Plastics
  • ASTM D3675 – Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Flexible Cellular Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
  • ASTM D3801 – Standard Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics of Solid Plastics in a Vertical Position
  • ASTM D4804 – Standard Test Method for Determining the Flammability Characteristics of Nonrigid Solid Plastics
  • ASTM D4986 – Standard Test Method for Horizontal Burning Characteristics of Cellular Polymeric Materials
  • ASTM D5048 – Standard Test Method for Measuring the Comparative Burning Characteristics and Resistance to Burn-Through of Solid Plastics Using a 125-mm Flame
  • ASTM D5132 – Standard Test Method for Horizontal Burning Rate of Polymeric Materials Used in Occupant Compartments of Motor Vehicles
  • ASTM E84 – Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
  • ASTM E108 – Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings
  • ASTM E136 – Standard Test Method for Assessing Combustibility of Materials Using a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C
  • ASTM E162 – Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source (See our video)
  • ASTM E2768 – Standard Test Method for Extended Duration Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (30 min Tunnel Test)
  • FMVSS 302 / CMVSS 302 – Flammability of Interior Materials – Passenger Cars, Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles, Trucks, and Buses
  • CAN/ULC S102 – Standard method of test for surface burning characteristics of building materials and assemblies
  • CAN/ULC S102.2 – Standard method of test for surface building characteristics of flooring, floor coverings, and miscellaneous materials and assemblies
  • ICC-ES AC377 – Spray-applied foam plastic insulation (test methods reference in Section 3.4.4 and 3.4.5 and Appendices A1.2.1, A2.2.1, E and X2.1)
  • IEC 60695-11-10 – Fire hazard testing – Part 11-10: Test flames – 50 W horizontal and vertical flame test methods
  • ISO 871-1996 – Plastics – Determination of ignition temperature using a hot-air furnace
  • ISO 1210 – Plastics – Determination of the burning behavior of horizontal and vertical specimens in contact with a small-flame ignition source
  • ISO 9705 – Reaction to fire tests – Room corner test for wall and ceiling lining products
  • NFPA 255 – Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
  • NFPA 265 – Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile or Expanded Vinyl Wall Coverings on Full Height Panels and Walls
  • NFPA 285 – Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components
  • NFPA 286 – Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth
  • UL 94 – Standard for Tests for Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances
  • UL 723 – Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
  • UL 790 – Standard for Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings
  • UL 1715 – Standard for Fire Test of Interior Finish Material

Fire Resistance:

  • ASTM E119 – Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
  • ASTM E1399/E1399M – Standard test method for cyclic movement and measuring the minimum and maximum joint widths of architectural joint systems (limited to 8’-wide walls)
  • ASTM E1529 – Standard test methods for determining effects of large hydrocarbon pool fires on structural members and assemblies
  • ASTM E1725 – Standard test methods for fire tests of fire-resistive barrier systems for electrical system components
  • ASTM E1966 – Standard test method for fire-resistive joint systems
  • ASTM E2010 – Standard test method for positive pressure fire tests of window assemblies
  • ASTM E2074 – Standard test method for tests of door assemblies, including Positive Pressure Testing of Side-Hinged and Pivoted Swinging Door Assemblies
  • ASTM E2226 – Standard practice for application of hose stream
  • ASTM E2307 – Standard Test Method for Determining Fire Resistance of Perimeter Fire Barriers Using Intermediate-Scale, Multi-story Test Apparatus
  • ASTM E814 – Standard Test Method for Fire Tests of Penetration Firestop Systems
  • BS 476 Part 20 – Fire tests on building materials and structures – method for determination of the fire resistance of elements of construction (general principles)
  • BS 467 Part 21 – Fire tests on building materials and structures – methods for determination of the fire resistance of loadbearing elements of construction
  • CAN/4-S104 – Standard Method for Fire Tests of Door Assemblies
  • CAN/ULC S101 – Standard methods of fire endurance tests of building construction and materials
  • CAN/ULC S115 – Standard method of fire tests of firestop systems
  • EN 1363-1 – Fire-resistance tests – elements of building construction part 1: general requirements
  • EN 1363-2 – Fire resistance tests – elements of building construction part 2: alternative and additional procedures
  • EN 1364-1 – Fire resistance tests for non-loadbearing elements – part 1: walls
  • EN 1365-1 – Fire resistance tests for loadbearing elements – part 1: walls
  • EN 1365-2 – Fire resistance tests for loadbearing elements – part 2: floors and roofs
  • EN 1634-1 – Fire resistance test for door and shutter assemblies – par t1: fire doors and shutters
  • ICC-ES AC30 – Fire-resistant joint systems (test methods referenced in section 4.0)
  • ICC-ES AC84 – Testing of fire doors and windows under positive pressure (test methods referenced in section 4.0)
  • IMO Resolution a.754 (18) – Recommendation on fire resistance tests for ‘A,’ ‘B’ and ‘F’ class divisions
  • ISO 3008 – Fire-resistance tests – door and shutter assemblies
  • ISO 3009 – Fire-resistance tests – elements of building construction – glazed elements
  • ISO 834-1 – Fire-resistance tests – elements of building construction – part 1: general requirements
  • MIL-STD-3020 – Department of defense standard practice: fire resistance of U.S. naval surface ships
  • NFPA 251 – Standard methods of tests of fire resistance of building construction and materials
  • NFPA 252 – Standard methods of fire tests of door assemblies
  • NFPA 257 – Standard on fire test for window and glass block assemblies
  • NFPA 275 – Standard Method of Fire Tests for the Evaluation of Thermal Barriers
  • NFPA 415 – Standard on airport terminal buildings, fueling ramp drainage, and loading walkways (sections 6.4 and 6.5)
  • UL 9 – Standard for fire tests of window assemblies
  • UL 10A – Standard for tin-clad fire doors
  • UL10B – Standard for Fire Tests of Door Assemblies
  • UL 10C – Standard for Positive Pressure Fire Tests of Door Assemblies
  • UL 1479 – Standard for fire tests of penetration firestops
  • UL 155 – Standard for tests for fire resistance of vault and file room doors
  • UL 1709 – Standard for rapid rise fire tests of protection materials for structural steel
  • UL 2079 – Standard for tests for fire resistance of building joint systems
  • UL 263 – Standard for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
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