Foam Plastic Insulation Testing

Manufacturers of foam plastic insulation are no strangers to innovation. Whether driven by customers seeking novel applications or by the goal of maintaining compliance with ever-changing local, state, and federal requirements, innovative manufacturers maintain close relationships with their third-party testing partners who help them quickly adapt to market needs. These third-party partners help by guiding the manufacturers or validating their plans to ensure the most efficient path to performance and fire-safety compliance.

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 foam plastic insulation tests for many characteristics, including but not limited to:

  • Density
  • Dimensional stability
  • Water absorption
  • Thermal resistance
  • Compressive resistance
  • Water-vapor transmission
  • Oxygen index
  • Closed-cell content
  • Surface burning characteristics
  • Fire performance
  • Tensile strength
  • Leachable chloride, fluoride, silicate, and sodium ions
  • Response to thermal and humid aging

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 that may be included in test plans for foam products:

  • ASTM C271: Standard Test Method for Density of Sandwich Core Materials
  • ASTM C272: Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Core Materials for Sandwich Constructions
  • ASTM C273: Standard Test Method for Shear Properties of Sandwich Core Materials
  • ASTM C297: Standard Test Method for Flatwise Tensile Strength of Sandwich Constructions
  • ASTM C303: Standard Test Method for Dimensions and Density of Preformed Block and Board—Type Thermal Insulation
  • ASTM C364: Standard Test Method for Edgewise Compressive Strength of Sandwich Constructions
  • ASTM C365: Standard Test Method for Flatwise Compressive Properties of Sandwich Cores
  • ASTM C393: Standard Test Method for Core Shear Properties of Sandwich Constructions by Beam Flexure
  • ASTM C518: Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter Apparatus
  • ASTM C578: Standard Specification for Rigid, Cellular Polystyrene Thermal Insulation
  • ASTM C591: Standard Specification for Unfaced Preformed Rigid Cellular Polyisocyanurate Thermal Insulation
  • ASTM C1029: Standard Specification for Spray-Applied Rigid Cellular Polyurethane Thermal Insulation
  • ASTM C1289: Standard Specification for Faced Rigid Cellular Polyisocyanurate Thermal Insulation Board
  • ASTM D1621: Standard Test Method for Compressive Properties of Rigid Cellular Plastics
  • ASTM D1622: Standard Test Method for Apparent Density of Rigid Cellular Plastics
  • ASTM D2126: Standard Test Method for Response of Rigid Cellular Plastics to Thermal and Humid Aging
  • ASTM E84: Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
  • ASTM E96: Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials
  • ASTM E108: Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings
  • ASTM E119: Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials
  • ICC-ES AC377: Acceptance Criteria for Spray-Applied Foam Plastic Insulation
  • ICC 1100: Standard for Spray-applied Polyurethane Foam Plastic Insulation
  • 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
Need Help? Talk to an Expert 574-773-7975
Learn More about NTA's State-of-Art Fire Testing Facility Learn More

Request a Quote Today