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Testing Services for the Construction Industry

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A wide range of standard and custom tests are performed at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to evaluate the fire performance of construction materials, products, and systems. There are essentially two types of tests:

Fire resistance measurements of wall or floor/ceiling assemblies and structural elements
Assessments of the potential contribution from interior finish materials to a fire

A furnace test is used to measure fire endurance (i.e., the time that a wall or floor/ceiling assembly or a structural element is capable of withstanding a standard fire while fulfilling its separating and/or load-bearing function). A wide range of apparatuses and furnaces are available to fulfill the fire testing needs of the building material manufacturers industry.

The assessment of interior finish contribution to fire growth is based primarily on performance in a flame spread test. Certain types of products and applications must meet other requirements based on their propensity for ignition and the release rate of heat, smoke, and toxic products of combustion.

Wall, Floor/Ceiling, and Roof Assemblies Fire resistance of structural assemblies	ASTM E 119, ASTM E 1529, BS 476 Parts 20 & 24, ISO 834, NFPA 251
Structural Elements Fire resistance of columns, beams, etc.	ASTM E 119, ASTM E 1529, BS 476 Parts 20 & 24, ISO 834, NFPA 251, UL 1709
Doors and Windows Protection of openings in fire-rated walls	ASTM E 152, ASTM E 2010, BS 476 Parts 20 & 24, ISO 3008, ISO 3009, NFPA 252, NFPA 253, UBC 7-2, UL 9, UL 10A & 10B, UL 155
Other Fire-Resistive Elements and Assemblies Fire resistance of dampers, cable penetrations, etc.	10 CFR 50, ASTM E 119, ASTM E 814, ASTM E 1725, ASTM E 1966, BS 476 Parts 20 & 24, UBC 26-2, NFPA 251, UBC 7-5, UL 555, UL 1479
Exterior Finish Materials Roofing, EIFS, exterior wall claddings, etc.	ASTM E 108, ASTM E 1354, ICBO AC-07, ICBO AC11, ICBO AC24, Modified ASTM E 108, NFPA 256, NFPA 268, NFPA 271, SwRI 99-02, UBC 26-9
Interior Finish Materials Wall coverings, ceiling linings, floor coverings	ASTM D 2859, ASTM E 84, ASTM E 162, ASTM E 648, ASTM E 662, ASTM E 800, ASTM E 970, ASTM E 1321, ASTM E 1354, ASTM E 1740, ASTM E 1995, ISO 5659-2, ISO 9705, NFPA 253, NFPA 255, NFPA 258, NFPA 265, NFPA 271, SBI test, UBC 8-1, UBC 8-2, UBC 26-3, UL 723, UPITT Toxicity Test
Other Building Materials Thermal and acoustical insulation, etc.	ASTM D 2015, ASTM D 3286, ASTM E 136, ASTM E 1354, ISO 1182, ISO 1716, NFPA 259, NFPA 271
Contents and Furnishings Upholstered furniture, mattresses, drapes, etc.	ASTM D 568, ASTM D 635, ASTM D 1692, ASTM D 1929, ASTM D 3014, ASTM E 1474, ASTM E 1352, ASTM E 1353, ASTM E 1537, ASTM E 1590, ASTM E 1822, CA TB 106, CA TB 116, CA TB 117, CA TB 121, CA TB 129, CA TB 133, NFPA 272, NFPA 701, UBC 26-6, UBC 26-7

For more information about fire technology services and capabilities for testing services for the construction industry at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please call (210) 522-2311 or e-mail fire-info@swri.org.

Contact Information

Fire Technology

(210) 522-2311

fire-info@swri.org

Related Terminology

code compliance

EIFS

fire endurance

fire resistance

fire test methods

flame spread

passive fire protection

smoke generation rate

toxicity

toxicity products of combustion

Associated Links

| Fire Technology Department | Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

July 02, 2008