ASTM E84 testing ensures building materials comply with fire safety standards under the International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC) and other codes and standards. The test evaluates important surface burning characteristics of materials including the speed at which flames spread across a sample and how fast smoke develops inside the tunnel. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) performs controlled burns in accordance with ASTM E84 to establish the smoke and flame development indices of construction materials used as interior finishes in buildings.
Steiner Tunnel Test Facility
First developed in 1944, the Steiner tunnel test is a standard method for fire testing building materials. To conduct the test, SwRI staff insert building material samples, which must be approximately 24 inches wide by 24 feet long, into a Steiner tunnel.
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Ultraviolet light enhances the view during the Steiner tunnel test.
SwRI fulfills Steiner tunnel test requirement under ISO/IEC 17025-certified operations in accordance with:
- ASTM E84
- NFPA 255
- NFPA 262
- ASTM E2768
- UL 723
SwRI’s custom Steiner tunnel test facility includes a state-of-the-art pollution abatement system to prevent the release of smoke and other toxins into the environment during testing. Test samples are exposed to a prescribed propane flame for 10 minutes and the test operator visually tracks flame spread through several observation ports in the tunnel chamber. The primary result of the test is the Flame Spread Index (FSI) and Smoke Developed Index (SDI). Materials with an FSI of 0-25 and a maximum SDI of 450 or below meet the requirements for Class A, the highest rating possible. Products tested in accordance with ASTM E84 include:
- Insulation
- Paints & coatings
- Lumber
- Paneling
Accreditation
Southwest Research Institute is accredited by the International Accreditation Service.
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IAS Accredited Testing Laboratory
Southwest Research Institute receives accreditation from the International Accreditation Service (IAS) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025.