ATTACHMENT No. 2

APPENDIX C.-STANDARD METHOD OF TEST FOR SMOLDERING COMBUSTION CHARATERISTICS OF MATERIALS USED FOR THERMAL INSULATION

1. SCOPE

1.1 This method evaluates the tendency of thermal insulation in the form of loose fill, batts or blankets to support smoldering combustion. It is applicable to any insulation that is capable of being installed in the specimen holder at the density and in the physical state of the material in its intended use.

1.2 The purpose of this test is to determine the tendency of the material under test to support and propogate smoldering combustion subsequent to exposure to a standard ignition source.

2. SUMMARY OF METHOD

2.1 This method measures the extent and progression of smoldering from a lighted cigarette inserted vertically, with the lit end upward, into the center of an insulation sample.

2.2 The extent of damage to the test specimen, as indicated by percent of specimen weight loss and by the extent of charring, are recorded in this test, as well as any other observable combustion behavior, such as progression to flaming combustion.

3. SIGNIFICANCE

3.1 This method of test is designed to provide a basis for evaluating the tendency of insulation to support smoldering combustion when subjected to a small ignition source. The lighted cigarette represents a typical ignition source which may make contact with insulation installed in residential buildings.

4.1 Specimen holder.

4. APPARATUS

4.1.1 The specimen holder shall be an open-top 20 ± 0.2 cm square box, 10 ± 0.2 cm in height, fabricated from a single piece of 0.61 ± 0.08 mm thick (24 U.S. Standard gauge) stainless steel sheet with the vertical edges of the box overlapped not to exceed to 7 mm in seam width, and soldered so as to be watertight.

4.1.2 The specimen holder during test use shall rest upon a pad of inert insulation, such as of glass or ceramic fibers, of at least 1.5 cm in thickness and approximating the dimensions of the bottom of the specimen holder. The density of the insulation shall be 50 ± 15 Kg/m3.

4.2 Ignition source.

4.2.1 The ignition source shall be a cigarette without filter tip made from natural tobacco, 85 ± 2 mm long with a tobacco packing density of 0.270 ± 0.020 g/cm3 and a total weight of 1.1 ± 0.1 gm.

4.3 Balance.

4.3.1 A balance of 1 kg capacity, accurate at least to 0.1 g, and provided with a suitable scale pan is required.

4.4 Test area.

4.4.1 The test area shall be draft-protected and equipped with a suitable system for exhausting smoke and/or noxious gases produced by testing. Air velocities as measured by a hot wire anemometor in the vicinity of the surface of the sample shall not exceed 0.5 m/sec.

4.4.2 The test area shall be maintained at 23±5 °C and 50±5 percent relative humidity.

4.3 Sampling.

4.3.1 At least three samples shall be prepared of any material undergoing test. Samples shall be taken in a manner to encompass possible variations in material composition (for example, from the top, middle, and bottom of bagged insulation). 4.3.2 Samples of material to be tested shall be selected, prepared, and handled in a manner to avoid differences in the composition and condition of the sample from that of the sampled material in its intended use.

5. TEST PROCEDURE

5.1 Samples and cigarettes shall be conditioned in air at a temperature of 23 ± 5°C and a relative humidity of 50 percent for at least 12 hours prior to test. Samples and cigarettes shall be removed from any packaging and exposed

31-737 - 78 - 18

in a suitable manner to permit free movement of air around them during conditioning.

5.2 Sample material shall be loaded into specimen holders to uniformly and homogeneously fill the holders level and flush to the top edges of the holders. Specimen weight shall be measured, at least to the nearest 0.2 g, by weighing the holder before and after filling. The density of the specimen contained in a holder (volume 4 1, 0.14 ft3) shall be calculated and shall be not less than the density recommended for the material in its intended use.

5.3 With the sample in the holder and placed on the insulated pad, a rod of 8 mm diameter with a pointed end shall be inserted vertically into the center of the material being tested and withdrawn to form an appropriate cavity for the ignition source. A well lit cigarette, burned not more than 8 mm (0.3 in), shall be inserted in the formed cavity, with the lit end upward and flush with the sample surface.

5.4 Burning of the cigarette and specimen shall be allowed to proceed undisturbed in the test area for at least 2 hours or until the smoldering is no longer progressing.

5.5 After completion of burning and after the holder has cooled down to 25° C, the specimen holder with its material residue shall be weighed, at least to the nearest 0.2 g, and the percent weight loss of the original specimen calculated.1 5.6 After completion of burning, the minimum distance of charring or smoldering of the material from the edge of the holder shall be measured. In cases where the material tested has smoldered to some extent, the material residue shall be carefully removed by layers and the closest proximity of charred material to the vertical sides of the specimen holder determined to the nearest 0.5 cm.

6. CRITERIA

6.1 Materials tested by this method shall be judged in terms of the following criteria:

6.1.1 Weight loss of each specimen expressed as a percent of its initial weight. 6.1.2 Charring of specimen in terms of progression to within 4 cm of the sides of the specimen holder.

6.1.3 Evidence of flaming combustion of the specimen during testing.

7. REPORT

7.1 The report shall include the following:

7.1.1

Identification and/or description of the material being tested.

7.1.2 The original weight of specimens tested and their calculated density. 7.1.3 The final weight of specimens tested and the percent weight loss they have experienced during testing.

7.1.4 The closest distance that charring in specimens tested has approached the sides of the specimen holder during testing, when appreciable charring of a specimen has occurred.

7.1.5 Any observations of the burning characteristics of the specimens that could be pertinent to the material's performance in its intended use.

HH-I-1030B
PROPOSED

(TO SUPERSEDE)
Fed. Spec. HH-I-1030A
February 23, 1973

PROPOSED FEDERAL SPECIFICATION-INSULATION, THERMAL (MINERAL FIBER, FOR PNEUMATIC OR POURED APPLICATION)

This proposed Federal Specification draft, dated November 4, 1977, prepared by the General Services Administration, Federal Supply Service, Washington, D.C. 20406, has not been approved for promulgation and is subject to modification. Do not use for procurement purposes.

1.1

1. SCOPE AND CLASSIFICATION

Scope: This specification covers loose fill mineral fiber thermal insulation for use in housing and other framed buildings at ambient temperatures, by pneumatic or pouring application. While products that comply with this specification

1 The weight of the cigarette residue is ignored in this exercise and may, in some cases, result in a slight gain in sample weight.

may be used in various constructions they are adaptable primarily, but not exclusively, to wood joist rafters, and stud construction.

1.2 Classification: Insulation shall be of the following types and classes, as specified (see 6.2).

Type I-Pneumatic application.

Type II-Poured application.

2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

2.1 The following documents, of the issues in effect on date of invitation for bids or request for proposal, form a part of this specification to the extent specified herein.

Federal specification

UU-S-48-Sacks, Shipping, Paper.

Federal standard

Fed. Std. No. 123-Marking for Shipment (Civil Agencies).

(Activities outside the Federal Government may obtain copies of Federal Specifications, Standards, and Handbooks as outlined under General Information in the Index of Federal Specifications and Standards and at the prices indicated in the Index. The Index, which includes cumulative monthly supplements as issued, is for sale on a subscription basis by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

(Single copies of this specification and other Federal Specifications required by activities outside the Federal Government for bidding purposes are available without charge from Business Service Centers at the General Services Administration Regional Offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Mo., Fort Worth, Houston, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle, Wash.

(Federal Government activities may obtain copies of Federal Specifications, Standards, and Handbooks and the Index of Federal Specifications and Standards from established distribution points in their agencies.)

Military standards

MIL-STD-105-Sampling procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes.
MIL-STD-129-Marking for Shipment and Storage.
MIL-STD-810-Environmental Test Methods.

(Copies of Military Specifications and Standards required by contractors in connection with specific procurement functions should be obtained from the procuring activity or as directed by the contracting officer.)

2.2

Other publications: The following documents form a part of this specification to the extent specified herein. Unless a specific issue is identified, the issue in effect on date of invitation for bids or request for proposal shall apply.

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards

C177-Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Guarded

Hot Plate.

C236-Thermal Conductance and Transmittance of Built-Up Sections by Means of the Guarded Hot Box.

C553-Mineral Fiber Blanket and Felt Insulation (Industrial Type).

C518.-Standard Test Method for Steady-State Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Heat Flow Meter.

National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc., agent

National Motor Freight Classification.

(Application for copies should be addressed to the American Trucking Associations, Inc., Traffic Department, 1616 P Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036.) Uniform Classification Committee, agent

Uniform Freight Classification.

(Application for copies should be addressed to the Uniform Classification Committee, Room 1106, 222 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Ill. 60606.)

3. REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Material: Mineral fiber insulation shall be made from mineral substances such as rock, slag, or glass processed from a molten state into an incombustible fibrous form. The insulation shall be mechanically processed to produce a mineral fiber suitable for pneumatic or poured application.

3.1.3 Reclaimed material: Insulation shall contain recovered material content of 15 percent by weight of the total mineral content of the product. Recovered material is defined as material which has been collected or recovered from solid waste. Solid waste means any garbage, refuse, sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities, but does not include solid or dissolved material in domestic sewage, or solid or dissolved materials in irrigation return flows or industrial discharges which are point sources subject to permits under section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (86 Stat. 880), or source, special nuclear, or byproduct material as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (68 Stat. 923).

3.A Qualification: The loose fill thermal insulation furnished under this specification shall be a product which has been tested and passed the qualification tests specified herein, and has been listed on or approved for listing on the applicable qualified products list, (QPL).

3.2 Physical requirements.

3.2.1 Settled density: When tested in accordance with 4.5.1. The settled density shall be not more than 2.8 pounds per cubic foot.

3.2.2 Thermal resistance: The standard thermal resistance value recommended for application are 11, 19, 22, 30, 38, and are expressed in Deg. F-h-fT/BTU (K-M/W). The thermal resistance value, R, Measured shall not be more than 10% below the R Value specified when tested in accordance with 4.5.2.

3.2.3 Moisture adsorption: When tested in accordance with 4.5.3, the moisture adsorption of the insulation shall be a maximum of 2 percent by volume.

3.2.4 Nonfibrous content: When tested in accordance with 4.5.4, the nonfibrous content of the insulation shall be no greater than 20 percent by weight.

3.2.5 Odor emission: A detectable odor of objectionable nature shall be cause for rejection of the insulation material, when tested in accordance with 4.5.5, and observed by two or more of the panel members.

3.2.6 Corrosiveness: When tested in accordance with 4.5.6, the steel test plate in contact with the insulation shall show no greater corrosion than sterile cotton in contact with a steel plate for comparison, when tested in the same manner. 3.2.7 Fungi resistance: The loose fill insulation material shall be tested for fungi resistance as specified in 4.5.7. The material shall show no evidence of fungal growth.

3.2.8 Loss of ignition: When tested in accordance with 4.5.10, the loss of ignition shall be 12 percent or less.

3.3 Marking: Each bag of insulation shall be marked to include the following: (a) Name of manufacturer.

(b) Type of insulation.

(c) Minimum weight of insulation per bag.

(d) The manufacturer recommends that the insulation be installed at these minimum thickness, maximum coverage, and minimum weights per square foot to provide the levels of insulation thermal resistance (R) shown. (e) Filled-in table on insulation shall include the following:

(f) Builder's statement: "This is to certify that this insulation has been installed in conformance with the above recommendations to provide a value of R=

using

bags of this insulation to cover

square feet of area".

(g) Place for builder's signature, company name, and date.
(h) Place for applicator's signature, company name, and date.