5.1 Textile, paper, vinyl, expanded vinyl, or other polymeric wall or ceiling coverings and wall or ceiling covering systems used as interior finish are often evaluated with Test Method E84 to comply with building or life safety code requirements. This practice describes specimen preparation and mounting procedures for such materials and systems.

5.2 This practice also describes specimen preparation and mounting procedures for other systems that are evaluated with Test Method E84 to comply with building or life safety code requirements. Such systems are facings or wood veneers intended to be applied on site over a wood substrate and water-resistive barriers.

5.3 This practice is not applicable to the following materials:

5.3.1 Foam plastic materials used as water-resistive barriers.

5.3.2 Water vapor retarders installed over thermal insulation.

1.1 This practice describes procedures for specimen preparation and mounting when testing textile, paper, vinyl, expanded vinyl, or other polymeric wall or ceiling covering materials to assess flame spread and smoke development as surface burning characteristics using Test Method E84.

1.2 This practice applies also to facings or wood veneers intended to be applied on site over a wood substrate (see 8.7).

1.3 This practice applies also to water-resistive barriers that are used as a component of exterior wall systems, as part of the exterior envelope (see 3.2.10 and 8.9).

1.4 This practice does not apply to the following:

1.4.1 Laminated products factory produced with a wood substrate, which are covered by Practice E2579.

1.4.2 Water-resistive barriers comprised of foam plastic materials contained within the wall system (see 5.3.1).

1.4.3 Water vapor retarders used, in conjunction with thermal insulation, on the interior or exterior side of an exterior wall (see 3.2.11 and 5.3.1).

1.5 Testing is conducted with Test Method E84.

1.6 This practice does not provide pass/fail criteria that can be used as a regulatory tool.

1.7 Units—Use the values stated in inch-pound units as the standard, in referee decisions. The values in the SI system of units are given in parentheses, for information only; see IEEE/ASTM SI-10 for further details.

1.8 This fire standard cannot be used to provide quantitative measures.

1.9 Fire testing of products and materials is inherently hazardous, and adequate safeguards for personnel and property shall be employed in conducting these tests. Fire testing involves hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard gives instructions on specimen preparation and mounting, but the fire-test-response method is given in Test Method E84. See also Section 10.

1.10 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes shall not be considered requirements of the standard.

1.11 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.12 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.