5.1 This practice is intended to evaluate the material performance after exposure to specified environmental factors. It is understood that these performance values are dependent upon these specified exposure periods and intensities of environmental factors. Other values are possible if the exposure period or intensity of environmental factor, or both, is changed.

5.2 This practice is intended to be used where the material is exposed to the specific extreme environmental condition in its intended field of application.

5.3 The user shall establish which properties are relevant to the application at hand, in order to determine the properties to be tested.

Note 2: It is not intended for all properties to be tested in all cases.

5.4 This practice is intended to evaluate only the following types of materials, as defined by their physical properties used in penetration firestops:

5.4.1 Endothermic,

5.4.2 Intumescent,

5.4.3 Insulative,

5.4.4 Ablative, and

5.4.5 Subliming.

5.5 This practice determines initial physical properties to allow comparison with physical properties after exposure. The following properties are to be considered, as applicable:

5.5.1 Weight loss or gain,

5.5.2 Volume expansion,

5.5.3 Thermal conductivity,

5.5.4 Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA),

5.5.5 Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC),

5.5.6 Tensile strength and elongation,

5.5.7 Visual observations, and

5.5.8 Loss on ignition.

5.6 This practice uses the following exposures:

5.6.1 Elevated temperature,

5.6.2 High humidity,

5.6.3 Carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide with moisture present,

5.6.4 Water immersion,

5.6.5 Temperature cycling,

5.6.6 Wet-freeze-dry cycling, and

5.6.7 Weathering.

5.7 This practice does not provide any information regarding the actual fire performance of the firestop before or after the exposure tests.

5.8 This practice will provide a comparison between formula and processing changes in materials.

5.9 This practice only provides for a comparison of the tested material before and after a specified exposure test. While this practice is designed to better understand how a material property may change after exposure to an environmental factor, it is not meant to predict longevity of service life. Service life longevity is addressed in Practice E2923.

5.10 This practice shall be used as one element in evaluating materials or selecting firestop material(s) for a specific application. Other factors shall be considered, such as its fire performance as tested in accordance with Test Methods E814 or E119, flame spread as tested in accordance with Test Method E84, durability, and its compatibility with its adjacent materials.

1.1 This practice evaluates a change in physical properties of firestop materials after exposure to an enhanced environmental factor. This practice does not evaluate the fire performance of the firestop materials.

1.2 This practice uses the following exposures:

1.2.1 Elevated temperature,

1.2.2 High humidity,

1.2.3 Carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide with moisture present,

1.2.4 Water immersion,

1.2.5 Temperature cycling,

1.2.6 Wet-freeze-dry cycling, and

1.2.7 Weathering.

1.3 This practice establishes indicators that will aid in determining the use of the tested material in buildings.

1.4 This practice evaluates the properties of component products used within a firestop system, and does not evaluate the properties of assembled firestop systems.

Note 1: This practice does not preclude the possibility of exposing complete firestop systems to one or more severe environmental exposures and then exposing the complete firestop system to a fire test. After subjecting materials to exposures covered in this practice, the results of a fire test can be affected positively or negatively.

1.5 This practice is intended to be a screening method in the evaluation of the change in physical properties of a specific material before and after various specified enhanced environmental factors. Individual tests are not intended to be the only determining factor in evaluating or selecting a firestop material because each test has limitations.

1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.7 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.

1.8 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.