5.1 This guide identifies concepts for assessing the continued applicability of fire test reports for reaction to fire tests as used in building regulation. It provides guidance to users and requesters of test reports for reaction to fire tests, developed in accordance with the fire response test standards, such as those from ASTM, UL, or NFPA, to determine the continued applicability of a fire test report for regulatory use. This guide is not applicable to test reports for fire resistance.

5.2 This guide assumes that a fire test report generated by a test laboratory represents the performance of the material or product in accordance with the fire test standard identified in the report at the time a specific material or product was tested.

5.3 This guide is not designed to assist in determining the continued applicability of a material or product that is listed, labeled, or given in an evaluation report.

5.4 This guide is not designed to assist in determining whether a test laboratory conducted the test reference in the fire test report in accordance with a standard test protocol.

5.5 This guide is not designed to assist in determining whether the fire test laboratory issuing a fire test report met the requirements of competence of testing and calibration methods.4

5.6 This guide is not designed to assist in determining the applicability of a fire test report with respect to the measurement uncertainty developed in accordance with Guide E2536.

5.7 Do not consider issuance of a new edition with only editorial changes (as notated in ASTM by “epsilon or ɛ” ) or with a reapproval date, as a new edition containing a technical change.

1.1 This guide contains concepts that provide guidance for assessing the continued applicability of fire test reports for reaction to fire tests on materials or products used in building regulation.

1.2 This guide describes how sponsors and users of fire test reports for reaction to fire tests can assess whether existing reports continue being applicable: (1) to the materials or products currently being offered for use, and (2) to a building regulation that references a different edition of the test standard. This guide is intended to identify conditions that may cause a fire test report for reaction to fire tests, which was valid when prepared, to no longer be an appropriate tool upon which decisions about the materials or products can be based.

1.3 Application of this guide is dependent on the technical changes in the fire test standard that could impact the test results and thus the classification of the material or product. Application of this guide will be better facilitated when fire test standards include explicit documentation of significant historical technical changes.

1.4 This guide does not address fire test reports relating to fire resistance tests.

1.5 The determination of the validity of a fire test report is outside the scope of this guide.

1.6 Fire test reports or certificates on assemblies are outside the scope of this guide.

1.7 Fire test reports or certificates on materials or products listed, labeled and inspected by a certification agency are outside the scope of this guide.

Note 1: Certification agencies have their own criteria to assess the continued applicability of fire test reports.

1.8 Some concepts contained in this guide may not be applicable to all fire test reports since they are a function of the type of fire test conducted and of the type of material or product assessed.

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

1.10 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.