Combustibility of Building Materials ASTM E2652

Scope:

ASTM E2652 helps spot flammable building materials that might aggravate a blazing fire. This is one of the precautionary measures engineers take against fire disasters.  

ASTM E2652 test cannot be used to test laminated building materials, and building materials that flow, soften, or melt on heating. It does not provide a quantitative measurement of combustibility and self-heating tendencies of building materials either.

Test Procedure:

ASTM E2652 is conducted at room temperature. First, an external air source is provided to supply the clean air, through a metal tube located near the furnace top. The furnace is heated to reach 750 °C. The sample is placed in the furnace as soon as possible. The heating is continued until the temperature reaches maxima or the sample fails this test. 

After 30 minutes testing is discontinued, if over the previous 10 minutes, the temperature measured at the center thermocouple has risen by no more than 1°C in any one minute. 

Each specimen is weighed before and after testing to record the weight loss if any. Throughout the test visual observations are recorded, noting quality, quantity, intensity, change of physical state, and duration of flaming or smoking.

Specimen:

 In ASTM E2652, specimens are not in the form they will be used in the buildings. The test specimens are small, specified volume cut from thick sheets, or assembled from thin sheets of multiple thicknesses. Materials that are Loose fiber or granular powder specimens are placed in a container for the test.

Results:

This is not a quantitative test so there are no calculations. There are just observations if the building material is flammable or not.