Development of a Proposed ASTM Guide to Continued Applicability of Reports on Fire Test Standards

摘要

Fire test reports provide information relative to the fire-test-response characteristics of a material, product, or assembly at the time when it was tested and to the evaluative approach of the fire test used, including understanding of the fire test that was used. Such fire test reports remain valid for the particular point in time at which the fire test was conducted, as long as the test was conducted in full accordance with the fire test standard referenced in the test report. However, fire test reports may, at some time, cease being applicable to the material, product, or assembly currently being offered for use; for example, if there has been a technical change in the fire test protocol or if there has been a substantial change in the material, product, or assembly being offered for use. The ASTM Committee E05, and subcommittee E05.31 on Terminology and Services/Functions, is considering the development of an ASTM Guide to formalize the above ideas. The draft ASTM guide contains concepts which provide guidance for assessing the continued applicability of fire test reports. The concepts in the draft guide are intended for application by users of fire test reports to assess whether a particular fire test report continues to be an applicable representation of the fire-test-response characteristics of a material, product, or assembly which is required to be tested for a new assessment using the same fire test standard. The continued applicability of the fire test report will be a function primarily of two issues: (a) whether the material, product or assembly being offered for use is substantially the same as the one that was tested and (b) whether the test method being required is substantially the same as the test that was conducted for the report in question. Some concepts included in the draft guide may be a function of the type of fire test conducted and of the type of material, product, or assembly assessed. The draft guide considers in a separate category materials, products or assemblies listed by an accredited listing agency.