Fire test laboratories, caulk and sealant manufacturers, and code officials will be the primary users of a new ASTM International standard, ASTM E2690, Practice for Specimen Preparation and Mounting of Caulks and Sealants to Assess Surface Burning Characteristics.
The standard was developed by Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface Burning, which is part of ASTM International Committee E05 on Fire Standards.
According to Paul Hough, manager of product fire performance, Armstrong World Industries, and an E05 member, ASTM E2690 resulted from an ongoing effort to address materials that are not easily assessed using ASTM E84, Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials.
“There have been a number of differing techniques to test these types of materials in ASTM E84,” says Hough. “ASTM E2690 will give a uniform method that all can follow which helps address some of the special issues with caulks and sealants.” Hough notes that all interested parties are invited to join in the standards developing activities of E05.22
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