Fire Testing

Everyone wants to feel safe in their own home.

Atlas Wall polyiso continuous insulation boards protect your home from fire both inside and out. That’s because Atlas Wall Continuous Insulation boards meet ASTM E84, NFPA 285 and NFPA 286 fire safety standards. Both builders and homeowners get the assurance of a fire safe home.

In fact, laboratory testing shows Atlas polyiso boards will char during a fire—unlike thermoplastic foams, which melt and drip, potentially causing dangerous conditions and spreading fire.

DRJ-TER 1306-03: NFPA 285 Tested Assemblies

Fire Safety Tested. What Does That Mean?

Fire safety for residential construction revolves around three major tests – E84, NFPA 285 and NFPA 286. Though all three focus on fire safety, they all measure three distinct fire-safety characteristics of building materials.

ASTM E84

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) develops international standards for a multitude of industries, including construction.

The ASTM E84 test provides measurements of “surface flame spread and smoke density measurements with that of select grade red oak and fiber-cement board surfaces.” The test limits observation to the building component itself. Meaning combustible wall or ceiling materials used in conjunction with the selected component could alter the flame test results.

NFPA 285 & 286

Both these tests continue where ASTM E84 stops. The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) advocates fire prevention and public safety by developing industry accepted codes and standards that minimize the possibility and effects of fire.

NFPA 285 addresses the fire risk associated with materials used for external non-load bearing wall assemblies made of or containing combustible materials.

NFPA 286 takes an extensive look at materials used for internal portions of a structure. It’s better known as the “room corner” test. This standard tests internal room materials, and how those materials used to assemble internal wall and ceiling structures attribute to the risk of flame spread. NFPA 286 documents extent of fire growth, rate of heat release, total heat released, time to flashover, time to flame extension, total heat flux incident to the floor, upper level gas temperature, smoke obscuration, production of carbon monoxide, and emissions of other combustion gases.