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i EXHIBITS WH--993
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SOUTHWESi RESEARCH INSTITUTE 8500 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Texas 78206
Department of Structural Research Fire Research Section
!: :i. INVESTIGATION OF SURFACE BURNING
v CHARACTERISTICS OF DECORATIVE
r- LAMINATE PANELS .!
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C.R. Frans
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Project No. 03" 1451 4021 n Final Report ':'; i
'V . Prepared for
United Srv.: u Plywood Corporation 707 Third Avenue
Ncv York, New York :
April 7, 1965 APPROVED:
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Robert C, DeHart, Director Department of Structural Research
07001928 ; i.
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I. INTRODUCTION This report is a presentation of the results of thirteen flame spread
tunnel tests on decorative laminate panels submitted for evaluation by the
United States Plywood Corporation, New York, New York, The report
contains a description of the materials, the preparation and conditioning of the test specimens, the test procedure, and the test results.
The tests were conducted in accordance with the provisions of ASTM
Designation 84-61, "Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Charac teristics of Building Materials." This la similar to the test specified in NFPANo. 255, Underwriter s' Laboratories Bulletin No, 723, and UBC No. 42
The purpose.of these test's Is to evaluate the performance.of a material in relation to the performance of asbestos-cement board and red oak fli
Ing under similar fire exposure. The results are in terms of flame spread, fuel contributed, and smoko developed during a 10-mlnute exposure and are numerically expressed as & ratio with asbestos-cement board "zero" and re oak flooring "100", Periods calibration tests using select red oak flooring
provide the "100" reference, and the "zero" reference is established by conducting a 10-minute test with asbestos-cement board prior to each test series.
The results presented apply only to the specimen tested and not
necessarily to the entire production of these or similar materials. All test
are on file and are available for review by the'sponsor or his authorize
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representative, .
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II. DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL
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Thirty nine 21" X 8'0" X 7/8" (nominal) panels, and thirteen
21" X 16" X 6/8" (nominal) panels oi' laminated construction were received on March 17, 1965. These cons isted of either a i/4" plywood or a 3/4"
flake board type core, surfaced on both sides ^slth a thin plastic laminate,
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and represent eight different type6 of laminate construction, herein referred
to as Specimens (A), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (I) and (J), The following
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description of each specimen was provided by the manufacturer:
. Specimen (A)< Face: 0, 050 FR (asbestos) Micarta Core: FR Treated Novoply
. Back: 0. 045 asbestos Micarta backing sheet Adhesive: Phenol Resorcinal glue
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Specimen (C)'* Same as (A) except with treated fir plywood core
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Specimen (D) : 'N' .
Face: 1/16" standard Micarta Core: FR Treated Novoply Back: 0. 045 standard backing sheet Adhesive: Phenol Resorcinal glue
Specimen (E) .Same as (D) except with treated fir plywood core *I
Specimen (F) Face: 1/32" standard Micarta . .Co re: FR Treated Novoply
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Back: 0. 020 standard Micarta backing sheet Glue: Phenol Resorcinal glue
, Specimen (G) Same as (F) except with treated fir plywood core
Specimen (I) \
Face: 0. 050 FR (asbestos) Micarta Core: FR Treated Novoply Back: 0. 045 asbestos Micarta backing sheet Adhesive: Phenol Resorcinal glue Fabrication: l" wide grooves,, 3/8" deep, 5" o. c.
on face side
Spaelmtn (J) , Same as (I) except with treated fire plywood core
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07001930
The treated Novoply core mai' >1 bore a UL label showing a 25 flame
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spread rate, and the treated ji plywood core material had a UL label
indicating a flame spread rating of 15. Average unit weights of the specimens submitted are listed in
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Table 1.
TABLE l. AVERAGE UNIT WEIGHT
Specimen . (lb per bq ft) ; 1
A 3. 43 C 3. 19 D-' 3. 25 E ; 3. 02 F 2. 61 G 2. 68 I 2. 94 J 3.05
III. . PREPARATION AND CONDITIONING OF TEST SPECIMEN
No preparation of the *;.>ccime?le was necessary since the panels
submitted were cut to dimennione necessary to form a complete 21" X25'4"
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test specimen by placing.three 21" X 8'0" panels arid one 21" X 16" panel
snd-to**end.
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The materials were conditioned in the tumace room where the
atmosphere is maintained at between 70* and 75*F and between 35 and
40 percent relative humidity.
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O IV. TEST PROCEDURE * The testa on these specimens were conducted on March 29 and
30, 1965 with Mr. C. A. Stevens as an observer from United States Plywood
Corporation. Reference data were obtained and furnace operation cheeked
by conducting a 10-minute tost with asbestos-cement board. This provided
a "aero" reference for flame spread, fuel contributed, and smoke density. ..
j.'. The "100" reference had been established using red oak flooring.
Ignition over the burners occurred 46 seconds after the start of the test.
and the flame reached the end of the specimen in 5-1/2 minutes.-
The decorative laminate specimens were tested in accordance with'.
the standard procedure, with the. finished surface, described as the "face"
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in Section II exposed td the ; = do of the furnace.
V. TEST RESUi/tS
.Test results, calculuiv.i on the basis of observed flame travel
and the areas under the recorder curves of furnace temperature and light absorption, are presented as u numerical' classification in Table 2',
Triplicate tests were conducted on Specimens (A) and (D) and duplicate tests on Specimen (F) at the request of the Sponsor.
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TABLE 2. CLASSIFICATION TABLE
Teat Specimen
Flame Spread Fuel Contributed
Rate
:
Rate
Smoke Density Factor
Asbestos-Cement. ;
Board
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Red Oak Flooring /. ^ ./
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Specimen (A) t ' v Test-1 - 2 '`;V
- 3 * '.!
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*18_ 3 * \ > .*, .
10
. L:; 3
5 ;
Specimen (C) * . 1
7;. y 8
10
" . V.. . } \ Spe cimen (D) V
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Test - 1
.'49 *
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33
44 34
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/; 49*
` 36
Specimen (E) .
.'70
42
Specimen (F) V' Test - 1 'A.
-2
-25 25
..... .
24 27
\0 100
12 6.
6:
78 54 ' 66
102
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: ; 32 47
Specimen (G) ^ Specimen (I) Specimen (J) *
44 1 ; 21t. 13 Jfl
65
29 4718
*A delamination of the surface at 7-3/4 minutes accounted for the higher .flamespread and smoke density on^Specimen A-l:,.-
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O VI. TEST OBSERVATIONS AND RECORDED '5ATA I Primary ignition times as they occurred ;jm each test are listed in
Table 3.
TABLE 3. PRIMARY IGNITION
Specimen
Tu 11 No.
Time [Seconds.)
(A) l
10
* AO :>o
3 f
<C) 68
(D) 1 2
3
105
>j62
85
; 1
' (E).,
om
40
I 60 40
(a> 1 30 "l
(I) -195
<J> 195
Observed flame spread, and recorded furnace temperature and
light absorption (smoke denBiiy) typical of each specimen are shown in
Figures 1 through.6 as a soli- line on each graph* .
VIII*
OBSERVATIONS AFV. TEST Specimen (A) Thret : ;ata
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O . No afterflaming was oo .erved when th burners were shutoff at the end of the three 10-minute tcoie. 07001934
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O 25
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20
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10
6 5
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) 1 J Q1 Time (minutes)
FLAME SPREAD
lioi.rc
-4-J/2' Igniting Flame Length
5, Burno
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Time (minutes);
FURNACE'TEMPERAjrURE (Fuel Contribution)
u Time (minuter) LIGHT ABSORPTION (Srjioke Density)
07001935
wrtmstr i. r.PAPHIC PRESENTATION OF TEST RESULTS
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' F la m e S p re a d (fe e t)
8 FLAME SPREAD
Furnace Tem p (aF)
. U g h t A bsorption (MV)
FIGURE 2. GRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF TEST RESULTS
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FOR SPECIMEN (C)
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Time (minutes)
89
FLAME SPREAD
.4-1/2* Igniting Flame Length
1*<g, Burn
1250
FlOOO
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Muu 500
250 f[ old
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2 3 45
6 78 9
Time (minutes)
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4'
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FURNACE TEMPERATURE (Fuel; Contribution)
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'imc (minutes)
LIGHT ABSORPTION (Smoke Density)
10 'tc-
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'~T' * wrr! PRESENTATION OF TEST RESULTS
Jlam e Spread (feet)
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11
25
20
15
10 5 0
FLAME SPREAD
FURNACE TEMPERATURE (Fuel Contribution)
Furnace Temp {'F )
L ig h t A bsorpt' 'M V )
FIGURE 5. GRA. MIC PRESENTATION OF TEST RESULTS
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FLAME SPREAD
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,FIGURE 7. GRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF TEST RESULTS
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On an average for the
teats, the plastic laminate was blistered,
charred or burned away for th>: first 12' from the burner end. The asbestos
laminate was charred through over the area of flame impingement, slightly
charred or discolored to about 8' and lost bond with core to 7', The core
damage was confined to a 1/8" Ojup char over the burner area which
decreased to no char after 7'. .o further damage to the panels was .
observed except stain along the exposed surface.
Specimen (C) No afterflaming was observed at the end of the test.
The plastic laminate was blistered, charred.or burned away to 16'
from the burner end, with a large blister, occurring at 20*. The asbestos
laminate was charred through over the area of flame impingement and
slightly charred or stained to 9'. Damage to the plywood core amounted to
1/8" char over the burners decreasing to surface char at 8*.
Specimen (D) - Three Tosta
Afterflaming occurred in the three tests for approximately 1.-1/2
minutes after the burners were extinguished.
On an average for the th;i;e testa, the laminate was burned away
or charred and flaking off from '.7* to 20*. Core char ranged from 5/32"
to 1/4" deep over the burners ; ,o damage at 10' in one case t^l9* in
another. Beyond 201 only stair. ..as observed to the end of the specimens.
07OOJ94s
Specimen (E)
Slight efterflaming and smoldering of the apeciman wae obaerved
for 1 minute.
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: The plaetic laminate wae blletered, charred or burned away to
23' and stained beyond to the end. The core wae .charred 3/8" deep over
the burners, 1/4" at S', 1/16" at 10'. No further damage to the core
was observed beyond IS1.
Specimen (T) ~ Two Tu.-sta
Some afterflaming occurred for 27 and 40 seconds at the end of the -
tests.
. The plastic .laminate was mostly destroyed on the first 10' from
the burner end, and charred or blistered to approximately 17'. Core damage
ranged from 1/4" deep char over burners to surface char at 11". Beyond
17' no further damage to either specimen was observed except stain.
Specimen 1C)
No afterflaming was observed at the end of the test. * >--' "
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The plastic laminate was mostly burned away or charred to 12',
and blistered at 14* and between 17' and 20', The core was charred 3/8"
deep over burners, and 1/4" at 5', with no further damage observed beyond
12'.
Specimen (I)
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Afterflaming was observed for 23 seconds at the end of the 10-minute
test.
. 07001944
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The plastic laminate was burned away or chared to 9', and sta .ned
beyond to the end. The asbestos laminate was dharredthroughover ths
burner area, and slightly charred or discolored to 71". "Cracks in the.
surface laminate were observed along U^/edges of the 1 *' wide grooves to 21*.
Core damage was confined to 3/fi^deep char over the burners, 1/4" deep
char at 6', and surface char at 81,
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Specimen (J)
No`afterflaming was observed at the end of the 10-minute test.
The plastic laminate was mostly burned away or charred to 8,|,
blistered to 16' and intermittently charred along the surface, and, stained
beyond to the end of the specimen. The asbestos laminate was charred
through and delaminated over the burners, and discolored to 8'. Cracks i
Jn the surface laminate were observed along the edges of the grooves,to
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IT. The plywood core was charred approximately 1/8" deep over tae
burners and at 51.
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VIII.
CONCLUSION
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The flame spread characteristics of the decorative laminate1 panels
described herein and tested in accordance with ASTM E84-61 are ai presented
in Section V of this report.
C,?OOj 94*