This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: E2632/E2632M − 20 An American National Standard

Standard Test Method for

Evaluating the Under-Deck Fire Test Response of Deck
Materials1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2632/E2632M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This standard prescribes a method to assess the fire-test 2.1 ASTM Standards:3
response characteristics of deck materials when used as the D2898 Practice for Accelerated Weathering of Fire-
walking surface of a deck. The prescribed fire exposure is Retardant-Treated Wood for Fire Testing
intended, under test conditions, to determine the heat release D4442 Test Methods for Direct Moisture Content Measure-
rate and the thermal decomposition modes of decking materials ment of Wood and Wood-Based Materials
when exposed to a burner flame simulating combustibles D4444 Test Method for Laboratory Standardization and
burning beneath a deck.2 Calibration of Hand-Held Moisture Meters
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in E2067 Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calo-
each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, rimetry Fire Tests
each system shall be used independently of the other. Combin- 2.2 ISO Standards:4
ing values from the two systems has the potential to result in ISO 13943 Fire Safety – Vocabulary
non-conformance with the standard. 3. Terminology
1.3 This standard is used to measure and describe the 3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
response of deck materials to heat and flame under controlled method, refer to Terminology E176 or ISO 13943. When
conditions, but does not by itself incorporate all factors discrepancies exist, the definition in Terminology E176 shall
required for fire hazard or fire risk assessment of the deck prevail.
materials under actual fire conditions.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3.2.1 deck surface area, n—the test specimen area defined
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the by the overall specimen length and width after assembly.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter- 4. Summary of Test Method
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4.1 The test method described here measures the heat
1.5 Fire testing is inherently hazardous. Adequate safe-
release rate of deck materials subjected to a flame source
guards for personnel and property shall be employed in
located beneath a test specimen.
conducting these tests.
4.2 The test method employs a diffusion flame based fire
1.6 This international standard was developed in accor-
source from a nominal 305 mm [12 in.] square burner located
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
underneath the test specimen.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 4.3 An 80 kW fire exposure shall be applied to the underside
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical of the test specimen for a period of 3 min after which the
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. burner is extinguished.
4.4 Fire test response characteristics monitored and re-
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire corded shall include heat release of the test specimen utilizing
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.14 on External Fire
Exposures.
3
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2020. Published March 2020. Originally For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
approved in 2013. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as E2632/E2632M-13ɛ1. contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
DOI: 10.1520/E2632_E2632M-20. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
2
Appendix X1 provides commentary on the background of this test method as the ASTM website.
4
well as its potential use for evaluation of coatings and surface treatments of deck Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
products. la Voie-Creuse, CP 56, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu May 27 05:03:12 EDT 2021
1
Downloaded/printed by
Al muhandis nizar Al kurdi al milli (Al muhandis nizar al kurdi al milli engineering consultants) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 E2632/E2632M − 20
oxygen depletion methodologies as described in Practice moisture content of the test material shall be measured prior to
E2067. In addition, physical changes of the test specimen conducting the test. For lumber and other wood-based
during the test shall be recorded. materials, use Test Methods D4442. Use of an appropriately
calibrated moisture meter, as described in Test Method D4444,
5. Significance and Use to determine the moisture content of wood or wood products is
5.1 This test method addresses the suitability of deck also permitted. For other hygroscopic materials, use test
materials by assessing their response to fire hazards associated methods appropriate for those materials.
with sources of flame located beneath the deck material.
6.3 Test Specimen Size—The overall test specimen width
6. Deck Test Specimen (i.e., direction of joists, see Fig. 1) shall be 710 6 51 mm [28
6 2.0 in.] to accommodate variations in individual deck board
6.1 Test material shall be representative of normal daily
production and shall be installed according to the manufactur- width and spacing. The length of individual deck boards shall
er’s instructions. Test material for developmental products be 610 6 6 mm [24 6 0.25 in.]. The deck surface area shall be
shall be so identified. the overall test specimen length and width after assembly of the
test specimen. The front deck board shall be flush with the ends
6.2 Pre-test Conditioning—Prior to testing, all materials of the joists. The rear deck board shall overhang the end of the
(deck boards and joist material) shall be conditioned to a joists by 25 6 6 mm [1 6 0.25 in.] and rest on the ledger board
constant weight or for a minimum of 30 days at 21 6 2 ºC [70 attached to the test apparatus. Deck board profiles shall not be
6 4 ºF] and 50 6 5 % relative humidity, whichever occurs first. changed from their manufactured dimensions.
Constant weight shall be defined as occurring when the change
in test material weight is less than or equal to 0.1 % in a 24-h 6.4 Joists—When constructing the test specimen, the deck
period. For those materials whose fire test response is poten- materials shall be attached to two nominal 2 by 6-in. Douglas-
tially affected by moisture resident within that material, the fir joists with a 406 6 5 mm [16 6 0.2 in.] center-to-center

FIG. 1 Schematic Representation of the Under-Deck Test Apparatus

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu May 27 05:03:12 EDT 2021
2
Downloaded/printed by
Al muhandis nizar Al kurdi al milli (Al muhandis nizar al kurdi al milli engineering consultants) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 E2632/E2632M − 20
spacing, creating an approximate 90 mm [approx. 3.5 in.] 7.5 Joist Support—Horizontal metal plates shall be provided
overhang on one side of each joist. to support the joists along their full length, and also to confine
burner flames to the underside of the deck boards located
7. Under-Deck Test Apparatus (See Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) between the support joists. The support surface of the joist
7.1 Burner—The ignition source for the test shall be a gas support shall be 545 mm 6 6 mm [21.5 6 0.25 in.] above the
burner with a nominal 305 by 305 mm [12 by 12 in.] porous top of the burner. If gaps exist between the joists and joist
top surface of a refractory material. The refractory material support, the user shall be permitted to insert ceramic wool, of
shall be a minimum 102-mm [4-in.] layer of white Ottawa sand joist width and no more than 6 mm [0.25 in.] thick, along the
used to provide the horizontal surface through which the gas is bottom of each joist to confine burner flames to the underside
supplied. The gas supply to the burner shall provide an output of the deck boards.
of 80 6 4 kW using a regulated CP propane gas source, and 7.6 Back Wall—Ceramic fiber board or other non-
shall be metered throughout the test, with an accuracy of at combustible panel product shall be used for the interior surface
least 63 %. Heat release rates shall be calculated using of the back wall. The back wall shall extend 0.2 m 6 6 mm [8
propane’s net heat of combustion, which is 50.0 MJ/kg. 6 0.25 in.] above the floor and be supported to allow
7.2 Oxygen Depletion Calorimeter—The system includes a unrestricted airflow. Total height of the back wall shall be 2.4
hood, associated ducting, and instrumentation to provide heat m 6 12 mm [8 ft 6 0.5 in.].
release rate data by oxygen consumption calorimetry, and is 7.7 Ledger Board—A 0.71 m 6 5 mm [28 6 0.25 in.] long
described in Sections 6.4 and 7 of Practice E2067. simulated 38 by 140 mm [nominal 2 by 6- in.] ledger board
7.3 The facility where the test is conducted shall be draft- shall be constructed of layers of ceramic fiber board (or other
protected and equipped with a system for exhausting smoke or non-combustible panel product) and attached to the back wall,
noxious gases, or both, produced by testing. Air velocity in the between the baffle walls, at a height slightly below the
vicinity of the test deck surface shall not exceed 0.5 m/s [1.64 overhang of the rear deck board of the test specimen.
ft/s]. This facility shall be maintained at 20 6 10 °C [68 6 18 7.8 Burner Location—The burner shall be centered directly
°F] and at a relative humidity less than 75 % at the time the test under the test specimen, midway between the support joists.
begins. Initiation of flammability testing shall begin within 20 The distance from the top of the burner to the lowest portion of
min after removal of the test specimen from the pre-test the deck material shall be 690 6 5 mm [27 6 0.2 in.].
conditioning environment.
7.9 Burner Output Verification—Without a test specimen in
7.4 Baffle Walls—Ceramic fiber board or other non- the apparatus, the burner output shall be set to 80 6 4 kW. At
combustible panel product shall be used for the interior surface least one, 3 min verification run shall be conducted to ensure
of the baffle walls. The baffle wall shall extend 0.2 m 6 6 mm the burner heat release rate.
[8 6 0.25 in.] above the floor to a total height of 0.9 m 6 6 mm
[37 6 0.25 in.] and be supported to allow unrestricted airflow. 8. Under-Deck Test Procedure
8.1 The test shall be conducted on a minimum of two test
specimens. If the difference between the peak heat release
rates, determined in 10.3, for these two test specimens is
greater than 20 %, a third replicate shall be required. The
percent difference shall be calculated using the larger value of
the two peak heat release rates in the denominator.
8.2 Ignite the burner, controlling for a constant 80 6 4 kW
output.
8.3 Continue the exposure for a 3 min [+2 s, -0 s] period.
Extinguish the burner.
8.4 Continue observation for an additional 40 min or until
all combustion has ceased, whichever occurs first. The test
shall be terminated immediately if flaming combustion accel-
erates uncontrollably (runaway combustion).
8.5 Note physical changes of the deck materials during the
test, including structural failure of any deck board, location of
flaming and glowing ignition, and loss of material (i.e., flaming
drops or particles falling from the deck). A video or photo-
graphic record of the test shall be obtained.
8.6 Measurement of Heat Release Rate—Heat release rate is
measured during the tests using an oxygen depletion calorim-
eter (per 10.3). The heat release rate shall be measured
FIG. 2 Schematic Representation of the Gas Burner throughout the test duration at a maximum of 6 s intervals.

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu May 27 05:03:12 EDT 2021
3
Downloaded/printed by
Al muhandis nizar Al kurdi al milli (Al muhandis nizar al kurdi al milli engineering consultants) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 E2632/E2632M − 20
9. Accelerated Aging/Weathering 10.3 The report shall include complete data on the measured
9.1 When it is anticipated that a regulatory or other agency heat release rate (kW) versus time(s). Because the burner is
will require pre-test accelerated aging/weathering of the ignited for the first three minutes of the test, the calculation of
samples, the manufacturer shall have the option to conduct the peak heat release rate during that period shall be reduced by
such weathering. Weathering shall be conducted as specified by the amount of heat provided by the burner. For the first three
the regulatory agency or applicable methods as specified for minutes of the test, the peak heat release rate per unit area (Pk
the product. The process shall evaluate the potential for the fire HRR) shall be reported as: Pk HRR = [maximum HRR
test response characteristics as measured in this test method to recorded – 80 kW] / [deck surface area]. Once the burner no
deteriorate due to accelerated aging/weathering of the deck longer affects the heat release rate, the peak heat release rate
material. Details of the accelerated aging/weathering method per unit area (Pk HRR) shall be reported as: Pk HRR =
used, or a reference to a standard test method, shall be included [maximum HRR recorded / deck surface area].
in the report (see Commentary X1.4).
11. Precision and Bias
10. Report
10.1 The report shall include a description of the test 11.1 Committee E05 is pursuing the development of data
material, the accelerated aging/weathering cycle (when regarding the precision and bias of this test method. One
performed), the test specimen, and support structure. laboratory conducted an evaluation of three products with three
replicates per product. The within-laboratory coefficient of
10.2 The report shall include notation of physical changes
variation of peak heat release rate for the three products was
of the test material during the test, including complete burn-
3.6 %, 4.2 %, and 2.4 % respectively.
through of an individual cross-section, structural failure of any
test material, location of flaming and glowing combustion, and
loss of material during the test including (i.e., flaming drops or 12. Keywords
particles falling from the deck). A photographic or a video 12.1 decking products; fire test response; heat release rate;
record, or both, of the test shall be reported. under-deck fire test

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. COMMENTARY

X1.1 Scope a companion test method is under development within the E05
X1.1.1 This test method was developed in response to committee which addresses the impact of burning brands
recommendations developed by the California Office of the applied to the upper surface of decks.
State Fire Marshal (OSFM)5 regarding the performance of
decking materials in a wildland fire (exterior wildfire expo- X1.2 Decking Test Method Development
sure). The wood-plastic composite lumber industry and solid X1.2.1 The major concern about the ignition of decking is
lumber industry participated in the development of these the hazard that it presents to the habitable structure. For
recommendations. The OSFM recommendations established example, most decks, porches, patios, and landings are adja-
performance criteria for a variety of materials to be used in cent and usually attached to the structure. As such, most
exterior buildings, structures, and detached accessory struc- decking is configured so that it can be threatened by two
tures. This test method is intended to address one component of potential sources of ignition: brands on the surface and flaming
an exterior wildfire exposure, that is, the under-deck fire test. material underneath the structure. This test method addresses
This is typically a performance test of an as-installed structure the case where a brand is blown or a surface fire extends under
comprised of materials for which information about their a deck and onto combustible material causing flaming com-
performance is desired. The test is a practical attempt to bustion that may lead to penetration through the siding or some
simulate the case where combustible material resides beneath a other vulnerable point of the main structure.
structure and is capable of becoming involved in a wildland fire X1.2.2 In an attempt to better understand the effects of an
event. The judgment regarding the magnitude of the fire source under-deck fire, a preliminary test method was developed by
used was the result of wildland fire studies by UC Berkeley, the the Forest Products Research Laboratory at UC Berkeley.
OSFM, along with industry input. While this test method Initially it was important to select a test specimen size. After
addresses only fire threats originating below the test specimen, under-deck fire testing various sizes from “pallet size” about
1.2 by 1.2 m [4 by 4 ft], it was found that the minimum size for
5
reproducibility was 610 by 610 mm [2 by 2 ft], with 38 by 140
OSFM California Department of Forestry & Fire Prevention, 12–7A-4 Fire
Resistance Standards for Decks and Other Horizontal Ancillary Structures, Office of mm [nominal 2 by 6 in.] joists spaced 410 mm [16 in.] on
the State Fire Marshall, PO Box 944246, Sacramento, CA 94244-2450, 2006. center (a common joist spacing for decks). Deck board spacing

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu May 27 05:03:12 EDT 2021
4
Downloaded/printed by
Al muhandis nizar Al kurdi al milli (Al muhandis nizar al kurdi al milli engineering consultants) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 E2632/E2632M − 20
was 5 mm [3/16 in.]. There is a key relationship between deck synthetic-based materials reflected those commercially avail-
and burner size, in that the burner must be small enough to not able by that date. Since the composition of most of the deck
impact the deck edges. The 300 by 300 mm [12 by 12 in.] board products is proprietary, the results only apply to those
burner concentrated its direct energy in an area slightly larger formulations produced at that time. Thus, the user cannot
than the burner size. For combustible materials, there is also assume that a newly purchased product would necessarily have
horizontal flamespread on the underside that is largely confined the same performance. Most materials had some combustion
to the space between the joists. that was accelerated by the open front edge of the deck
X1.2.3 The next step was to develop the test protocol. The assembly during the under-deck test. However, in general, this
under-deck fire assembly was supported over a 300 by 300 mm had little effect on the results, but was helpful to understand the
[12 by 12 in.] propane burner, and abutted to a 1.8 m [5.9 ft] effect of under-deck flamespread to the edge of a deck. For the
gypsum board wall. The under-deck test was modeled after most part, the ends of the deck boards were shielded by joists,
Babrauskas6 and Lee7 by using an 80 kW fire (equivalent to however, fire occasionally spread under or around the joists. In
about 1 kg [2.2 lb] of paper trash). The under-deck test this case, negative effects that could affect the degradation
included a measurement of heat release rate to determine if that criteria were discounted. On the other hand, ends of deck
would be a useful criterion for determining accelerated com- boards do exist, and the exposure of core material in some
bustion. In order to have impingement of the flame tip on the products could make them more vulnerable to degradation. The
underside of the deck boards a spacing of 690 mm [27 in.] from common 5 mm [3/16 in.] gap spacing is used to drain standing
top of burner to bottom of decking was chosen. Preliminary water from decks and also permit the joist-deck board interface
tests were conducted to determine the length of time of to properly ventilate. However, virtually all products devel-
exposure to flames. A 3 min exposure was found to be oped their initial flaming state by burner flames that penetrated
consistent for the 1 kg [2.2 lb] paper scenario and produced the through the deck boards.
best sensitivity in decking performance. X1.3 Test Method Applicability for Surface Coatings
X1.2.4 Test Materials—The deck tests included 15 commer- X1.3.1 This test method can be used to evaluate the fire-test
cial deck board materials (wood, wood/plastic, and all-plastic) response of materials with paints, coatings, stains, or other
that were chosen to be representative of the range of more than surface treatments used to enhance their fire performance.
20 products available on the market in early 2001. Selection of However, no recommendation is provided or intended relating
products was based on material composition and cross- to the efficacy of a particular coating or surface treatment in a
sectional form. The deck materials were purchased from retail particular end-use application.
sources between March and May of 2001. The boards were cut
into 610 mm [2 ft] lengths with five pieces taken from different X1.4 Accelerated Aging/Weathering of Test Material
full-length boards to minimize the effects of board-to-board
X1.4.1 The intent of the investigation will determine
variability.
whether or not some form of accelerated aging/weathering of
X1.2.5 Because many decks in California are constructed the test material prior to conducting the fire test is warranted.
with 38 mm [nominal 2 in.] heartgrade redwood, this product For product development research it may not be important or
was also tested. The redwood material served as a benchmark cost effective to subject a prototype test material to a treatment
for the comparison of plastic lumber and wood-plastic com- cycle before conducting a fire test. That decision is afforded the
posite decking materials to typical decking materials used in product development proponent. However, it is important to
this application. The deck materials were conditioned to 6 % alert the user of this test method that test material exposure
equilibrium moisture content in an effort to simulate the very conditions are always important to consider.
low equilibrium moisture content conditions of fire weather.
X1.4.2 It is reasonable to assume that some form of accel-
X1.2.6 Test Results—There were three major events that erated aging/weathering cycle will be required by an AHJ
were observed for the wide range of deck boards tested: 1) (authority having jurisdiction) or listing agency when it is
accelerated (runaway) combustion, 2) dripping or dropping of important to evaluate the permanence of the fire retardant
flaming combustibles, and 3) collapse of deck boards. Since properties of the product. In this case the particular aging
some of these events occurred long after the 3 min flame process will be defined by the intended end-use application and
exposure, the total test time was set at 40 min to ascertain that the materials content of the product being tested. Because this
all events had been completed. is a test method that can be used for a wide range of decking
X1.2.7 All tests were digitally recorded. Video tapes were products, it is not reasonable to assume that all materials
used to verify direct observations. The assemblies were tested should be subjected to the same accelerated aging/weathering
by the end of June 2001. Therefore, the composition of the process, particularly when materials content can be dramati-
cally different between product types. For example, Practice
D2898 has long been used with fire retardant treated lumber
6
products where leaching of chemicals may be an issue. For a
Babrauskas, V., Heat Release Rates, in SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection
Engineering, 3rd ed., National Fire Protection Assn., Quincy, MA, 1995, pp. 3-1 to product comprised of 100 % plastic, where leaching is not an
3-37. issue, some other environmental stress may be appropriate.
7
Lee, B. T., Heat Release Rate Characteristics of Some Combustible Fuel
Sources in Nuclear Power Plants, NBSIR 85-3195, National Bureau of Standards, X1.4.3 The language has been worded so that accelerated
Washington, DC, 1985. aging/weathering is not required in all cases, but is required

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu May 27 05:03:12 EDT 2021
5
Downloaded/printed by
Al muhandis nizar Al kurdi al milli (Al muhandis nizar al kurdi al milli engineering consultants) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.
 E2632/E2632M − 20
where such results are a condition of acceptance for a product language provides the flexibility needed for the range of
to be used in a code regulated application. As such, the materials being used for decking products.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee E05 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(E2632/E2632M-13ɛ1) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Feb. 1, 2020.)

(1) Test Methods D4442 and D4444 were added to Section 2.1. (2) The last three sentences of 6.2 were added.

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the
responsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should
make your views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above
address or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or [email protected] (e-mail); or through the ASTM website
(www.astm.org). Permission rights to photocopy the standard may also be secured from the Copyright Clearance Center, 222
Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, Tel: (978) 646-2600; http://www.copyright.com/

Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu May 27 05:03:12 EDT 2021
6
Downloaded/printed by
Al muhandis nizar Al kurdi al milli (Al muhandis nizar al kurdi al milli engineering consultants) pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.