ASTM Fire And Smoke Ratings For Temporary Construction Walls

Fire-rated barriers are part of a building’s passive fire protection system. Both permanent and temporary, these walls are inspected against applicable codes by local fire marshalls or other authorities having jurisdiction.

ASTM E84 Class A Fire and Smoke Rating

The best-known test for evaluating building materials for fire safety is the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Test Method E84, commonly known as the tunnel test. ASTM E84 measures a material’s flame spread (the FSI index) and smoke density (the SDI index) when exposed to fire.

What Does a Class A Flame Spread Rating Mean?

When conducting healthcare renovations, almost all facilities require the use of temporary containment materials that meet the ASTM E84 Class A requirement – the most stringent class that has the lowest fire spread rate and smoke release of the requirement classes.

RealWall™, LiteBarrier™ and FireblockWall™ all meet ASTM E84 Class A ratings, which means they have the lowest fire spread rate and minimal smoke production.

Note: Not all solutions on the market have been tested as a connected system. When comparing E84 rated solutions, ensure that the entire system and not simply components have been both tested and approved.

ASTM E119 One Hour Fire Barrier Test

Some situations call for additional precautions in addition to flame and smoke spread. ASTM E119 tests to ensure a fire barrier can contain a fire for up to one-hour when exposed.

FireblockWall™ — the first and only reusable one-hour fire-rated modular temporary containment system – contractors have a great new option for maintaining safety standards while working efficiently.  It is fast to install and OSHPD/HCAI pre-approved in California.

What About NFPA 241?

NFPA 241 guidelines clarify the use of temporary walls during construction. A non-one-hour fire-rated temporary separation wall system is permitted when there is a working sprinkler system in place. However, if the sprinkler system needs to be deactivated for any reason, a fire watch protocol must be put in place until the sprinkler system is working again. In these instances, both RealWall and LiteBarrier meet the requirements and provide excellent temporary separation choices.  FireblockWall is an option in other temporary separation situations without active sprinklers.