Fire Resistance Testing of Fire Rated Gypsum Wallboard—The Last 20 Years

Abstract

Since the 1920s, fire protection design approaches along with the model building codes have traditionally relied on a prescriptive-based system utilizing fire resistance ratings of wall, floor, and roof assemblies achieved from standard fire tests, including ASTM E119 and UL 263. Much has changed over the last 20 years, and the aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of the advances in “state of the art” fire resistance testing methodologies and approaches where the evaluation and listing of fire rated gypsum board assemblies is concerned. The discussion will include: (1) advances in ASTM E119 furnace construction, burner design, data collection, and electronic measurement techniques; (2) improvements in loading techniques of wall and floor assemblies; (3) a summary of the North American Fire Testing Laboratories Consortium (NAFTL) interlaboratory study of the consistency of fire resistance testing of a common gypsum/steel-stud assembly and the development of a “precision and bias” statement for the ASTM E119 standard; and (4) a summary of recommended improvements.