UL Approvals

Fire-resistance Ratings – ANSI/UL 263 (ASTM E 919)

Introduction

This category covers fire-rating certifications based upon the test method and acceptance criteria in ANSI/UL 263 (ASTM E119), “Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials.” The ratings are expressed in hours and are applicable to floor/ceilings, roof/ceilings, beams, columns, walls, and partitions.

The average furnace temperature from which these ratings are derived is 1000°F at 5 min., 1400°F at 15 min., 1550°F at 30 min., 1700°F at 60 min., 1850°F at 120 min., 1925°F at 180 min. and 2000°F at 240 min.

When a test assembly complies with the acceptance criteria, a detailed description of the assembly, its performance in the fire test, and other pertinent details such as the specification of materials, certification coverage, and alternate assembly details are included in a Report for the test sponsor. Sponsors may provide copies of the complete Test Report upon request. The report also contains a summary of important features of the rated assembly. These summaries are also published in this Directory. Variations from the published specifications should be considered as not being investigated by UL.

Design/System/Construction/Assembly Usage Disclaimer

Authorities Having Jurisdiction should be consulted in all cases as to the particular requirements covering the installation and use of UL Certified products, equipment, system, devices, and materials.

Authorities Having Jurisdiction should be consulted before construction.

Fire resistance assemblies and products are developed by the design submitter and have been investigated by UL for compliance with applicable requirements. The published information cannot always address every construction nuance encountered in the field.

When field issues arise, it is recommended the first contact for assistance be the technical service staff provided by the product manufacturer noted for the design. Users of fire resistance assemblies are advised to consult the general Guide Information for each product category and each group of assemblies. The Guide Information includes specifics concerning alternate materials and alternate methods of construction.

Only products that bear UL’s Mark are considered Certified.

UL 2079 Standard for Tests for Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems
1.1 These tests are applicable to joint systems of various materials and construction that are intended for use in linear openings between adjacent fire-resistive structures.

1.2 The fire endurance ratings for joint systems are intended to register performance during the period of fire exposure and are not intended to be interpreted as having determined the acceptability of the joint systems for use before or after fire exposure. The intent of these methods is to develop data to assist others in determining the suitability of the joint systems where fire resistance is required.

1.3 These requirements are intended to evaluate the length of time that the types of joint systems specified in 1.1 will contain a fire during a predetermined test exposure. The test evaluates the joint system’s resistance to heat and, in some instances, to a hose stream, while carrying an applied load if the assembly is load-bearing. The method of testing also includes optional air leakage tests to determine the rate of air leakage through joint systems resulting from a specified air pressure difference applied across the surface of the joint systems.

1.4 Under these requirements a joint system is subjected to a standard fire exposure controlled to achieve specified temperatures throughout a specified time period. This exposure by itself is not intended to be representative of all fire conditions; conditions vary with changes in the amount, nature, and distribution of fire loading, ventilation, compartment size, and configuration, and heat sink characteristics of the compartment.

1.5 All joint systems are cycled through their intended range of movement prior to fire exposure to demonstrate the joint system’s range of movement and the impact of the joint system during movement on the adjacent fire-resistive structures. Joint systems are required to be loaded to their designed live load capacity during the fire test. For tests of wall-to-wall and head-of-wall joint systems, the fire test is followed by the application of a specified standard hose stream.

1.6 These requirements cover the measurement of the transmission through the joint system of heat and gases sufficiently hot to ignite cotton waste.

1.7 Revised and relocated as 1.14 March 10, 2006

1.8 These requirements provide a relative measure of the fire performance of comparable assemblies under these specified fire exposure conditions. Any variation from the construction or conditions that are tested, such as the method of assembly and materials, is not within the scope of this test method.

1.9 Tests for evaluating the suitability of poured or formed-in-place materials for use in joint systems under non-fire conditions are found in the Standard Test Method for Adhesion and Cohesion of Elastomeric Joint Sealants Under Cyclic Movement (Hockman Cycle), ASTM C 719-93.

1.10 Tests for evaluating the suitability of joint systems other than those with poured or formed-in-place materials under non-fire conditions are found in the Standard Test Method for Cyclic Movement and Measuring the Minimum and Maximum Joint Widths of Architectural Joint Systems, ASTM E 1399-91.

1.11 Tests for determining the hourly fire endurance ratings of walls and floors are found in the Standard for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, UL 263. Standard UL 263 shall be permitted to be used to determine the hourly fire endurance rating of walls and floors with control joints.

1.12 Tests for determining the surface burning characteristics of building materials, based on the rate of flame spread, are found in the Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, UL 723.

1.13 The results of these tests represent one factor in assessing the fire performance of joint systems. These requirements prescribe a standard fire exposure for comparing the performance of joint systems. Application of these test results to predict the performance of actual building construction requires careful evaluation of test data.

1.14 The method of testing also includes optional air leakage tests to determine the rate of air leakage through fire-resistive joint systems resulting from a specified air pressure difference applied across the surface of the systems. The results obtained from the optional air leakage tests are expressed in cubic feet per minute (cubic meter per second) per lineal foot (lineal meter) of opening. The results are intended to develop data to assist authorities having jurisdiction, and others, in determining the acceptability of joint systems with reference to the control of air movement through the assembly. 1.7

1.15 The method of testing also includes optional water leakage tests to determine the ability of fire-resistive joint systems to resist the passage of water under a three-foot pressure head. This method does not evaluate the ability of uncured joint systems to resist such exposure.

1.16 An L rating may also be established for a fire-resistive joint system. The L rating is based on the amount of air leakage through the test sample.

1.17 A W rating may also be established for a fire-resistive joint system. The W rating is based on the water resistance of the test sample.