YORK, Pa. – Architectural Testing, Inc. (ATI) announced that it has expanded its IAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 to include fire performance test methods for roofing products and assemblies – primarily ASTM E108,Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings.
ASTM E108 is the method by which Class A, Class B or Class C fire performance ratings are assigned to roofing materials. It evaluates the material, under simulated exterior fire exposure, for surface flame spread, smoke density and the ability of the roof covering material or system to resist fire penetration from the exterior to the underside of the roof deck and for the development of burning brands when subjected to wind. The E108 accreditation also encompasses IAS approval for the virtually identical test method UL790. ATI also performs tests and evaluations for all roofing-associated products, materials and systems, including skylights, tubular daylighting devices (TDDs), and solar panels.
The newly-accredited fire performance tests round out the complete suite of roofing product tests that ATI is accredited to perform. They join well-established ATI capabilities for roof testing such as: air infiltration, water penetration, structural, wind uplift, hail impact, thermal and acoustic performance, weathering, field evaluations, and cool roof rating per the Cool Roof Rating Council. 2
“We are expanding fire testing capabilities to meet the demand of our roofing product clients who have relied on ATI for all other performance testing needs, but have heretofore had to accept long waiting times at other fire testing laboratories,” said Miguel Zamarripa, ATI Fire Testing Program Manager. Formerly a manager at a large fire testing operation in San Antonio, Texas, Zamarripa’s accession to ATI is seen as key to ATI’s rapidly expanding fire testing capability.
“For years, ATI has been involved in small-scale fire testing, but now we are beginning to handle larger scale samples and systems, too,” he noted. “This completes the whole picture and makes ATI a genuine ‘one-stop-shop’ for roofing and roofing-related materials and products. It offers a faster turnaround for manufacturers who are under increasing pressure to comply with new and specialized codes such as for WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) high-risk zones, the new IGCC, and others.”
The expanded IAS accreditation also includes ASTM E84-10b,Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials(and by extension the similar UL723), which evaluates surface flame spread and smoke density of materials. E84 is applicable to wide range of products for which a flame spread index and smoke developed index is required, such as siding, ceiling tiles, exterior sheathing and siding, interior wall gypsum board or paneling, fabric for furniture and office partitions, pressure-treated lumber for wood decks and many others.
For more information, visitwww.archtest.com.
