|
The first foam
sample, a ceramic based acoustical material, does
not burn. It is a Class A material. The second
sample, a polyurethane acoustical foam,
will burn but eventually extinguish. It is a
Class C material. The third foam, which is for
use as bedding - not as an
acoustical product, ignites immediately and
flames continue to spread even after the fire
source is removed. Bedding or packing foam is
not intended for use on vertical surfaces such
as walls, or on ceilings.
Only Class
A or Class 1 materials are approved to be used in
public spaces as finishes for walls. Class
B or C materials may be used in the homes or
some areas with low occupancy, subject to local
building regulations.
If ever in doubt
about the material you are using, consult your
local Fire Marshall.
Here are the
flammability ratings according to
ASTM E 84 - A
test method for determining the surface burning
characteristics of building materials, sometimes
referred to as the “Steiner tunnel test”. This
test method is for single products and evaluates
both flame spread and smoke development,
assigning different classes based upon test
results:
|
Class |
Flame
Spread |
|
A or
1 |
0-25 |
|
B or
2 |
26-75 |
|
C or
3 |
76-200 |
You may also be
interested in our egg carton test. Many folks
want to use this material as an acoustical wall
treatment. We ran an acoustical test and they
will absorb sound, but once again, the
flammability becomes a more important issue than
the acoustical result.
http://www.acousticsfirst.com/eggc.htm |
