1.1  This Standard covers fire endurance tests applicable to walls, partitions, floors, roofs, ceilings, columns, beams, and girders, as well as to some components of these building sub-assemblies.

Note: The performance displayed by a component in one assembly would not necessarily be the same when such component is tested in a dissimilar assembly.

1.2  It is the intent that the fire endurance period established by this test method indicates performance only during the fire exposure period and shall not be construed as having determined suitability for use after fire exposure.

1.3  Separate fire endurance test methods are prescribed for various building constructions and materials, as follows:

Walls and Partitions, Loadbearing; (Section 7)
Walls and Partitions, Non-Loadbearing; (Section 8)
Columns; (Section 9)
Columns, Structural Steel, Tests of Protection for; (Section 10)
Floor and Roof Assemblies; (Section 11)
Beams or Joists, Loaded, Restrained; (Section 12)
Beams or Joists, Loaded, Alternative Classification Procedure; (Section 13)
Beams, Loaded, Unrestrained; (Section 14)
Beams and Girders, Structural Steel, Alternative Tests of Protection for; (Section 15)
Framing and Facings, Combustible, Tests of Protection for; (Section 16)
Ceiling Membranes; (Section 17).

1.4  The fire exposure and hose stream tests are not intended to be representative of all fire conditions. It is likely that conditions will vary with changes in the amount, nature and distribution of fire, loading, ventilation, size and configuration of assembly installed. This fire endurance test Standard provides a relative measure of fire performance of comparable assemblies under specified fire exposure conditions.

1.5  Durability requirements, as a product of exposure and influence (if any) due to environmental conditions or climate change, are outside the scope of this standard. (Refer to Appendix D).