Starrco Upgrades Fire Test For Walls

   

Starrco recently had our DL gypsum board based wall system tested again for fire resistance and smoke development.

 

We wanted to upgrade the wall test from the original ASTM E-84 test that we had conducted on the panels in 1996.

 

We selected the far more rigorous ASTM E-2768 test for this round. Both tests measure the flame spread and smoke development of a product. The difference is that the ASTM E-2768 tests lasts for a full 30 minutes while the ASTM E-84 test only runs for 10 minutes.

 

The results of the test were great. The DL wall system (the panels are tested with the aluminum wire studs) was found to have a flame spread of only 5 and a smoke developed index of 10.  This means our DL wall system is rated as Class A!

 

For comparison purposes, the flame spread rating index runs from 0 to 200. That makes our rating of 5 extremely low. Our DL wall system will not contribute fuel to a fire in a customer's facility.

 

Just as important, the smoke developed index runs from 0 to 450. Our 10 rating is significant because limiting the amount of smoke that a material creates in a fire is critical.

 

Just recently, a large Midwestern based manufacturer experienced an equipment fire inside a Starrco enclosure. Unfortunately, in a cost saving move, the customer had decided to order the old style SP panels without the gypsum board protection. The fire spread quickly through their facility and caused significant damage.  

 

We can't claim that the DL panel system would have completely contained the fire. However, it would have certainly taken much longer for the fire to spread giving the company more time to control the blaze.

 

Starrco always recommends the DL wall system for offices or equipment enclosures. You just don't know when and where a fire may start.

 

The wall system testing was performed by Guardian Fire Testing Laboratories. Guardian is a nationally recognized laboratory certified as an Inspection Agency, Product Certification Agency and Testing Laboratory by the ANSI/ASQ National Accreditation Board.

 

Copies of the fire test are available. For more information regarding Fire Resistant Specifications and Starrco Wall panels, click here.