UL 790 and ASTM E108 are important fire test standards for evaluating the fire performance of roof covering materials. These standards are mainly used to assess the relative fire resistance of roof covering systems exposed to external fire sources.
They apply to various roofing materials installed on combustible or non-combustible decks, such as asphalt shingles, metal roofing, wood shingles, roof tiles, photovoltaic modules, and other roof covering products.
Fire Classification
Roof coverings are generally classified into three fire performance levels:
Class A: Severe fire exposure, offering the highest level of protection for the roof deck.
Class B: Moderate fire exposure, with requirements lower than Class A.
Class C: Light fire exposure, providing basic fire protection.
Class A has the most stringent test conditions, including more intermittent flame cycles, larger burning brands, and shorter allowable flame spread distance.
Main Test Methods
The main test methods include:
1.Intermittent-Flame Test
Simulates repeated external flame exposure on the roof surface to evaluate whether the material ignites, detaches, or causes ignition of the deck.
2.Spread-of-Flame Test
Measures the flame spread distance across the roof covering surface, which is one of the key criteria for fire classification.
3.Burning-Brand Test
Simulates burning brands or embers falling onto the roof surface to assess ignition resistance and fire integrity.
4.Flying-Brand Test
Evaluates whether the material produces burning particles or dangerous flaming debris under flame and airflow conditions.
5.Rain and Weathering Related Tests
Mainly used for wood shingles, shakes, or materials whose fire performance may be affected by water exposure or outdoor aging.
Why It Matters
UL 790 and ASTM E108 testing helps manufacturers, laboratories, architects, and project owners understand the fire performance of roof covering systems under external fire exposure. These tests are especially relevant for wildfire-prone areas, high-rise buildings, industrial facilities, photovoltaic roofing projects, and other applications where roof fire safety is critical.
Testech provides fire testing equipment and technical support for roof covering material evaluation, helping customers select suitable test solutions based on applicable standards, sample types, and testing objectives.
