Dec 02, 2013

A wildland-urban interface is a transitional zone between unoccupied land and human development. There are currently more than 40 million homes located within WUI areas throughout the United States. A proposed new ASTM standard will be used to alleviate the issue of fire conditions that exist due to eaves and other projections in structures that exist in WUI areas.

ASTM WK37414, Test Method for Flammability and Resistance of Eaves and Horizontal Projections to Fire Penetration, is being developed by Subcommittee E05.14 on External Fire Exposures, part of ASTM International Committee E05 on Fire Standards.

As fire travels vertically, gases collect at the overhang areas of eaves and other horizontal projections of a structure, creating a potential increase in rate and speed of flame spread along the projections. 

ASTM WK37414 will be a fire test response standard that will cover the measurement of the relative fire characteristics of the exposed underside of both open and closed projections, such as horizontal soffits and extended open roof eaves, floor projections, and exposed under-floor areas to direct flame impingement from a simulated fire originating outside a building.

According to John Simontacchi, CEO/founder, Firefree Coatings Inc., and an E05 member, property owners will be able to use new products tested to ASTM WK37417 to install at overhang areas, removing a portion of the wildfire risk to structures.

“Any product that has passed the standard, once it has been approved, would be available from suppliers such as hardware stores, lumber yards and manufacturers,” says Simontacchi.

Once approved, the proposed standard can be used in the following ways:

• Manufacturers can use ASTM WK37417 as a guideline in developing new products to meet WUI codes.
• Regulatory bodies can use it as a guideline for approving products that have met ASTM WK37414 requirements.
• Consumers will be able to use ASTM WK37414 to make better choices when selecting products to solve the eave/horizontal projection problem in WUI areas.
• Fire testing laboratories can conduct test procedures as set forth in ASTM WK37414.

ASTM International welcomes participation in the development of its standards. For more information on becoming an ASTM member, visit www.astm.org/JOIN.

For more news in this sector, visit www.astm.org/sn-construction or follow us on Twitter @ASTMBuildings.

ASTM Committee E05 Next Meeting: June 23-26, 2014, June Committee Week, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Technical Contact: John Simontacchi, Firefree Coatings Inc., San Rafael, Calif., Phone: 415-459-6488; jsimontacchi@firefree.com 
ASTM Staff Contact: Thomas O’Toole, Phone: 610-832-9739; totoole@astm.org 
ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org

Release #9529