- Author
- Parker, W. J.
- Title
- Fire Endurance Tests on Walls and Plumbing Chases Containing Either Metallic or Nonmetallic Drain Waste and Vent Systems. Interim Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC
- Report
- NBSIR 74-449, November 1973, 81 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- ABS plastics | copper | fire endurance | fire spread | fire tests | Operation Breakthrough | polyvinyl chloride | smoke | toxic gases | vents
- Abstract
- Two full scale non-lead bearing ASTM E-119 fire endurance tests were performed on plumbing chase and wall assemblies containing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) drain, waste, and vent (DWV) systems typical of installations serving two or more stories. For the systems tested which were typical of kitchen sink drain systems constructed and installed accoriding to typical plans, the PVC piping did not contribute to the spread of fire through the plumbling chase to the adjoining dwelling during the test which lasted 50 minutes. A test failure not associated with the plastic piping aborted the test but there was no indication that there would have been a failure due to the piping if the test had continued for one hour. Three full scale non-load bearing ASTM E-119 fire endurance tests were also run on walls with enclosed DWV systems of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), PVC, copper, and iron. Neither PVC nor ABS piping contributed to fire spread in a plumbing system consisting of 2-inch stacks and 1-1/2-inch back-to-back laterals were 4 inches in diameter and in another test in which the distance between wall surfaces was decresed by using 2 x 4 studs, the effective fire endurance rating of the wall assembly was reduced by the installation of the plastic plumbing. This progress report on the fire endurance evaluation of five plumbing chase and wall assemblies is limited to construction assemblies in which the openings around the laterals were carefully selaed with plaster speckling. Additional tests are in progess to examine the effect of leaving the openings unsealed.