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NFPA 259, Standard Test Method for Potential Heat of Building Materials

2023 NFPA 259 Standard - Current Edition
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  • Description

    Help safeguard lives and property from fire risks by complying with requirements for accurately measuring the potential heat of building materials.

    NFPA® 259, Standard Test Method for Potential Heat of Building Materials, provides a means of determining a property-type measurement of the amount of heat that can possibly be given off by building materials when exposed to a heat source. A must-have for fire test labs, manufacturers, fire protection engineers, and fire researchers, the 2023 edition contains changes to Annex B and updates to reference documents.

    NFPA 259 covers:

    • Test apparatus and materials
    • Test specimens
    • Oxygen bomb calorimeter test procedures
    • Electric muffle furnace test procedures
    • Calculating potential heat
    • And more
  • Table of Contents (2023 Current Edition)

    NFPA® 259 Standard Test Method for Potential Heat of Building Materials, 2023 Edition

    Chapter 1 Administration
    1.1 Scope.
    1.2 Purpose.
    1.3 Units and Formulas.
    1.4 Test Method Summary.
    Chapter 2 Referenced Publications
    2.1 General.
    2.2 NFPA Publications. (Reserved)
    2.3 Other Publications.
    2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections. (Reserved)
    Chapter 3 Definitions
    3.1 General.
    3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
    3.3 General Definitions.
    Chapter 4 Test Apparatus and Materials
    4.1 Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter.
    4.2 Electric Muffle Furnace.
    4.3 Combustion Promoter.
    Chapter 5 Test Specimens
    5.1 Specimens.
    Chapter 6 Oxygen Bomb Calorimeter Test Procedure
    6.1 Specimen Preparation.
    6.2 Test Procedure.
    Chapter 7 Electric Muffle Furnace Test Procedure
    7.1 Specimen Preparation.
    7.2 Test Procedure.
    Chapter 8 Calculating Potential Heat
    8.1 Calculations with Not More Than 5 Percent Residue.
    8.2 Calculations with More Than 5 Percent Residue.
    8.3 Test Variation.
    8.4 Reporting Units.
    Chapter 9 Report
    9.1 Required Information.
    Annex A Explanatory Material
    Annex B Application of Potential Heat Data
    Annex C Potential Heat of Selected Building Materials
    Annex D Informational References
  • Prior Editions

    2018 Edition

    Accurately measure the potential heat of building materials using today's NFPA 259. Protect lives and property from potential fire hazards in the built environment.

    Essential for fire test labs, manufacturers, fire protection engineers, and fire researchers, the 2018 edition of NFPA 259, Standard Test Method of Potential Heat of Building Materials offers a test method that provides a means of determining -- under controlled laboratory conditions -- the potential heat of building materials subjected to a defined high-temperature exposure condition. The method yields a property-type measurement of the amount of heat that can potentially be given off by building materials when exposed to a heat source.

    Added information in the 2018 edition gives designers and engineers more guidance.

    Annexes written by fire protection experts provide additional support, including explanatory material, and potential heat of selected building materials. The 2018 edition includes new Annex B material on the use of potential heat data.

    Accurate assessments require the latest guidelines. Make sure you're up-to-date with the 2018 edition of NFPA 259. (Print 20 pp., 2018)

     

    2013 Edition

    Protect lives and property. Measure the potential heat of building materials with the up-to-date criteria in the 2013 edition of NFPA 259.

    Essential for fire test labs, manufacturers, fire protection engineers, and fire researchers, the 2013 edition of NFPA 259: Standard Test Method of Potential Heat of Building Materials offers a test method that provides a means of determining -- under controlled laboratory conditions -- the potential heat of building materials subjected to a defined high-temperature exposure condition.

    The method yields a property-type measurement of the amount of heat that can potentially be given off by building materials when exposed to a heat source.

    Keep pace with changes in the 2013 edition, including:

    • Revised limitation on specimen thickness concerning nonhomogeneous or layered material
    • New requirements on wire specimen holder that improve consistency

    Accurate assessments require the latest guidelines. Make sure you're up-to-date with the 2013 NFPA 259. (Softbound, 13 pp., 2013)

     

    Interested in other editions of the NEC? Use the drop down menu above to select the edition year you need.

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