Fire Testing

A full-scale multi-story fire evaluation was conducted in accordance with UBC Standard No. 17-6. Reference Southwest Research Institute Report No. 01-1274
A two-story structure, approximately 17 ft. by 17 ft., with a floor-to-floor height of 12 ft. was clad with StoneLite® panels. The structure had a 4 ft. high by 8 ft. long window on one of elevation of the first floor. A calibrated crib of dried wood weighing 1,285 lbs., located near the window opening, was ignited by kerosene poured over the crib in addition to pans of kerosene under the crib. Temperatures inside the building reached 2,000 F. StoneLite® panels on the exterior surface were exposed to temperatures exceeding 1,200 F and the temperature in the aluminum honeycomb core reached 715 F. After 30 minutes of exposure, only small chips of the stone veneer had dislodged. The stone had cracked and was charred up to an elevation of 17 ft. in the area exposed to intense fire. The assembly resisted vertical spread of flame for the duration of the test. There was no flame propagation through the honeycomb core and no flame propagation to adjacent lateral spaces. Temperatures measured 1-inch from the interior surface, within the second story, did not exceed 130 F. The StoneLite® wall panel system met all criteria.
A modified ASTM E-108 fire test was conducted on a 6 ft. by 10 ft. assembly clad with StoneLite® panels. Reference Southwest Research Institute Report Report No. 01-2602- 218
StoneLite® panels were attached with epoxy-set inserts, bolt attached to angle clips, which in turn were welded to steel stud framing. The assembly was subjected to furnace temperatures exceeding 1,500 F, and the exposed stone surface temperature reached 1,199 F during the 30 minutes duration. All StoneLite® panels remained in place and intact. The assembly met all required criteria.
Flame spread and combustion determined by the Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, conducted in accordance with ASTM E 84.
The results were: Flame Spread Index = 5, Smoke Developed = 5 and Fuel Contributed = 0. As a result, the panels meet Class A or Class I requirements.
Fire propagation tests were conducted in accordance with BS 476: Part 6: 1989+A1:2009 and BS 476: Part 7: 1997.
Reference BRE Global Report No. 276589 & 276249
The results qualify StoneLite® for a Class 1 flame spread classification. StoneLite® was also defined as Class “0″ for fuel contribution. Both achieving the highest classification.
Tests to measure ignitability, spread of flame, heat evolved and smoke developed were conducted in Melbourne, Australia. Reference AW TA Textile Testing Report No. 7-422502-FV
All indexes were below the range of 0 to 10 qualifying StoneLite® panels for the highest rating.
Evaluation of the Acute Inhalation Toxicity tests were conducted according to University of Pittsburgh Test Method. Reference Southwest Research Institute Report No. 01-8818-705
It was concluded that StoneLite® panels are “no more toxic than wood (Douglas Fir)”.
Potential heat of combustion tests were conducted in accordance with ASTM D-2015 and UBC Standard No. 17-2. Reference United States Testing Company Report No. LA64184
The potential heat of StoneLite® panels is 1150 BTU per pound according to these criteria.
A fire spread test was conducted in accordance with BS 8414-2: 2005. A Test and classification of fire performance report in accordance with BR 135: Annex B:2007.
The report defines the classification assigned to the Stone Panels StoneLite®system when fitted to a lightweight steel frame in accordance with the procedures given in DG 501- BR135:Annex B. (External fire spread, internal fire spread and system burn through results were all compliant).
Flame spread and combustion determined by the Standard Method of Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, conducted in accordance with ASTM E 84 – 08A (NFPA 255, ANSI/UL 723 & UBC 8-1).
The test was conducted using a limestone surface veneer and the results were: Flame Spread Index = 0 and Smoke Developed = 0. As a result, the panels meet Class A requirements (limits
French fire test conducted by “CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE ET TECHNIQUE DU BATIMENT” according to CSTB-Department Securite Structures Et Feu.
This report (No. RA11-0049) determined the fire rating achieved by the StoneLite®composite panel as M1 classification for granite, limestone and marble stone veneer, thus complying with all regulatory provisions.
A test to determine the flammability characteristics of exterior, non-load bearing wall assemblies in accordance with The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285 was conducted as SwRI Project No. 01.19577.01.610. The test method is to simulate the “full scale” fire performance of the StoneLite® panel. The primary performance characteristics evaluated in this test are the capability of the test wall assembly to resist the following: 1) Flame propagation over the exterior face of the system. 2) Vertical flame spread within the combustible core components from one story to the next. 3) Vertical flame spread over the interior (room side) surface of the panels from one story to the next. 4) Lateral flame spread from the compartment of fire origin to adjacent spaces. The test shows the wall assembly of StoneLite® stone panels met the acceptance criteria state in the NFPA 285 standard. Based on the successful testing alternative wall constructions were developed to support their use in an exterior wall assembly which will continue to meet the conditions of acceptance of NFPA 285.

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