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Report on the Fire Testing of a Roofing System with a Synthetic

Underlayment in Accordance with ASTM E 108-07a

Rendered to:

Trinity ERD Columbia, SC

WFCi Project # 10135 & 11159

Testing Completed on: April 19, 2011 and November 7, 2011

Report Issued: November 29, 2011

TL-180

Trinity ERD – PrimeSource Grip Rite/ASTM E108

WFCi Project #10135 and 11159

Western Fire Center, Inc. of 8

Kelso, Washington

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 3

TEST APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE ................................................................................. 4

SAMPLE DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................... 5

FIGURE 1. PHOTOGRAPHS OF IUT AND 3-TAB SHINGLES ........................................................................................... 5

TEST RESULTS ........................................................................................................................... 6

CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 7

SIGNATURE ................................................................................................................................. 7

APPENDIX A: ERD COC RECORD ......................................................................................... 8




Kelso, Washington

INTRODUCTION

Testing was performed on a roof system comprised of Class A asphalt 3-tab Shingles, one layer

of PrimeSource Grip-Rite ShingleLayment™ synthetic underlayment over ½” plywood base

deck in accordance with ASTM E108-07a. Testing was performed under the auspices of Trinity

| ERD.

ASTM E-108-07a Class A Intermittent Flame Tests (2) and Class A Burning Brand Tests (4)

were conducted for on their client’s synthetic underlayment covered with 3-tab asphalt shingles

(conforming to ASTM D3018) under WFCi Project No. 10135 in April, 2011. Additional Class

A E108 testing was performed on two Spread of Flame decks on November 7, 2011.

The test material was sampled from the client’s manufacturing facility by Brendan Smith of

Trinity | ERD in accordance with ICC-ES AC85 on 10/20/2010.




Kelso, Washington

TEST APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE

The essential elements of the ASTM E108 Fire Test Apparatus include a test roof deck mounted

on an adjustable pitch steel frame, a gas burner or wood brand ignition source, a wind tunnel

duct, and variable speed blowers to provide a controlled air flow across the test specimen.

Airflow is measured at three locations across the test deck midway up the slope of the deck at its

center and two outside edges. The measurements were made using a calibrated OMEGA-

FLO™, Model No. HH-30, vane anemometer manufactured by Omega Engineering, Inc. The

airflow is adjusted and maintained at 12 ± 0.5 mph (5.36 ± 0.2 m/s) throughout the duration of

the test.

The Class A Spread of Flame Fire Test utilizes a luminous gas flame applied to the deck at a

temperature of 1400 ± 50 °F (760 ± 28 °C) as measured by a type K 14 gauge thermocouple

located 1" above the surface and 1/2" toward the test flame from the lower edge of the first board

of a noncombustible calibration deck. The flame covers 3 ft. of the width of the bottom portion

of the deck and extends in a triangular pattern with flames extending upward a distance of 4 1/3'

from the lower edge of the deck prior to any contribution (if any) from the deck. The flame is

applied for 10 minutes for the Class A test, during which time the test sample is observed for the

distance to which flaming of the material has spread, production of flaming or glowing brands,

and displacement of portions of the test sample. The flame attached to the deck was monitored

for length of travel along the deck over the duration of the test.

The Class ‘A’ Intermittent Flame Fire Test requires the same flame as used in the Spread of

Flame test to be applied for 15 cycles of 2 minutes on and 2 minutes off. During the above

applications of the test flame, the test sample is observed for the distance to which flaming of the

material has spread, production of flaming or glowing brands, and displacement of portions of

the test sample. The primary characteristic monitored is the through penetration of the roofing

system resulting in sustained flaming of the underside.

For the Class ‘A’ Burning Brand Fire Test, a Class ‘A’ brand is ignited in a gas burner flame

by presenting each surface to the flame in the following manner and sequence for a total of 5

minutes:

Each 12 by 12 inch face for 30 seconds

Each 2 1/4 by 12 inch face for 45 seconds

Each 12 by 12 inch face again for 30 seconds

After the brand is ignited, it is placed in a vulnerable location near the lower center of the deck

with the 12 mile per hour wind passing over it. The test is continued until the brand is totally

consumed and until all evidence of flame, glow, and smoke has disappeared from both the

exposed surface of the material being tested and the underside of the test deck, or until failure

occurs. One Class ‘A’ brand is placed on each deck subjected to this test.




Kelso, Washington

SAMPLE DESCRIPTION

The base decks were constructed using nominal 2” X 4” D.fir wood joists (9-10% MC) and 1/2”

plywood. The moisture content of the plywood was 4%. The moisture content of the plywood

sheathing was determined using the ASTM D4442 ‘oven dry’ method, and the moisture content

of the studs was measured using the D4444 electrical resistance method.

The Item Under Test (IUT), PrimeSource Grip-Rite ShingleLayment™ synthetic underlayment,

was sampled at the manufacturer’s facility by Trinity | ERD personnel (Brendan Smith – see the

Trinity | ERD chain of custody record provided in Appendix A) on November 3, 2010.

UL-labeled 3-tab asphalt shingles (conforming to ASTM D3018; nominally 190 lbs/100 square

ft) were used for this evaluation. The shingles were applied with a nominal 5-5/8” exposure over

the candidate underlayment in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions. The

underlayment and roof covering was applied by the Trinity | ERD representative, Jeremy DeWitt.

Figure 1. Photographs of IUT and 3-tab shingles




Kelso, Washington

TEST RESULTS

Calibration Date 4/18/11

Air velocity (average) 5.26 ± 0.06 m/s

Laboratory air temperature 59°F



Average flame temperature 758°C

Gas flow rate (natural gas) 14.5 SCFM




Average flame temperature 765°C

Gas flow rate (natural gas) 15.25 SCFM


Two Class A intermittent flame (IF) tests and four Class A burning brand (BB) tests were

conducted on April 18 and 19, 2011. All tests were performed at a slope of 5” per horizontal

foot. The ambient laboratory temperature at the time of testing was above 50 degrees F. Testing

was performed by Wayne Beres of WFCi, with Jeremy DeWitt of Trinity ERD in attendance on

April 18.

Class A Burning Brand Tests

Test No. Time of

Smoke

Underside

(mm:sec)

Time of Glow

Underside

(mm:sec)

Time of

Flame

Underside

(mm:sec)

Duration of

Test

(mm:sec)

Result

(Pass/

Fail)

1 03:00 None None 45:00 Pass

2 02:50 25:00,

out 37:00

None 38:00 Pass



Class A Intermittent Flame Tests

Test No. Time of

Smoke

Underside

(mm:sec)

Dripping

Underside

(mm:sec)

Time of Glow

Underside

(mm:sec)

Time of

Flame

Underside

(mm:sec)

Duration of

Test

(mm:sec)

Result

(Pass/

Fail)

5 02:00 26:00 None None 75:00 Pass

6 02:00 26:00 None None 80:00 Pass




Kelso, Washington

At no time during these IF and BB tests were any flying flaming brands of the roof covering

material produced or did exposure of the roof deck occur. At no time did portions of the roof

deck fall away in the form of particles that continued to glow after reaching the floor. Tests were

terminated upon cessation of all signs of combustion.

Two Class A Spread of Flame tests) tests were conducted on November 7, 2011 under WFCi

Project No. 11159. Both tests were performed at a slope of 5” per horizontal foot. The ambient

laboratory temperature at the time of testing was above 55 degrees F. Testing was performed by

Wayne Beres of WFCi.

Class A Spread of Flame Tests

Test No. Time of

Ignition

(mm:sec)

Maximum

Flame

Extension

Time to

Maximum

Flame

Extension

(mm:ss)

Duration of

Test

(mm:sec)

Result

(Pass/

Fail)

1 02:53 2ft, 6in 09:30 10:00 Pass

6 02:00 2ft, 9in 10:00 10:00 Pass

At no time during these SOF tests were any flying flaming brands of the roof covering material

produced or did exposure of the roof deck occur. At no time did portions of the roof deck fall

away in the form of particles that continued to glow after reaching the floor.

CONCLUSION

The item under test, PrimeSource Grip-Rite ShingleLayment™ synthetic underlayment , tested

as described in this report with Class A rated 3-Tab asphalt shingles, is considered to have met

the Class A requirements of ASTM E108 when tested over a ½” plywood base deck.

SIGNATURE

Prepared and Approved by,

Howard Stacy

Director, Commercial Testing Services

WESTERN FIRE CENTER AUTHORIZES THE CLIENT NAMED HEREIN TO REPRODUCE THIS REPORT ONLY IF

REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY

The test specimen identification is as provided by the client and WFCi accepts no responsibilities for any inaccuracies therein. WFCi did

not select the specimen and has not verified the composition, manufacturing techniques or quality assurance procedures.




Kelso, Washington

APPENDIX A: ERD COC RECORD

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