ASTM E108 Standard Test Methods for Fire Testing of Roofing Coatings

The ASTM E108 Standard Test Methods for Fire Testing of Roofing Coverings, developed by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), is a fire test-response standard that covers the measurement of the relative fire properties of roofing coverings exposed to simulated fire sources originating from outside the building. This standard applies to roofing coverings intended for installation on combustible or non-combustible roof decking, when applied according to their intended use.

The ASTM E108 standard defines the following test methods:

• Intermittent flame exposure test
• Flame spread test
• Burning part test
• Flying piece test
• rain test

This standard describes three classes of fire test exposure:

• Class A tests apply to roofing materials that are expected to be effective against severe fire exposure, provide a high degree of fire protection to the roof decking, not shift, and not pose a flying debris hazard.
• Class B tests apply to roofing materials that are expected to be effective against moderate fire exposure, provide moderate fire protection to the roof surface, and not be expected to shift or pose a flying debris hazard.
• Class C tests apply to roofing materials that are not expected to be effective against light fire exposure, provide a low level of fire protection to the roof surface, and pose no risk of displacement or flying debris.

The test methods described here aim to provide a basis for the relative comparison of roofing materials. The test methods involve simulated fire exposure to the external surface of the roofing materials and, where applicable, determining whether the fire performance characteristics of the roofing materials are adversely affected by prolonged exposure to rain.

These test methods measure the surface spread of flame and the ability of the roofing material or system to resist fire penetration from the exterior surface to the underside of the roof decking under exposure conditions.

These test methods also provide criteria for determining whether roofing material will generate airborne combustible material (defined as flying fragments) when exposed to winds of 5,3 m/s during simulated fire exposure tests.

These test methods do not necessarily demonstrate the expected performance of roofing materials under all real fire conditions, but they provide a basis for comparing roofing materials when exposed to the fire sources described here.

These testing methods do not provide any basis for determining the fire resistance properties of the roofing material when exposed to a fire in the building where it is applied.

ASTM E108 is one of the most widely accepted fire safety standards for evaluating the fire performance of roofing materials and roofing systems. This standard specifies laboratory test methods to determine how roofing materials respond to external fire exposure.

This standard is widely used by manufacturers, architects, building designers, code authorities, and certification bodies to verify that roof systems provide adequate protection against fire hazards.

The primary purpose of the ASTM E108 standard is to evaluate the resistance of roofing materials to the following:

• External fire exposure
• The spread of flames on the roof surface.
• Burning embers ignite
• The fire penetrated the building.
• Fire conditions caused by the effect of the wind.

This standard evaluates the fire performance of complete roofing systems under realistic fire scenarios, rather than assessing the flammability of individual roofing materials.

The ASTM E108 standard applies to many types of roofing systems, including:

• Asphalt tiles
• Metal roofs
• Clay and concrete tiles
• Slate roofs
• Single-layer membranes
• Layered roofs
• Modified bitumen systems
• Spray polyurethane foam roofs
• Composite roofing products
• Solar roof systems are considered as part of a roofing system.

This standard evaluates the complete roof system, including:

• Roof covering
• Undercoating
• Roof decking
• Binding methods
• Supporting components that affect fire performance

The ASTM E108 standard includes various test methods designed to simulate different fire hazards:

• Intermittent flame test: This test evaluates how well a roofing material resists repeated flame exposure. The roof sample is exposed to controlled flames at specific time intervals observed by inspectors:
  • Flame propagation
  • Ignition
  • Structural damage
  • Fire penetration
• Flame spread test: This method measures how quickly flames spread across the roof surface. The test determines the following:
  • Flame spread distance
  • Burning time
  • Surface damage
  • Ability to extinguish spontaneously

A roofing system with minimal flame spread provides greater protection against outdoor fires.

• Burning piece test: This is one of the best-known parts of this standard. Burning pieces of wood of different sizes are placed on the roof surface to simulate the following:
  • Embers scattered by the wind
  • Burning remains
  • Exposure to forest fire
  • Pieces from nearby burning buildings

The test assesses whether the roof system is flammable or allows fire to penetrate.

• Rain and weather conditioning: Prior to fire testing, some samples are weathered to simulate prolonged outdoor exposure. Conditioning may include:
  • Moisture exposure
  • Water spray
  • Cycles of establishment

This ensures that fire performance remains effective even after environmental aging.

• Wind simulation: Some tests involve controlled airflow to represent wind conditions that often intensify roof fires. Wind affects:
  • Flame direction
  • Burning rate
  • Ember movement
  • Fire propagation

During testing, engineers evaluate the following:

• Flame spread distance
• Ignition time
• Fire penetration
• Burning time
• Roof covering integrity
• Resistant to embers
• Structural stability
• Observations of smoke formation
• Damage after testing

The ASTM E108 standard is widely applied in many industries, including:

• Housing construction
• Commercial building construction
• Industrial plants
• Roofing manufacturing
• Insurance and risk assessment
• Building inspection
• State infrastructure
• Educational facilities
• Health buildings
• Military facilities

Roofing manufacturers use the ASTM E108 standard for the following purposes:

• Demonstrating compliance with building regulations.
• Obtaining third-party product certifications.
• Improving fire-resistant roof designs
• Verifying new roofing materials
• Supporting product approvals in regulated markets
• Increasing customer confidence regarding product safety.

Many certification programs require a successful ASTM E108 test before roofing.

The ASTM E108 standard offers many benefits:

• It establishes a consistent methodology for evaluating roof fire performance.
• It simulates realistic external fire exposure scenarios.
• It supports an objective comparison of different roofing systems.
• It helps manufacturers improve product safety and reliability.
• It facilitates compliance with building regulations.
• It helps architects and engineers choose the appropriate roofing systems.
• It enhances protection against ember attacks and flame spread.
• It contributes to safer building designs in high-fire risk environments.

For many years, our organization, with its competent and experienced team, has been understanding the needs of its clients, providing the advanced testing services they require, and assisting them in the establishment, implementation, and improvement of management systems. Within this framework, we also provide testing services in accordance with the ASTM E108 standard.