Foreword

TCVN 9311-8:2012 is completely equivalent to ISO 834-8:2002.

TCVN 9311-8:2012 is converted from TCXDVN 348:2005 (ISO 834-8:2002) according to the provisions in Clause 1, Article 69 of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations and Point a), Clause 1, Article 7 of the Government’s Decree No. 127/2007/ND-CP dated August 1, 2007 detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations.

The TCVN 9311 series under the general title “Fire-resistance tests – Elements of building construction” includes the following parts:

• TCVN 9311-1:2012, Part 1: General requirements.
• TCVN 9311-3:2012, Part 3: Commentary on test method and test data application.
• TCVN 9311-4:2012, Part 4: Specific requirements for loadbearing vertical separating elements.
• TCVN 9311-5:2012, Part 5: Specific requirements for loadbearing horizontal separating elements.
• TCVN 9311-6:2012, Part 6: Specific requirements for beams.
• TCVN 9311-7:2012, Part 7: Specific requirements for columns.
• TCVN 9311-8:2012, Part 8: Specific requirements for non-loadbearing vertical separating elements.

The ISO 834 series “Fire-resistance tests – Elements of building construction” also includes the following parts:

• ISO 834-9:2003, Fire-resistance tests – Elements of building construction – Part 9: Specific requirements for non-loadbearing ceiling elements
• ISO/DIS 834-10, Fire resistance tests – Elements of building construction – Part 10: Specific requirements to determine the contribution of applied fire protection materials to structural elements
• ISO/DIS 834-11, Fire resistance tests – Elements of building construction – Part 11: Specific requirements for the assessment of fire protection to structural steel elements

TCVN 9311-8:2012 is compiled by the Institute of Architecture, Urban and Rural Planning – Ministry of Construction, proposed by the Ministry of Construction, appraised by the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality, and promulgated by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS: All individuals or organizations managing or conducting tests according to this standard need to be aware that this is a type of fire test that usually involves hazardous elements such as the potential for generation of smoke and toxic gases. The mechanical and operational hazards during specimen manufacture, testing, and disposal of test residues should also be closely considered.

An assessment of the risk factors and hazards to human health should be carried out to provide safety instructions for the entire testing work. There must be a test safety manual. In addition, there should be an appropriate training program for individuals involved in the testing work. Laboratory personnel must strictly comply with the provisions in the test safety manual at all times.

1. Scope

This standard specifies the procedures that must be followed to determine the fire resistance of non-loadbearing vertical separating elements when exposed to fire on one face.

This test does not apply to curtain walls (non-loadbearing external walls suspended from the edges of floor slabs), walls incorporating doorways and glazed screen walls.

The results of tests in accordance with this standard may be applied to other forms of construction not tested if those constructions conform to the field of direct application defined in the various parts of this standard or when extended application is made in accordance with ISO/TR 12470.

NOTE: Since ISO/TR 12470 gives only general guidance, any analysis for the purposes of extending the field of application should be made only by experts in the field of fire-resistance testing.

2. Normative references

The following referenced documents are essential for the application of this standard. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

TCVN 9311-1:2012, Fire-resistance tests – Elements of building construction – Part 1: General requirements.

ISO/IEC 13943, Fire safety – Vocabulary.

3. Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in TCVN 9311-1:2012, ISO 13943 and the following apply.

3.1. Vertical separating elements
Load-bearing parts of a building, oriented vertically, which act as fire separating or screening elements. They divide the building into fire compartments or subdivide fire compartments, or separate the building from adjoining buildings, in order to resist the spread of fire into adjoining compartments or adjoining buildings.

3.2. Non-loadbearing wall
A separating element that is designed not to carry any load other than its own weight.

3.3. Insulated non-loadbearing wall
A separating element satisfying both the integrity and the insulation criteria for the fire resistance duration.

3.4. Supporting construction
A form of construction used to line the furnace and support the non-loadbearing wall that is evaluated for its ability to accommodate thermal expansion.

3.5. Plinth
A form of construction used to support and reduce the height of the opening by raising the support base to accommodate the test specimen.

3.6. Uninsulated non-loadbearing wall
A separating element satisfying the integrity criterion for the fire resistance duration but not required to satisfy the requirements of the insulation criterion which are specified in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

4. Symbols and abbreviated terms

The symbols and abbreviated terms appropriate to this test are defined in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

5. Test equipment

The equipment used for the test shall include the test furnace, the loading equipment, restraint, supporting frames and supports as specified in TCVN 9311-1:2012 and in this standard.

The test frame used shall be a rigid frame evaluated by applying an expanding force within the range at a point midway between opposite members of the frame and measuring the resultant increase in internal dimensions at those points. This evaluation shall be made in both directions of the frame and the mean increase in internal dimensions shall be measured.

The increase in internal dimensions of the test frame shall not exceed 5 mm with a force applied to the frame of 25 kN.

6. Test conditions

The conditions of heating, pressure and atmosphere in the furnace shall be as specified in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

7. Test specimen preparation

7.1. Construction of the specimen

7.1.1. General

The test specimen shall satisfy the following:

a) Be fully representative of the construction intended for use in practice, with any surface finish and essential fittings which could influence its behaviour in the test;

b) Be designed to obtain the widest applicability of the test result to other similar constructions.

The nature of those features of the specimen design which influence the fire resistance performance may be taken into account in order to widen the applicability of the test result by direct application of the rules given in Annex A.

The specimen shall not contain a mixture of different types of construction, e.g. brick or block within the wall unless that type of construction is representative of end use.

7.1.2. Services

Where vertical separating elements include services such as electrical junction boxes or surface finishes which form an integral part of the design these shall be included in the test specimen.

7.2. Size of specimen

If the height or width of the construction when used in practice is 3 m or smaller, then the test specimen size shall be that of the actual construction.

If either dimension of the construction is greater than 3 m, then the test specimen shall be not less than 3 m.

7.3. Number of specimens

For specimens which are symmetrical, only one specimen is required unless otherwise specified in this standard. For specimens which are asymmetrical, the number of test specimens shall be as specified in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

7.4. Conditioning of test specimens

At the time of the test, the strength and moisture content of the test specimen shall be approximate to those expected in normal service. The test specimen shall incorporate any spacers and connectors. Guidance on the conditioning of test specimens is given in TCVN 9311-1:2012. After equilibrium has been reached, the moisture content or the state of dryness shall be determined and recorded. This requirement need not apply to any supporting construction including the furnace lining of the test frame.

7.5. Installation of specimen and restraint

7.5.1. General

The test specimen and the supporting construction (if used) shall be installed in the test frame as in practice.

The test specimen shall be erected as close as possible to the heating plane of the test frame or supporting construction.

The whole area of the test specimen shall be exposed to the heating conditions.

7.5.2. Supporting construction

If the size of the specimen is smaller than the opening in the test frame, the specimen shall be installed within the frame and shall satisfy the following:

a) If the height of the specimen is less than the height of the opening in the test frame a supporting construction shall be used to reduce the unoccupied opening to the required height. The supporting construction shall be sufficiently stable to support the specimen.

b) If the width of the specimen is smaller than the width of the opening in the test frame a standard supporting construction shall be used at the vertical edges and shall be sufficiently stable to support the test specimen.

7.5.3. Restraint

In practice, if the width of the construction is not greater than the width of the furnace, the peripheral edges of the test specimen shall be restrained as in practice. Where, in practice, the width of the construction is greater than the width of the furnace, one vertical edge of the specimen need not be restrained and a gap of 25 mm to 50 mm shall be provided between the free edge of the test specimen and the test frame. This gap shall be packed with a resilient non-combustible material, e.g. mineral wool, and sealed to provide a sealed joint without restraining freedom of movement. The remaining edges shall be restrained as in practice.

8. Installation of instrumentation

8.1. Furnace thermocouples

8.1.1. Inside the test furnace

Thermocouples shall be provided for the measurement of the furnace temperature and shall be distributed in such a way as to obtain a reliable indication of the average temperature over the face of the test specimen. The thermocouples shall be attached and positioned in accordance with the recommendations given in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

8.1.2. Number of furnace thermocouples

The number of thermocouples shall be not less than one per 1,5 m2 of exposed specimen surface area. There shall be a minimum of four thermocouples for any test and each thermocouple “A” face shall be towards the rear wall of the furnace.

8.2. Unexposed face thermocouples

The unexposed face thermocouples shall be attached and positioned in accordance with the recommendations given in TCVN 9311-1:2012. To determine the maximum temperature the unexposed face thermocouples shall not be located closer than 100 mm from any edge at the following positions:

a) At the head of the specimen and at mid-width;

b) At the head of the specimen in line with the vertical stud/post;

c) At the junction of a vertical and horizontal member within a stud wall system;

d) At mid-height on the fixed edge;

e) At mid-height on the free edge;

f) Mid-width adjacent to a horizontal joint (positive pressure zone);

g) Mid-height adjacent to a vertical joint (positive pressure zone).

8.3. Deflection measurements

8.3.1. Instrumentation

Means shall be provided for measuring the performance of deflection (greater than 5 mm) of the specimen during the test period.

8.3.2. Position of measurement

The measurement shall be made at mid-height of the specimen set back 50 mm from the free edge. The range shall be adequate to cover the movement anticipated during the test.

8.3.3. Application guidance

Guidance on the application of deflection measurements is given in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

NOTE: The deflection measuring is mandatory although there is, as yet, no performance criteria associated with this observation. The deflection of the specimen may be an important consideration when extending the field of application of the test results.

9. Test procedure

9.1. Verification of furnace

Measurement and checking of conditions such as furnace temperature and pressure shall be in accordance with the recommendations given in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

9.2. Measurement and observations

The monitoring of the specimen relevant to the load-bearing capacity, integrity, and insulation criteria shall be by measurement and observation as recommended in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

10. Performance criteria

The fire resistance performance of non-loadbearing vertical separating elements shall be evaluated against the load-bearing capacity, integrity and insulation criteria defined in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

11. Test validity

The test shall be considered valid if the procedures have been conducted according to the guidance contained within the limits specified for the relevant requirements for:

– The test equipment;

– The test conditions;

– The test specimen;

– The installation of instrumentation;

– The test procedure specified in this standard.

The test shall also be considered valid when furnace exposure conditions relating to the furnace temperature, the furnace pressure and the ambient temperature exceed the upper limits of tolerances stated in this standard and in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

12. Expression of test results

The results of the fire resistance test shall be presented as recommended in TCVN 9311-1:2012.

13. Test report

The report shall be in accordance with TCVN 9311-1:2012.

Annex A (Informative) General information on the test method

The results of a fire resistance test may be applicable to similar non-loadbearing vertical separating elements not tested provided that the following is true:

a) The height is not increased;
b) The thickness is not reduced;
c) The boundary conditions are not changed;
d) The characteristic strength and density of any materials is unchanged;
e) The insulation is not reduced at any point;
f) There is no change to the cross-sectional design (e.g. position of any reinforcement);
g) The dimensions of openings are not increased;
h) The method of protection of openings (e.g. glazing, doorsets, sealing systems) is unchanged;
i) The position of any openings is unchanged.

1) To be released by TCVN