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There have been some significant changes in the fire testing requirements of reflective insulation and radiant barriers which consumers need to be aware of when comparison shopping or installing in their homes or buildings.  Understanding exactly what you are buying is crucial in ensuring the product you purchase will meet proper building code requirements as needed. This new fire testing method has caused some confusion in the marketplace and we believe the information below will help clarify this issues.

About Fire Ratings (Flame Spread & Smoke Development)

All building materials are evaluated in accordance with ASTM Test Method E84 "Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials" to comply with building or mechanical code requirements such as the International Residential Code (IRC), International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), International Building Code, (IBC), and other major building code bodies.  The purpose of this test method is to determine the relative burning behavior of the material by observing the flame spread along the specimen.  As a result of this test, building materials are provided with test results regarding:

• flame spread index - indicates the relative rate at which flame will spread over the surface of the material as compared with flame spread on asbestos-cement board, which is rated 0, and on red oak, which is rated 100. Note that this rating is not the rate at which the flame actually spreads along the surface and is not at all an indication of the fire resistance of the material.

• smoke developed index - characteristic of a material to emit smoke when exposed to flame or fire.

The flame spread index and smoke developed index values obtained by the ASTM E84 test are used by code officials and regulatory agencies (such as IRC, IECC, IBC) in the acceptance of interior finish materials for various applications. The most widely accepted classification system is described by the National Fire Protection Association as follows:

• Class A: flame spread index 0-25; smoke developed index 0-450

• Class B: flame spread index 26-75; smoke developed index 0-450

• Class C: flame spread index 76-200; smoke developed index 0-450

Because radiant barrier and reflective insulation products fall into the category of building materials, they must pass ASTM fire testing methods.

New ASTM E2599 Mounting Method for E84-10 Fire Testing

It is not uncommon for ASTM to announce new testing requirements for building materials for a variety of reasons.  Recent ASTM changes in the fire testing of reflective insulation and radiant barriers resulted in a new required "mounting method" (ASTM E2599) for fire testing.  This new mounting method, which dictates how a radiant barrier should be laid out for the fire test, more closely resembles how reflective insulation and radiant barriers are installed in the real world.

The ASTM International Annual Book of Standards for 2010 now requires the use of the E2599 mounting method with ASTM E84-10 fire testing for reflective insulation and radiant barriers. Almost all building code organizations (such as IRC, IECC, IBC) and insurance companies refer to ASTM for fire testing methods.  Now that the standard is adopted, it will be required everywhere eventually.

What This Means To Manufacturer/Suppliers

Because it's impossible for a manufacturer/supplier to know when each city, county or state begins adopting a new standard, it is in the best interest of the manufacturer to begin complying with the new standards as soon as announced by ASTM.  Once a manufacturer's products comply with a new standard, they are required to re-label the products with the ASTM standard testing results for proof.

What This Means To Consumers

The consumer is advised to utilize building material products which meet current ASTM standards simply because its impossible to know when a particular ASTM standard will be required at the city/county/state level.  Doing so will protect your investment for years to come.

However, just because a newer ASTM standard exists doesn't mean that an older standard is not acceptable to your city/count/state agencies or insurance provider.  If you wish to use a building product that does not meet current ASTM standards, we strongly encourage you to contact your local building code officials and insurance company before making your decision.

Fire Testing Standard Applies to BOTH Retrofit & New Construction

The new ASTM fire testing standard can be required for BOTH existing retro-fit building and new building construction.  For clarification on requirements, please contact your local building code officials and insurance company.

Metalized vs. Aluminum Reflective Products?

As a result of the new ASTM E84-10 E2599 fire testing mounting method required for radiant barriers and reflective insulation products, it was discovered that by using a metalized film, rather than a thin sheet of aluminum foil as was typically used in radiant barriers, the fire testing requirements would pass with the highest possible fire safety rating.  Under the same testing, aluminum foil sheet barriers tended to create a "flame burst" once they hit their flash point and thus would fail the new ASTM fire testing standard.

Therefore, consumers will now see a distinction in reflective products between the new metalized products of today vs. the aluminum based products of yesterday.

Both Metalized AND Aluminum Products Can Delaminate

A popular unfounded scare tactic in the marketplace today regarding the newer metalized reflective products is that they can delaminate (layers separate from each other). The FACT is that any product comprised of multiple layers can delaminate (including both metalized AND aluminum based reflective building products) if manufactured poorly.

Therefore, it is imperative for a manufacturer to have quality controls in place to identify and pull and discard any products not manufactured to specification.  Unfortunately, some of these poorly manufactured products are either not identified or are sold to suppliers at reduced prices as "seconds" and then passed on to consumers.

Why Metalized Product Specifications Differ from Aluminum Versions

For a product to be classified, or named, a radiant barrier, it must be tested under the ASTM C1313 set of test standards. Under ASTM C1313, known as "Standard Specifications for Sheet Radiant Barriers for Building Construction Applications", various tests are performed to measure things like tensile strength, thickness, reflectivity/emissivity, fire rating, etc.  Because standards change over the years, products tested under C1313 many years ago will have different measured test results than products tested under C1313 today under the new testing standards.  Our products specifications clearly indicate which C1313 standards the product was tested under.

One very important test, the test for tensile strength, was changed in such a way that it's now IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPARE test results from the older test (ASTM D882) to test results from the current standard test (ASTM D2261).  Under the new tensile strength testing, it appears as products are less durable than those tested under the older test standard.  This is not true because the new standard test is a completely different way of measuring tensile strength and therefore  produces different results.  The older test measures "machine and cross direction" strength and the new test measures "length and width" in pounds force.

Our metalized radiant barrier, Xtreme is EXTREMELY durable and specifically manufactured for staples to not pull through.  View this video for a demonstration of its durability.

RadiantGUARD® Offers Both Metalized & Aluminum Radiant Barriers

RadiantGUARD® is pleased to announce that our new radiant barrier, Xtreme - composed of a metalized film instead of aluminum foil, not only PASSES ASTM E84-10 with the new E2599 mounting method, but does so with a ZERO flame spread.  As a result, we are one of only a few manufactures to offer a fully ASTM compliant Class A / Class 1 fire rated radiant barrier.

Likewise, all RadiantGUARD® reflective bubble insulation products also PASS ASTM E84-10 with the new E2599 mounting method. 

For all applications, we strongly recommend using a metalized reflective product that pass ASTM E84-10 with E2599 mounting method.

However, if you want to use an aluminum based product for uses other than building applications (such as in transportation, cold storage, medical, aerospace, SCIF barriers, etc) OR if you are confident it will be accepted by your local city/county/state authorities or insurance company for building applications, you can use our Ultima-NB aluminum radiant barrier.

** Note:  When purchasing our Ultima-NB aluminum radiant barrier, we require you to release RadiantGUARD from any liability that may arise from improper use. **

RadiantGUARD® offers a solid 10 YEAR WARRANTY on all products!