Testing Procedures for Construction & Engineering

When the health and safety of the public depends on the accuracy and reliability of your work, there’s simply no room for error. That’s why your projects have to meet all relevant standards, codes, and regulations for fire safety. Depending on your project, the following tests may be beneficial or even required: ASTM E84 (UL 723), ASTM E119 (UL 263), ASTM E814, ASTM C518, and UL 10C.

ASTM E84 (UL 723)

ASTM E84 and UL 723 test the burning characteristics of exposed construction materials that are used in floors, walls, and ceilings. They classify these materials according to flame spread, which measures how quickly flames propagate on the material compared to two benchmark materials, and smoke development, which determines in what manner the material generates smoke. These tests inform builders and engineers as to whether the materials meet local and federal code requirements and provide sufficient safety.

Formaldehyde Testing

Formaldehyde is commonly found in many of the building materials used in a construction project. VTEC has the ability to test for formaldehyde levels to ensure that your build is up to code.

ASTM E119 (UL 263)

When designing and constructing a building or other structure, it’s critical to know how well the building materials will maintain their integrity and contain smoke, flames, and heat in the event of a fire. ASTM E119 is designed to measure how walls, roofs, floors, and partitions transmit heat, smoke, and gases, as well as maintain their integrity for specific durations. Meeting ASTM E119 standards ensures that a building’s construction is in compliance with building codes.

ASTM E814

Joints and openings in walls, floors, and ceilings make structures vulnerable to fire unless they’re appropriately sealed with a fire stop. ASTM E814 tests how well a fire stop can perform under high and extremely high temperatures for time periods between zero and 480 minutes. Using ASTM E814 standards enables builders and engineers to meet codes and ensure fire safety.

ASTM C518

ASTM C518 uses a heat flow apparatus to measure the steady-state thermal conductivity properties of a material. This is specifically important when it comes to complying with regulations for the insulation materials used in construction.

UL 10C

Fire doors are critical when it comes to the safety of a building’s occupants in the event of a fire. UL 10C is a pressure test that evaluates the ability of an entire door to remain in its door opening during a fire. Using fire doors that meet UL 10C standards contributes significantly to the overall safety of a building.

Contact Us for Standard and Custom-Designed Tests

At VTEC Laboratories, we have been delivering the highest possible quality since 1982 — both in our testing and in our customer service. As a world-leading commercial testing company, we not only offer a wide range of standard testing, including the ones above, but we also aim to provide our clients with information about each test and its benefits. In addition to in-lab testing, we have the capabilities to perform onsite testing when your project calls for it. Furthermore, since we understand that you might have unique requirements for a project, our in-house team of engineers is available to design unique tests according to your specifications.

We are ISO 17020, 17025 and 17065 accredited and an A2LA-accredited laboratory. Our clients include the U.S. Navy, the Naval Service Warfare Center, the City of Los Angeles Buildings Department and the New York City Housing Authority. We’re proud to be an approved vendor for New York City DOT, NAVSEA, New York City Transit Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Find out why these clients and many more rely on our expertise and quality for all of their testing needs. Request more information or a free, no-obligation quote by filling out our contact form or calling 718-542-8248.