Furnace Testing of Full-Scale Gypsum Steel Stud Non-Load Bearing Wall Assemblies: Results of Multi-Laboratory Testing in Canada, Japan, and USA

The present paper discusses the results of a multiple laboratory test program aimed at determining the consistency of large scale furnace testing. The North American Fire Testing Laboratories (NAFTL) consortium organized a multiple laboratory test program for ASTM E119-00 using a common structural element: a 1-h rated gypsum/steel-stud non-load bearing wall assembly. Walls were tested by six different organizations employing 10 different furnace facilities following the guidance provided in ASTM E119-00. In addition to NAFTL members conducting the tests, the program was expanded to include four testing laboratories in Japan; the Center for Better Living served as the organizer for the Japanese testing. Results obtained from these experiments are discussed.