ASTM E108 Explained - UltraBaseSystems
Read Video Transcript and Main Points Addressed Below
Our last episode we talked about that we were very proud that we achieved ASTM E108 for three of our panels, the Ultra Base Champion or Pro Panel, but we got a lot of questions saying, “Okay, congratulations, but what the heck does it mean, and how does it affect me?” So, this is kind of just like a summary of what E108 is. I would recommend you go to Google and download what ASTM E108 means, but in general terms, I’ll try to summarize real quickly.
What ASTM E108 Rating Means For You
We’re looking at a product that when you put it on a rooftop is able to sustain flame for a duration of time. In essence, make it safe for people really to get out and/or for firefighters to be able to get in. There are systems that are for non-combustible roof members, and there’s ones that are for combustible roof. The ASTM E108 version we’ve got is our system on a non-combustible roof deck.
It comes in Class A, B, and C, and the testing is really done only in a few labs throughout the country, and essentially, what they do, they take sample sections of our panels, I believe they’re like four feet by nine feet, and they put them into three different testing scenarios that see how long you can put a flame into the panel before it starts to spread. That’s the spread of flame. There’s one where they drop embers onto it and see how long it takes to burn through, so there’s three different versions. By achieving this for class A for a non-combustible roof deck, that allows us and you to be able to take this product when coupled with an E108 turf will give you a system to use on a roof deck and pass the strict standards.
How It Ties Into The Work Your Doing and Your Installations
Now, this is kind of like FIFA. See, FIFA tells you for sports fields they have to be a complete system. It has to be the panel, the sub-base, the turf, the infield. All is one combined thing, and this is the way it kind of works with this. Our system happens to be Geo Fabric that goes underneath that’s a class A fabric, our panel, and then coupled with an E108 turf will give you that standard that you want, but what we’ve done is we’ve shown it two ways. We have shown it that it passed with an E108 turf which is great, and we also showed that it passed. Just by itself, it passes, but you just can’t say “Okay, well great Barlow and Ultra Base pass E108. I’ll throw anything on top of it.” Can’t do that because your turf could be extremely flammable, and it defeats the purpose, so it’s got to work as a system, and we can help you understand that.
Why We Are So Proud of This Certification
But I wanted to just kind of give you a little clarification as to what E108 means. It’s a hard test to pass. We’re really proud of it, and it opens up a lot of doors. I think I mentioned last time first one was a beautiful project done at Denver Airport, that you know, obviously, their extremely, extremely concerned about fire and safety, and that product went in with the E108 Turf and passed and everybody is extremely happy. In fact, we’re expanding on that project now with I think 20 some thousand more square feet. Keep that in mind. Something for you to think about, and we’re here to help you understand it as we go along.
