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Report on 8-in. Bearing Wall of Concrete Masonry Units With the Core Holes Filled With Vermiculite Aggregate

  • ID:

    55

  • ESCSI:

    3220.014

  • Author:

    Howell, K.W.

  • Publication Name:

    File R3653-4, Assignment 67C3365

  • Type of Publication:

    Paper

  • Publisher:

    Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. and Vermiculite Institute

  • Dated:

    1968

  • Issue/Volume:

    January 10

  • Other ID:

  • Page(s):

    1-3 + test,con.

  • Reference List:

    N

  • Abstract:

    This report describes the results of a fire test conducted on an 8 in. thick load bearing concrete masonry wall, with the core holes of the blocks on one-half of the wall filled with a water repellent vermiculite masonry fill insulation and the core holes of the blocks in the other half of the wall left empty.The purpose of the investigation was to determine if the fire resistance rating of 2 and 3 hr walls using Class D-2 and C-3 concrete masonry units could be upgraded to a 4 hr fire resistance wall when the core holes of the blocks are filled with a water repellent vermiculite masonry fill insulation. The fire endurance and hose stream tests were conducted in accordance with the Standard for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, UL 263 (ASTM E119, NFPA 251).
    Similar tests have been conducted at Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc. on concrete masonry walls with the core holes of the blocks filled with expanded slag and expanded shale aggregates. As a result of the previous tests, it was demonstrated that the fire resistance rating of 2 and 3 hr walls using Class D-2 and C-3 concrete masonry units would provide 4 hr of fire resistance when the core holes are filled with loose dry expanded slag or burned clay or shale (rotary kiln process). The design cards for Wall and Partition Design Nos. 1 – 2 Hr and 1 – 3 Hr presently show the above information.
    The concrete masonry units used in this test were made of a slag aggregate and complied with the specifications for blocks produced under Table I of the Standard for Concrete Masonry Units, UL 618. The blocks were selected such that their equivalent thickness was approximately the same as the slag blocks (4.32 in.) used in the previous test conducted on a concrete masonry wall where the core holes of the blocks in one-half of the wall were filled with an expanded slag aggregate.
    The fire test was supplemented by other tests and examinations to furnish information regarding the general physical properties of the materials used and for future follow-up inspections.