ASTM D7032-21 - 1.11.2021
 
1. Scope

1.1?This specification covers procedures to establish a performance rating for wood-plastic composite and plastic lumber for use as exterior deck boards, stair treads, guards, and handrails. The purpose of this specification is to establish a basis for code recognition of these products or systems in exterior applications.

Note 1:?While wood-plastic composites contain wood or other cellulosic materials, the presence of wood or other cellulosic materials in plastic lumber is not required by this specification. Due to non-wood materials in wood-plastic composites and plastic lumber the structural, physical, fire, and other attributes may not be similar to those of wood.

Note 2:?The products addressed in this standard are considered combustible. No fire response characteristic is required in this specification except for flame spread index as determined in accordance with Test Method E84.

1.1.1?The plastic component of wood-plastic composites and plastic lumber covered by this specification shall consist primarily of thermoplastics.

1.2?Deck boards, stair treads, guards, and handrails covered by this specification are permitted to be of any code compliant shape and thickness (solid or non-solid).

1.3?Wood-plastic composites and plastic lumber are produced in a broad range of fiber and/or resin formulations. It is recognized that the performance requirements in this specification are valid for any material or combination of materials used as deck boards, stair treads, guards, or handrails.

1.4?Details of manufacturing processes are beyond the scope of this specification.

1.5?The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.6?This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.7?Table of Contents:

?

Section

Scope

1

Referenced Documents

2

Terminology

3

General Requirements

4

Sampling

4.1

Sample Size

4.2

Conditioning

4.3

Flexural Tests

4.4

Temperature and Moisture Effects

4.5

Ultraviolet (UV) Resistance Test

4.6

Freeze-Thaw Resistance Test

4.7

Biodeterioration Tests

4.8

Fire Performance Tests

4.9

Deck Board Performance Requirements

5

General

5.1

Flexural Performance Tests

5.2

Determination of the Unadjusted Allowable Load

5.3

Creep-Recovery Test

5.4

Mechanical Fastener Holding Tests

5.5

Slip Resistance Test

5.6

Guard and Handrail Performance Requirements

6

General

6.1

Guardrail System Test Requirements

6.2

One- and Two-Family Dwelling Requirements

6.2.1.1

Handrail Test Requirements (Concentrated Load)

6.3

Report

7

Independent Inspection

8

Manufacturing Standard

9

Precision and Bias

10

Keywords

11

Two-Span Test Method

Annex A1

Commentary

Appendix X1

1.8?This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

 
2. Referenced Documents

2009 International Residential Code

International Code Council, Inc.

D9-20

Standard Terminology Relating to Wood and Wood-Based Products

D198-22a

Standard Test Methods of Static Tests of Lumber in Structural Sizes (Includes all amendments and changes 10/14/2022).

D790-25

Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastics and Electrical Insulating Materials

D883-26

Standard Terminology Relating to Plastics

D1037-12(2020)

Standard Test Methods for Evaluating Properties of Wood-Base Fiber and Particle Panel Materials

D4761-25

Standard Test Methods for Mechanical Properties of Lumber and Wood-Based Structural Materials

D2017-05

Standard Test Method of Accelerated Laboratory Test of Natural Decay Resistance of Woods (Withdrawn 2014)

D2047-25

Standard Test Method for Static Coefficient of Friction of Polish-Coated Flooring Surfaces as Measured by the James Machine

D2394-17(2022)

Standard Test Methods for Simulated Service Testing of Wood and Wood-Based Finish Flooring

D2565-23

Standard Practice for Xenon-Arc Exposure of Plastics Intended for Outdoor Applications

D2915-25

Standard Practice for Sampling and Data-Analysis for Structural Wood and Wood-Based Products

D3345-22

Standard Test Method for Laboratory Evaluation of Wood for Resistance to Subterranean Termites

D4000-23

Standard Classification System for Specifying Plastic Materials

D4092-21

Standard Terminology for Plastics: Dynamic Mechanical Properties

D1972-97(2001)

Standard Practice for Generic Marking of Plastic Products

D1413-07

Standard Test Method for Wood Preservatives by Laboratory Soil-Block Cultures

D1554-10(2023)

Standard Terminology Relating to Wood-Base Fiber and Particle Panel Materials

D1761-20(2025)

Standard Test Methods for Mechanical Fasteners in Wood and Wood-Based Materials

D1929-23

Standard Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics

D5764-24

Standard Test Method for Evaluating Dowel-Bearing Strength of Wood and Wood-Based Products

D6109-24

Standard Test Methods for Flexural Properties of Unreinforced and Reinforced Plastic Lumber and Related Products

D6662-22

Standard Specification for Polyolefin-Based Plastic Lumber Decking Boards

E84-26a

Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (Includes all amendments and changes 4/15/2026).

E108-25

Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings

E1354-25

Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter

F1679-04

Standard Test Method for Using a Variable Incidence Tribometer (VIT)

G154-23

Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) Lamp Apparatus for Exposure of Materials

AWPA Standard E1

Standard Method for Laboratory Evaluation for Determination of Resistance to Subterranean Termites Available from American Wood-Preservers Association (AWPA), P.O. Box 361784, Birmingham, AL 35236-1784, http://www.awpa.com.

AWPA Standard E10

2009 International Building Code

International Code Council, Inc. Available from International Code Council (ICC), 5203 Leesburg Pike, Suite 600, Falls Church, VA 22041-3401, http://www.intlcode.org.