"These fire tests are applicable to balcony assemblies that are installed in combination with other building assemblies such as walls or floors. Recognizing balcony assemblies are primarily installed on the exterior of the building this fire test method only examines the structural integrity of the balcony assembly under and applied load when exposed to the standard fire exposure. The balcony assemblies are intended to register performance characteristics during the period of fire exposure and are not intended to be interpreted as having determined their acceptability for use after the fire exposure. These requirements are intended to evaluate the length of time the types of balcony assemblies specified in 1.1 will retain their structural integrity dependent upon the type of assembly involved@ during a predetermined test exposure. The test evaluates the assembly's resistance to fire while carrying an applied load. Under these requirements a specimen is subjected to a standard fire exposure controlled to achieve specified temperatures throughout a specified time period. This exposure by itself may not be representative of all fire conditions; conditions may vary with changes in the amount@ nature@ and distribution of fire loading@ ventilation@ compartment size and configuration@ and heat sink characteristics of the compartment. These requirements provide a relative measure of fire performance of comparable assemblies under these specified structural loading and fire exposure conditions. Any variation from the construction or conditions that are tested such as size@ method of assembly@ and materials@ may substantially change the performance characteristics of the assembly. These requirements cover the following measurements and determinations during the test exposure: a) Measurement of the structural load carrying ability of the balcony assemblies. These requirements do not cover: a) Measurement of the transmission through the assembly of heat@ and of gases sufficiently hot to ignite cotton waste. b) Accumulation of data as to performance of assemblies constructed with components or lengths other than those tested. c) Evaluation of the contribution of the assembly to generate smoke@ toxic gases@ or other products of combustion. d) Measurement of the degree of control or limitation of the passage of smoke or products of combustion through the assembly. e) Simulation of the fire behavior of joints between building elements@ such as floor-balcony or wallbalcony@ and like connections. f) Measurement of flame spread over the surface of the tested element. Tests for burning characteristics of building materials@ based on the rate of flame spread@ can be found in the Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials@ UL 723. The tests described herein may be cited as the ""Standard Fire Tests"" and the performance of exposure expressed as ""2-hour@"" ""6-hour@"" ""1/2-hour@"" or the like. The results of these tests represent one factor in assessing fire performance of building construction and assemblies. These requirements prescribe a standard fire exposure for comparing the performance of building construction assemblies. Application of these test results to predict the performance of actual building construction requires careful evaluation of the tested conditions. If a factor of safety exceeding that inherent in the test conditions is desired@ a proportional adjustment should be made in the specified time classification period."