ASTM E648-09
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This fire test response standard is designed to provide a basis for estimating one aspect of the fire exposure behavior of a floor-covering system installed in a building corridor. The test environment is intended to simulate conditions that have been observed and defined in full scale corridor experiments.
The test is intended to be suitable for regulatory statutes, specification acceptance, design purposes, or development and research.
The fundamental assumption inherent in the test is that critical radiant flux is one measure of the sensitivity to flame spread of floor-covering systems in a building corridor.
The test is applicable to floor-covering system specimens that follow or simulate accepted installation practice. Tests on the individual elements of a floor system are of limited value and not valid for evaluation of the flooring system.
Note 1—In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to one or more specific sets of laboratory fire test exposure conditions. If different test conditions are substituted or the anticipated end-use conditions are changed, it may not be possible by or from this test to predict changes in the performance characteristics measured. Therefore, the results are strictly valid only for the fire test exposure conditions described in this procedure.
If the test results obtained by this method are to be considered in the total assessment of fire risk, then all pertinent established criteria for fire risk assessment developed by Committee E05 must be included in the consideration.
SCOPE
1.1 This fire-test-response standard covers a procedure for measuring the critical radiant flux of horizontally mounted floor-covering systems exposed to a flaming ignition source in a graded radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber. A specimen is mounted over underlayment, a simulated concrete structural floor, bonded to a simulated structural floor, or otherwise mounted in a typical and representative way.
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical radiant flux at flame-out. It provides a basis for estimating one aspect of fire exposure behavior for floor-covering systems. The imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels likely to impinge on the floors of a building whose upper surfaces are heated by flames or hot gases, or both, from a fully developed fire in an adjacent room or compartment. The standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure component of fires that develop in corridors or exitways of buildings and is not intended for routine use in estimating flame spread behavior of floor covering in building areas other than corridors or exitways. See Appendix X1 for information on proper application and interpretation of experimental results from use of this test.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory information. These notes and footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be considered as requirements of this standard.
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under controlled conditions but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk assessment of materials, products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions..
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7.
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An American National Standard
Designation: E 648 – 09
Standard Test Method for
Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a
1
Radiant Heat Energy Source
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 648; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This fire-test-response standard covers a procedure for
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
measuring the critical radiant flux of horizontally mounted
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
floor-covering systems exposed to a flaming ignition source in
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard
a graded radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber.A
statements are given in Section 7.
specimen is mounted over underlayment, a simulated concrete
structural floor, bonded to a simulated structural floor, or
2. Referenced Documents
otherwise mounted in a typical and representative way.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical
C 1186 Specification for Flat Fiber-Cement Sheets
radiant flux at flame-out. It provides a basis for estimating one
E 122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,
aspect of fire exposure behavior for floor-covering systems.
With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic
The imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels
of a Lot or Process
likely to impinge on the floors of a building whose upper
E 136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical
surfacesareheatedbyflamesorhotgases,orboth,fromafully
Tube Furnace at 750°C
developed fire in an adjacent room or compartment. The
E 171 Specification for Atmospheres for Conditioning and
standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure
Testing Flexible Barrier Materials
component of fires that develop in corridors or exitways of
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
buildings and is not intended for routine use in estimating
flame spread behavior of floor covering in building areas other
3. Terminology
than corridors or exitways. See Appendix X1 for information
3.1 Definitions—SeeTerminologyE 176foradditionaldefi-
onproperapplicationandinterpretationofexperimentalresults
nitions.
from use of this test.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
3.2.1 blackbody temperature, n—the temperature of a per-
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
fect radiator—a surface with an emissivity of unity and,
only.
therefore, a reflectivity of zero.
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
3.2.2 corridor, n—an enclosed space connecting a room or
that provide explanatory information. These notes and foot-
compartment with an exit. The corridor includes normal
notes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
extensions, such as lobbies and other enlarged spaces, where
considered as requirements of this standard.
present.
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the
3.2.3 critical radiant flux, n—the level of incident radiant
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
heat energy on the floor covering system at the most distant
flame under controlled conditions but does not by itself
2 2
flame-out point. It is reported as W/cm (Btu/ft ·s).
incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk
3.2.4 flame-out, n—the time at which the last vestige of
assessment of materials, products, or assemblies under actual
flame or glow disappears from the surface of the test specimen,
fire conditions.
frequently accompanied by a final puff of smoke.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire
2
Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Burning. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Current edition approved April 1, 2009. Published May 2009. Originally Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E 648 – 08b. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E648–09
2
3.2.5 floor covering, n—an essentially plana
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This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
An American National Standard
Designation:E648–08b Designation: E 648 – 09
Standard Test Method for
Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a
1
Radiant Heat Energy Source
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 648; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This fire-test-response standard covers a procedure for measuring the critical radiant flux of horizontally mounted
floor-covering systems exposed to a flaming ignition source in a graded radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber. A
specimen is mounted over underlayment, a simulated concrete structural floor, bonded to a simulated structural floor, or otherwise
mounted in a typical and representative way.
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical radiant flux at flame-out. It provides a basis for estimating one aspect
of fire exposure behavior for floor-covering systems. The imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels likely to
impinge on the floors of a building whose upper surfaces are heated by flames or hot gases, or both, from a fully developed fire
in an adjacent room or compartment. The standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure component of fires that
develop in corridors or exitways of buildings and is not intended for routine use in estimating flame spread behavior of floor
covering in building areas other than corridors or exitways. See Appendix X1 for information on proper application and
interpretation of experimental results from use of this test.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory information. These notes and footnotes,
excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be considered as requirements of this standard.
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and flame under
controlled conditions but does not by itself incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk assessment of materials,
products, or assemblies under actual fire conditions.
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 and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 1186 Specification for Flat Fiber-Cement Sheets
E 122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or
Process
E 136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750C
E 171 Specification for Atmospheres for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Materials
E 176 Terminology of Fire Standards
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—See Terminology E 176 for additional definitions.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 blackbody temperature, n—the temperature of a perfect radiator—a surface with an emissivity of unity and, therefore, a
reflectivity of zero.
3.2.2 corridor, n—an enclosed space connecting a room or compartment with an exit.The corridor includes normal extensions,
such as lobbies and other enlarged spaces, where present.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E05 on Fire Standards and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E05.22 on Surface Burning.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2008.April 1, 2009. Published JanuaryMay 2009. Originally approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E 648 – 08ab.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E648–09
3.2.3 critical radiant flux, n—the level of incident radian
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