ASTM E648-17a

Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 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.  
5.2 The test is intended to be suitable for regulatory statutes, specification acceptance, design purposes, or development and research.  
5.3 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.  
5.4 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.  
5.5 In this procedure, the specimens are subjected to one or more specific sets of laboratory test conditions. If different test conditions are substituted or the end-use conditions are changed, it is not always possible by or from this test method to predict changes in the fire-test-response characteristics measured. Therefore, the results are valid only for the fire test exposure conditions described in this procedure.
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 standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7.  
1.7 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2017
• ICS: 97.150 - Floor coverings
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.22 - Surface Burning

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E648-17 - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Replaced By: ASTM E648-19 - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2019
• Referred By: ASTM F1551-09(2017) - Standard Test Methods for Comprehensive Characterization of Synthetic Turf Playing Surfaces and Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM F1918-21 - Standard Safety Performance Specification for Soft Contained Play Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM D8157-19 - Standard Guide for Qualification Testing of Coatings Used in Coating Service Level I in Nuclear Power Plants
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM F3214-23 - Standard Practice for Characterization of Fire Properties of Seating, Upholstery, and Padding Materials for Vehicles Associated with Amusement Rides and Devices
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM E3020-22 - Standard Practice for Ignition Sources
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM E2280-21 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of the Effect of Upholstered Seating Furniture Within Patient Rooms of Health Care Facilities
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM F2970-22 - Standard Practice for Design, Manufacture, Installation, Operation, Maintenance, Inspection and Major Modification of Trampoline Courts
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM E1546-21 - Standard Guide for Development of Fire-Hazard-Assessment Standards
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM E176-21ae1 - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM C1486-18(2023) - Standard Practice for Testing Chemical-Resistant Broadcast and Slurry-Broadcast Resin Monolithic Floor Surfacings
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM E2061-23 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of Rail Transportation Vehicles
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM D5144-08(2021) - Standard Guide for Use of Protective Coating Standards in Nuclear Power Plants
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017
• Referred By: ASTM E1321-18 - Standard Test Method for Determining Material Ignition and Flame Spread Properties
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2017

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: E648 − 17a An American National Standard
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 E648; 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 U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope* incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk
assessment of materials, products, or assemblies under actual
1.1 This fire-test-response standard covers a procedure for
fire conditions.
measuring the critical radiant flux of horizontally mounted
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
floor-covering systems exposed to a flaming ignition source in
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
a graded radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber.A
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
specimen is mounted over underlayment, a simulated concrete
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
structural floor, bonded to a simulated structural floor, or
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
otherwise mounted in a typical and representative way.
Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7.
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
radiant flux at flame-out. It provides a basis for estimating one
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
aspect of fire exposure behavior for floor-covering systems.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
The imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
likely to impinge on the floors of a building whose upper
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
surfacesareheatedbyflamesorhotgases,orboth,fromafully
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
developed fire in an adjacent room or compartment. The
standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure
2. Referenced Documents
component of fires that develop in corridors or exitways of
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
buildings and is not intended for routine use in estimating
C1186 Specification for Flat Fiber-Cement Sheets
flame spread behavior of floor covering in building areas other
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,With
than corridors or exitways. See Appendix X1 for information
Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a
onproperapplicationandinterpretationofexperimentalresults
Lot or Process
from use of this test.
E136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
Tube Furnace at 750°C
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier
standard.
Packaging
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
that provide explanatory information. These notes and
3. Terminology
footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
considered as requirements of this standard.
3.1 Definitions—See Terminology E176 for additional defi-
nitions.
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
3.2.1 blackbody temperature, n—the temperature of a per-
flame under controlled conditions but does not by itself
fect radiator—a surface with an emissivity of unity and,
therefore, a reflectivity of zero.
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
2
Burning. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2017. Published January 2018. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as E648 –17. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E0648-17A. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E648 − 17a
3.2.2 corridor, n—an enclosed space connecting a room or 4. Summary of Test Method
compartment with an exit. The corridor includes normal
4.1 The basic el
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM 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.
Designation: E648 − 17 E648 − 17a An American National Standard
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 E648; 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 U.S. 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 standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7.
1.7 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
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C1186 Specification for Flat Fiber-Cement Sheets
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, With Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a Lot or
Process
E136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750°C
E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
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 April 1, 2017Dec. 1, 2017. Published May 2017January 2018. Originally approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 20152017 as
ɛ1
E648 –15 –17. . DOI: 10.1520/E0648-17.10.1520/E0648-17A.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E648 − 17a
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—See Terminology E176 for additional de
...