ASTM E648-10e1
(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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Designation: E648 − 10 AnAmerican National Standard
Standard Test Method for
Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a
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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 Department of Defense.
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ε NOTE—The word “nominal” was added in the second sentence of 12.2 editorially in January 2011.
1. Scope flame under controlled conditions but does not by itself
incorporate all factors required for fire-hazard or fire-risk
1.1 This fire-test-response standard covers a procedure for
assessment of materials, products, or assemblies under actual
measuring the critical radiant flux of horizontally mounted
fire conditions.
floor-covering systems exposed to a flaming ignition source in
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
a graded radiant heat energy environment in a test chamber.A
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
specimen is mounted over underlayment, a simulated concrete
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
structural floor, bonded to a simulated structural floor, or
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
otherwise mounted in a typical and representative way.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical
statements are given in Section 7.
radiant flux at flame-out. It provides a basis for estimating one
aspect of fire exposure behavior for floor-covering systems.
2. Referenced Documents
The imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels
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2.1 ASTM Standards:
likely to impinge on the floors of a building whose upper
C1186 Specification for Flat Fiber-Cement Sheets
surfacesareheatedbyflamesorhotgases,orboth,fromafully
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,With
developed fire in an adjacent room or compartment. The
Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a
standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure
Lot or Process
component of fires that develop in corridors or exitways of
E136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical
buildings and is not intended for routine use in estimating
Tube Furnace at 750°C
flame spread behavior of floor covering in building areas other
E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier
than corridors or exitways. See Appendix X1 for information
Packaging
onproperapplicationandinterpretationofexperimentalresults
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
from use of this test.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
3. Terminology
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.1 Definitions—See Terminology E176 for additional defi-
only.
nitions.
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
that provide explanatory information. These notes and
3.2.1 blackbody temperature, n—the temperature of a per-
footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
fect radiator—a surface with an emissivity of unity and,
considered as requirements of this standard.
therefore, a reflectivity of zero.
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the
3.2.2 corridor, n—an enclosed space connecting a room or
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
compartment with an exit. The corridor includes normal
extensions, such as lobbies and other enlarged spaces, where
present.
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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
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Burning. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved April 1, 2010. Published May 2010. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as E648 – 09a. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E0648-10E01. 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 − 10
3.2.3 critical radiant flux, n—the level of incident radiant at (2) a horizontally mounted floor covering system specimen,
heat energy on the floor covering system at the most distant Fig. 1. The radiant panel generates a radiant energy flux
2 2
flame-out point. It is reported as W/cm (Btu
...
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