ASTM E648-03

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

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 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2003
• ICS: 97.150 - Floor coverings
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.22 - Surface Burning

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E648-00 - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Replaced By: ASTM E648-04 - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2004
• Referred By: ASTM E970-17e1 - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F1551-09(2017) - Standard Test Methods for Comprehensive Characterization of Synthetic Turf Playing Surfaces and Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1317-19 - Standard Test Method for Flammability of Surface Finishes
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E3020-22 - Standard Practice for Ignition Sources
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D8157-19 - Standard Guide for Qualification Testing of Coatings Used in Coating Service Level I in Nuclear Power Plants
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D5144-08(2021) - Standard Guide for Use of Protective Coating Standards in Nuclear Power Plants
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM F1918-21 - Standard Safety Performance Specification for Soft Contained Play Equipment
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E176-21ae1 - Standard Terminology of Fire Standards
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D6719-22e1 - Standard Guide for Standard Test Methods and Practices for Evaluating Pile Yarn Floor Covering
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• 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: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1546-21 - Standard Guide for Development of Fire-Hazard-Assessment Standards
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM C1486-18(2023) - Standard Practice for Testing Chemical-Resistant Broadcast and Slurry-Broadcast Resin Monolithic Floor Surfacings
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003
• Referred By: ASTM E1321-18 - Standard Test Method for Determining Material Ignition and Flame Spread Properties
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2003

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
An American National Standard
Designation: E 648 – 03
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 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 (e) 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.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical
C 1186 Specification for Flat Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement
radiant flux at flame-out. It provides a basis for estimating one
2
Sheets
aspect of fire exposure behavior for floor-covering systems.
E 122 Practice for Choice of Sample Size to Estimate a
The imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels
3
Measure of Quality for 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
4
Tube Furnace at 750°C
developed fire in an adjacent room or compartment. The
E 171 Specification for Standard Atmospheres for Condi-
standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure
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tioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Materials
component of fires that develop in corridors or exitways of
4
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; Time 0 is the
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 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.05.
3
Burning. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
4
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2003. Published February 2003. Originally Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
5
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as E 648 – 00. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
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E648–03
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