ASTM E648-14

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 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: 31-Mar-2014
• ICS: 97.150 - Floor coverings
• Technical Committee: E05 - Fire Standards
• Drafting Committee: E05.22 - Surface Burning

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E648-10e1 - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• Replaced By: ASTM E648-14a - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor-Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2014
• Referred By: ASTM F1551-09(2017) - Standard Test Methods for Comprehensive Characterization of Synthetic Turf Playing Surfaces and Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• Referred By: ASTM E2061-23 - Standard Guide for Fire Hazard Assessment of Rail Transportation Vehicles
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• 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-Apr-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1486-18(2023) - Standard Practice for Testing Chemical-Resistant Broadcast and Slurry-Broadcast Resin Monolithic Floor Surfacings
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• 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-Apr-2014
• Referred By: ASTM F1918-21 - Standard Safety Performance Specification for Soft Contained Play Equipment
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• 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-Apr-2014
• Referred By: ASTM E1546-21 - Standard Guide for Development of Fire-Hazard-Assessment Standards
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• Referred By: ASTM F2970-22 - Standard Practice for Design, Manufacture, Installation, Operation, Maintenance, Inspection and Major Modification of Trampoline Courts
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• Referred By: ASTM D5144-08(2021) - Standard Guide for Use of Protective Coating Standards in Nuclear Power Plants
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• 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: 01-Apr-2014
• Referred By: ASTM E1317-19 - Standard Test Method for Flammability of Surface Finishes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• Referred By: ASTM E3020-22 - Standard Practice for Ignition Sources
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014

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 − 14 AnAmerican 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 and health practices and determine the applica-
structural floor, bonded to a simulated structural floor, or
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard
otherwise mounted in a typical and representative way.
statements are given in Section 7.
1.2 This fire-test-response standard measures the critical
radiant flux at flame-out. It provides a basis for estimating one
2. Referenced Documents
aspect of fire exposure behavior for floor-covering systems. 2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
The imposed radiant flux simulates the thermal radiation levels
C1186 Specification for Flat Fiber-Cement Sheets
likely to impinge on the floors of a building whose upper
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,With
surfacesareheatedbyflamesorhotgases,orboth,fromafully
Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a
developed fire in an adjacent room or compartment. The
Lot or Process
standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure
E136 Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical
component of fires that develop in corridors or exitways of
Tube Furnace at 750°C
buildings and is not intended for routine use in estimating
E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier
flame spread behavior of floor covering in building areas other
Packaging
than corridors or exitways. See Appendix X1 for information
E176 Terminology of Fire Standards
onproperapplicationandinterpretationofexperimentalresults
from use of this test.
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—See Terminology E176 for additional defi-
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information nitions.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
only.
3.2.1 blackbody temperature, n—the temperature of a per-
1.4 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
fect radiator—a surface with an emissivity of unity and,
that provide explanatory information. These notes and
therefore, a reflectivity of zero.
footnotes, excluding those in tables and figures, shall not be
3.2.2 corridor, n—an enclosed space connecting a room or
considered as requirements of this standard.
compartment with an exit. The corridor includes normal
1.5 This standard is used to measure and describe the
extensions, such as lobbies and other enlarged spaces, where
response of materials, products, or assemblies to heat and
present.
flame under controlled conditions but does not by itself
3.2.3 critical radiant flux, n—the level of incident radiant
heat energy on the floor covering system at the most distant
2 2
flame-out point. It is reported as W/cm (Btu/ft ·s).
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 April 1, 2014. Published May 2014. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
ε1
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as E648 –10 . DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E0648-14. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E648 − 14
3.2.4 flame-out, n—the time at which the last vestige of Fig. 1. The radiant panel generates a radiant energy flux
flame or glow disappears from the surface of the test specimen, distribution ranging along the 100
...

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.
´1
Designation: E648 − 10 E648 − 14 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
ε NOTE—The word “nominal” was added in the second sentence of 12.2 editorially in January 2011.
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.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:
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
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—See Terminology E176 for additional definitions.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
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, 2010April 1, 2014. Published May 2010May 2014. Originally approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 20092010 as
ε1
E648 – 09a.E648 –10 . DOI: 10.1520/E0648-10E01.10.1520/E0648-14.
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.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E648 − 14
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
...