FireDOC Search

Author
Son, B. C.
Title
Fire Endurance Tests of Unprotected Wood-Floor Constructions for Single-Family Residences. Final Report. Revision of NBS 10 320.
Coporate
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
Sponsor
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC
Report
NBSIR 73-263, July 1973, 70 p.
Contract
IAA-H-16-70
Keywords
fire endurance | fire tests | flame through | large scale fire tests | Operation Breakthrough | single family dwellings | small scale fire tests | thermal resistance | joists | floors
Abstract
Fire endurance tests were performed on two full-scale and twelve small scale wood floor constructions. The fire endurance ratings on unfinished wood joist and plywood subfloor constructions varied from 10 to 13 minutes and were mainly determined by the time to "flame through." In small-scale tests, the addition of carpeting with a hair pad delayed the time of "flame through" approximately 8 minutes. Time to "flame through" may be estimated from the thermal resistance of the construction, and may be modified by the effects of applied load or construction details such as gaps, joints, and penetrations.