- Author
- Quintiere, J. G. | Huggett, C.
- Title
- Evaluation of Flame Spread Test Methods for Floor Covering Materials.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NBS SP 411,
- Distribution
- Available from Government Printing Office
- Book or Conf
- National Bureau of Standards. Fire Safety Research. Proceedings of a Symposium. August 22, 1973., Gaithersburg, MD, 59-89 p., 1973
- Keywords
- corridors | fires | test methods | flame spread | flammability tests
- Abstract
- Flammability properties of materials have traditionally been measured by small scale laboratory tests. The Relationships between test results and performance in real fires have been largely inferred by intuition or subjective judgement. Flame spread test methods for floor covering materials are examined. Through full-scale fire experiments and laboratory studies the nature of the potential flame spread hazard of flooring materials is presented. The factors promoting flame spread in each test mentod are identified. Test method results are compared with relevant full-scale fire experiments involving floor covering materials in a corridor. An effort is made to relate test results, where possible, to the potential flame spread hazard of floor covering materials in building corridors and exitways.