- Author
- Adams, C. H. | Davis, S.
- Title
- Development of the Flooring Radiant Panel Test as a Standard Test Method. Final Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Society of the Plastics Industry, New York, NY
- Report
- NBSIR 79-1954, March 1980, 55 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- fire safety | flame spread | carpets | flammability | floor coverings | flooring radiant panel test | test methods
- Abstract
- This report deals with the standardization phase of the Flooring Radiant Panel Test. It describes work done to develop the test as a standard for measuring and of the major factors contirubuting to the potential fire hazard of floor covering systems used in corridors and exitways. The investigation involved major interlabotorary test programs and focused on: 1) establishing realistic test conditions; 2) defining and minimizing variability; 3) drafting a complete and concise test procedure; and 4) demonstrating the soundness of the method. Required flux profile instrumentation calibration procedures were developed and proven. "Critical Radiant Flux" data obtained on representative floor covering systems showed the rank ordering of important products such as man-made and natural fiber carpets, vinyl asbestos tile, and hardwood flooring. Acceptable repeatabilities of about 20% (within-laboratory variability) and reproducibility of about 35% (between-laboratory variability) were demonstrated in two major NBS/MMFPA/CRI interlaboratory carpet system test programs. Fourteen labortories participated in these full factorial statistically designed experiments with each laboratory testing eighteen carpet materials.