FLAME SPREAD TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR FLOORING PRODUCTS
Chris Palumbo • Mar 15, 2022
AS WRITTEN IN SECTION 804 OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE
ASTM E648 Laboratory Testing
The flame spread requirements for flooring products are defined in Section 804, Interior Floor Finish, of the International Building Code (IBC). State and local building codes in the United States use the IBC as a foundation, but most jurisdictions have accepted amended versions of the IBC. Verify all requirements with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
Interior floor finish is defined by the International Building Code as the exposed floor surfaces of buildings including coverings applied over a finished floor or stair, including risers.
Examples may include:
Hardwood Flooring
Engineered Wood Flooring
Carpets
Resilient Flooring
Laminate Flooring
Rugs
Risers
Tile
Foam Padding / Gym Mats
Exceptions are listed for “floor finishes and coverings of a traditional type, such as wood, vinyl, linoleum or terrazzo, and resilient floor covering materials that are not comprised of fibers.” Check with the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to ensure your product is covered by an exception before deciding to forgo testing.
Test Methods Specified in Section 804
ASTM E648 / NFPA 253
ASTM E648 and NFPA 253 are specified in Section 804 for the classification of interior floor finish and floor covering materials. The methods are considered to be technically equivalent to one another, but they are issued by different standards organizations so some differences may be present. Capital Testing is ISO 17025 accredited to conduct ASTM E648 and NFPA 253 testing so testing can be conducted in accordance with whichever method is preferred. Both test methods are used to determine the critical radiant flux of a given material. The critical radiant flux is defined as the level of incident radiant heat energy on a floor covering system at the most distant point where the flame will extinguish itself. Critical radiant flux is reported as W/cm².
DOC FF-1 “Pill Test” (CPSC 16 CFR 1630) / ASTM D2859
Section 804 of the International Building Code is unclear regarding the applicability and use of the pill test, but the method is intended for testing carpet and rug materials (textile floor coverings). The method is not commonly used to test hard surfaces like laminate floors, engineered wood floors or hardwood flooring materials. CPSC 16 CFR 1630 and ASTM D2859 are considered to be technically equivalent standards. CPSC 16 CFR 1631 is another similar pill test variant that is intended specifically for small carpets and rugs which has no dimension greater than 1.83 m (6 ft.) and an area not greater than 2.23 m² (24 sq. ft.). DOC FF-1 (CPSC 16 CFR 1630) and ASTM D2859 are aptly referred to as the “pill test” because the material is exposed to a lit methenamine pill which is placed in the center of the test sample. Flame spread is monitored during the test to see how far the flame travels from the center point where the pill is placed.
Performance Criteria
Performance Criteria for ASTM E648/NFPA 253
There is no performance criteria specified in ASTM E648 or NFPA 253. Performance requirements are described in NFPA 101 and Section 804 of the IBC.
Floor finish and floor covering classifications as defined in the IBC:
Class I – Products with a critical radiant flux greater than or equal to 0.45 W/cm²
Class II – Products with a critical radiant flux between 0.22 W/cm² and 0.44 W/cm²
Performance Criteria for DOC FF-1 “Pill Test” (CPSC 16 CFR 1630) / ASTM D2859
A single test specimen has passed the test if the charred portion of the tested specimen does not extend to within 25 ± 0.5 mm (1.0 in.) of the edge of the hole in the steel frame at any point. The hole in the steel frame is 8 inches in diameter and the ignition point is located in the center of the 8 inch hole.
The textile floor covering material has passed the test if 7 of the 8 test specimens have met the requirements listed above.
For additional information about testing interior floor finish and floor covering materials, contact ChrisP@capitaltesting.org or request a quote today.
