No abstract

Criteria have been proposed using the new Flooring Radiant Panel Test that provide safety equivalent to the level provided by the NFPA's Life Safety Code ®.UILDING regulations, including building codes, fire prevention codes, and the like, contain various restrictions limiting the use of flammable materials on walls, ceilings, and floors of buildings. This is essential because of the way flammability characteristics of these interior materials can affect the behavior of a fire. The less a fire spreads, the less threat it becomes to life and property, and the easier it is to control and extinguish.Floor coverings, such as wood, vinyl asbestos tile, terazzo, and linoleum, which have long been used, show little tendency to affect the spread of fire.In the late 1950s and early 1960s, production techniques were developed within the carpet industry whereby carpet became competitive in cost with conventional flooring and offered certain advantages over other materials. Along with this widespread usage came a few claims that carpet aided in the spread of fire. Noting these factors, some fire officials expressed concern that some carpet material could react significantly differently in a fire situation than other commonly used flooring materials. As a result of this concern, a first attempt was made in mid-1965 to regulate the floor covering by a flammability test, and much research and development work was undertaken to better understand the phenomenon of fire spread. T H E T H R E E S T A G E S O F F I R EIn order to understand the testing and measurement of the behavior of flooring systems in a fire situation, it is necessary to consider fire in three distinct stages.Stage 1 is the ignition and its initial growth. For example, this could be the first sign of a flame in a wastebasket or overstuffed sofa. A fire will be NOTE: The test methods described herein do not pertain to carpet used other than for floor covering. 189

A state-of-the-art review of efforts in smoke movement and smoke control is presented. Basic principles, experimental techniques and results, computer models, and smoke control methods which have been employed are presented. The paper covers all work in the area of smoke movement and smoke control but emphasizes the work of NBS.

This paper has attempted to indicate the need for full-scale room and compartment tests at this time, indicating two possible uses of the compartment test (for approval, or for validating small-scale tests) and has discussed a few of the factors which affect the design of the tests, using the choice of ignition source as an example of the problems involved in the test design. Reference is made to the recommended practice developed by the task group of American Society for Testing and Materials Committee E-39.10.01.