NFPA 253-2019

NFPA 253 Standard Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source, 2019 edition

This fire test response standard describes a procedure for measuring critical radiant flux behavior of horizontally mounted floor covering systems exposed to a flaming ignition source in a graded, radiant heat energy environment within a test chamber. This fire test response standard measures the critical radiant flux at flameout and provides a basis for estimating one aspect of fire exposure behavior for floor covering systems. The standard was developed to simulate an important fire exposure component in fires that develops in corridors or exit enclosures of buildings and is not intended for routine use in estimating flame spread behavior of floor covering in building areas other than corridors or exit enclosures. This fire test response standard is designed to provide a basis for estimating one aspect of the fire exposure behavior of a floor covering system installed in a building corridor. The test environment simulates conditions that have been observed and defined in full-scale corridor experiments.