Floor coverings are classified by how far a flame travels along them as the radiant heat falling on the surface decreases - the critical radiant flux at which the flame stops. A gas-fired radiant panel heats the specimen at an angle, producing a flux gradient along its length, and a pilot burner ignites the hot end. The distance burned converts, through the calibration curve, into the critical heat flux that EN 13501-1 uses for flooring classes (the fl classes) and that US codes use from ASTM E648 / NFPA 253.
How the Flooring Radiant Panel Tester works
The specimen lies horizontally in the chamber under the inclined radiant panel. After preheating, the pilot flame is applied at the hot end for the set time. Flame spread along the specimen is timed and the furthest extent recorded; smoke is measured in the exhaust in the ISO method. Burn distance is read against the flux profile calibration to give the critical radiant flux.
Key specifications
| Standards | ISO 9239-1, ASTM E648, NFPA 253 |
|---|---|
| Principle | Inclined radiant panel producing a heat flux gradient along a horizontal specimen; pilot ignition at the high-flux end |
| Reported value | Critical radiant flux (CHF) from the flux-profile calibration; smoke production in the ISO 9239-1 arrangement |
What the test reports
- Critical radiant flux at flameout (CHF / critical heat flux)
- Flame spread distance versus time
- Smoke production record (ISO 9239-1)
Applications
Carpet, resilient flooring, laminate and raised-floor manufacturers use this tester for Euroclass flooring classification and for US radiant panel requirements in corridors and exits. It completes the construction set with SBI, the non-combustibility furnace and the single flame source test.
Frequently asked questions
Which standard should I order against?
Order against the standard your reports must cite. The instrument platform is shared across the listed standards, but fixtures, software templates and calibration routines differ, so name the standard (and its year) in your inquiry and the configuration will be matched to it.
Can the instrument be installed in an existing laboratory?
Yes, in most cases. Tell us the available floor space, ceiling height, exhaust capacity and gas supplies in your inquiry; large systems such as the SBI and tunnel furnaces need a dedicated exhaust arrangement, which is confirmed in the layout proposal before ordering.
Does it also give smoke data?
In the ISO 9239-1 arrangement, smoke is measured in the exhaust during the test. The ASTM E648 arrangement centres on critical radiant flux. Name the method in your inquiry so the configuration matches.
Configuration, installation and support
Every Flooring Radiant Panel Tester is supplied as a configured system, not a bare instrument: the test chamber or frame, the burner or heater assemblies named in the method, the measurement chain and the control software with the report templates for ISO 9239-1, ASTM E648, NFPA 253. Before quotation we confirm the installation conditions with you - floor loading and ceiling height for large rigs, exhaust and extraction routes, gas and fuel services, and power supply - because a fire test instrument only produces defensible data when the room around it is right. Commissioning covers assembly, calibration of the measurement chain against the method's own checks, and training of your operators on running the test and maintaining the apparatus. Spare ignition parts, thermocouples and other consumables for the first period of operation can be included in the supply, and the instrument is supported with calibration and maintenance services after installation.
What to include in your inquiry
To quote the Flooring Radiant Panel Tester correctly the first time, send: the standard and edition you will test to (ISO 9239-1, ASTM E648, NFPA 253); the materials or products you will test and their sizes; the configuration options you already know you need; and the destination laboratory's location and available services. If you are building a new fire laboratory rather than adding one instrument, say so - this apparatus is often planned together with the other instruments in its category, and a combined layout and exhaust plan is cheaper than three separate ones.