ISO 9239-2:2002

Overview

ISO 9239-2:2002 - Reaction to fire tests for floorings - Part 2: Determination of flame spread at a heat flux level of 25 kW/m2 specifies a laboratory method to assess horizontal flame spread on flooring systems exposed to a high radiant heat flux. The method simulates severe corridor conditions adjacent to a fully developed (post-flashover) room fire. It applies to all common flooring types - textile carpets, cork, wood, rubber, plastics and coatings - and measures how a flooring (including any backing or substrate) propagates flame when ignited by pilot flames under a controlled radiant heat gradient.

Key topics and requirements

• Test objective: Determine horizontal flame spread and related parameters (e.g., flame front, heat flux at X minutes, critical heat flux at extinguishment) under a 25 kW/m2 radiant flux profile.
• Specimen mounting: Flooring is mounted horizontally; results include effects of any backing, adhesive or underlay used.
• Controlled apparatus: Test chamber with observation window, calibrated radiant panel, specimen holder and pilot burner. Ventilation and exhaust controls protect operators and ensure repeatable conditions.
• Measurement and expression: Flame spread distance over time, flux profile, and CHF/HF-X are recorded and reported according to the standard’s procedure.
• Safety and limits: The standard includes calibration, conditioning, and precision guidance plus safety warnings about fuel supply, exhaust and toxic combustion products. Importantly, ISO 9239-2 is intended for laboratory comparison and should not be used alone to estimate real fire risk.

Practical applications

• Product development and quality control for flooring manufacturers seeking to evaluate fire performance of carpets, vinyl, wood, rubber and laminated systems.
• Independent fire test laboratories performing standardized flame spread tests to generate comparable performance data.
• Architects, specifiers and safety engineers using test results to inform material selection and compliance evidence for building projects, fire safety assessments and procurement.
• Regulators and compliance bodies referencing laboratory data when setting classification rules or incorporating test outcomes into national building codes.

Related standards

• ISO 9239-1 (burning behaviour using a radiant heat source)
• ISO 13943 (fire safety vocabulary)
• ISO/TR 14697 (guidance on substrate choice for building products)
• ISO/TR 5658-1 and ISO/TR 3814 (background on flame spread and reaction-to-fire test philosophy)

Keywords: ISO 9239-2:2002, reaction to fire tests for floorings, flame spread, 25 kW/m2, radiant panel, pilot burner, flooring fire performance, fire safety standards.