ISO/TS 22269:2005

Overview

ISO/TS 22269:2005 - Reaction to fire tests - Fire growth - Full‑scale test for stairs and stair coverings defines a full‑scale reference scenario and test method to assess the burning behaviour of stairs or stair coverings when exposed to defined ignition sources. Issued as an ISO Technical Specification (provisional), it targets risks typical of deliberate ignition and records flame spread across treads, risers and stringboards. Results represent the performance of the complete stair covering system together with its substrate under well‑ventilated, open‑top test conditions.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test scope: Applies to all types of stair coverings and to stair assemblies themselves; evaluates the combined system (covering + substrate + fixings).
• Ignition sources:
  • Wood crib (source A) to simulate a local attack (conditioning required; propan‑2‑ol 1.4 ± 0.1 ml applied to the crib).
  • Gas burner (source B/C) to simulate a more severe attack (gas flow example: 5 l/min for source B).
• Specimen preparation & conditioning: Representative installation, adhesives, underlays and fixings must be used. Conditioning options follow ISO 554 (typical conditioning: 23 ± 2 °C, 50 ± 5 % RH; constant mass or prescribed time periods).
• Test environment & apparatus: Full‑scale stair rig with sidewalls (typically plasterboard unless other wall finishes are relevant); no ceiling at the stair top (open, well‑ventilated). Horizontal wind speed at 50 mm above riser 0 shall not exceed 0.5 m/s.
• Measurements & observations: Time for flame front to reach each tread, riser and stringboard; records of melting, charring, dripping, deformation, smoke and effluent measurements when used with a calorimeter hood/duct.
• Procedure limits: Photographic/video recording with clock, pre‑recording for ≥2 minutes, max test duration 60 minutes. Safety precautions and means to extinguish fires are mandatory.
• Interpretation caveat: Test results reflect the specific assembly tested; changes in underlay, adhesive, fixings or substrate can alter performance and should be retested.

Practical applications and users

ISO/TS 22269:2005 is valuable for:

• Manufacturers of stair coverings, flooring and stair systems seeking performance data for product development and comparison.
• Independent fire test laboratories conducting full‑scale reaction‑to‑fire assessments.
• Fire safety engineers and consultants advising on escape routes, stair reliability in hostile ignition scenarios.
• Regulatory bodies, specifiers and architects considering product behavior under deliberate fire attack and when drafting safety requirements.
• Quality assurance teams needing representative system testing (covering + substrate + fixings) rather than component‑only data.

The standard guides realistic, repeatable full‑scale testing to support safer product design, risk assessment and compliance documentation.

Related standards

• ISO 554 - Standard atmospheres for conditioning and/or testing
• ISO 13943 - Fire safety - Vocabulary
• ISO/TR 14697 - Guidance on choice of substrates for building products
• ISO 13785‑1 - Reaction‑to‑fire tests for facades (intermediate‑scale test)

Keywords: ISO/TS 22269:2005, reaction to fire tests, full‑scale stair test, stair coverings, fire growth, wood crib ignition, gas burner ignition, stair substrate, fire testing standard.