Fire Hazard Properties Specification S7C3 Floor Linings and Coverings [2019: Spec C1.10: 3]

Fire Hazard Properties Specification 7 Clause S7C3 Floor Linings and Floor Coverings

A floor covering is required to have Critical Radiant Flux (CRF) greater than specified values dependent on building type, location within the building and whether or not a sprinkler system is to be installed. Where the building does not have a sprinkler system it must also have a Smoke Development Rate of less than (<) 750 percent-minutes.

The lowest CRF value allowed for non-sprinkled buildings is 1.2 kW/m2 with no requirement for some sprinkled buildings. For various building types and specific locations within buildings there is an increased CRF being 2.2 or greater or 4.5 or greater. The different levels are related to whether a sprinkler system is installed and the mobility of the occupants or closeness to an exit. The highest requirement is 4.5 kW/m2 for fire isolated exits.

There are many combinations of timber floors that are available from parquet, strip flooring, plywood, floating and exposed particleboard and plywood floors. Generic data is available from the timber industry for products that are not specific to the one manufacturer; for example, tongue and groove (T&G) flooring or plywood that are from the one species. Floating floors and particleboard vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and the individual manufacturer should be consulted for this information.

The critical criteria for T&G flooring and parquet are the species and the thickness of the timber. There will be different CRF values for different thicknesses within the one species.

The results of testing on various timber species and their performance is provided in Table 2 which is broken into two parts; 12 mm and 19 mm thicknesses for various species. For 12 mm flooring (i.e. parquet or strip) there is a requirement that it be backed by particleboard, or placed onto a non-combustible substrate such as concrete.

A common mistake made by designers when specifying particleboard or plywood flooring under a carpet, is to require the substrate floor to have a CRF. This is not necessary when the substrate is not the topmost covering. In this instance, the Fire Hazard Properties will be required for the particleboard or plywood flooring substrate and the CRF will be required for the carpet. But when a carpet manufacturer tests carpet to determine CRF data, the carpet and substrate used e.g., plywood or particleboard, should be nominated as part of the test.

Fire Test Reports

Fire test reports for a range of timber floor coverings are available here.

Table 2: Critical Radiant Flux (CRF) and Smoke Development Rate

 

12 mm thick or greater

19 mm thick or greater

Common Name

CRF

Smoke Development Rate % - minute

CRF

Smoke Development Rate % - minute

Ash, Alpine

-

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Ash, Mountain

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Ash, Silvertop

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Beech, Myrtle

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Blackbutt

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Blackbutt, New England

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Blackwood

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Bloodwood, Red

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Box, Brush

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Box, Grey

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Brownbarrel

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Cypress

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Gum, Blue, Sydney

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Gum, Blue, Southern

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Gum, Manna

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Gum, River Red

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Gum, Rose

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Gum, Shining

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Gum, Spotted

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Gum, Sugar

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Gum, Yellow

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Ironbark, Grey

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Ironbark, Red

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Jarrah

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Karri

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Mahogany, Red

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Merbau

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Messmate

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Pine, Celery-top

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Pine, Radiata

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Stringybark, Yellow

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

Tallowwood

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Turpentine

More than 2.2 and less than 4.5

<750

4.5 or greater

<750

Wattle, Silver

 

<750

4.5 or greater

 

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