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ISBN 978-0-626-37452-5
SANS 10177-4:2005
Edition 1.3

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Fire testing of materials, components

and elements used in buildings

Part 4: Surface fire index of floor coverings

Amdt 1

Published by the South African Bureau of Standards

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Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope
Amdt 1 1986 Amended by the addition of a procedure to determine the
classification for floor coverings.
Amdt 2 1999 Amended to change the values used in the calculation of fire
indexes.
Amdt 3 2005 Amended to change the designation from SABS to SANS with no
technical changes.

Foreword
This South African Standard was prepared by National Committee SABS/TC 021/SC 03, Fire
safety – Fire properties, testing and classification for buildings, in accordance with procedures of the
South African Bureau of Standards, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This edition is technically identical to the first edition (SABS 0177-4:1981) as amended by
amendments No. 1 and No. 2.

A vertical line in the margin shows where the text has been technically modified by amendments
No. 1 and No. 2.

This document is referenced in the National Building Regulations and Building Standards
Act, 1977 (Act No. 103 of 1977).

Compliance with this document cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

Reaffirmed and reprinted in May 2020.

This document will be reviewed every five years
and be reaffirmed, amended, revised or withdrawn.

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Contents
Page

Foreword

1 Scope ............................................................................................................................ 3

2 Apparatus ...................................................................................................................... 3

2.1 Furnace ................................................................................................................. 3

2.2 Stop-watch ............................................................................................................ 4

3 Preparation of test specimens ....................................................................................... 4

4 Preparation of apparatus ............................................................................................... 4

5 Test procedure .............................................................................................................. 5

6 Measurements and calculations .................................................................................... 5

6.1 Spread of flame index ........................................................................................... 5

6.2 Heat contribution index .......................................................................................... 5
Amdt 1
6.3 Smoke emission index .......................................................................................... 5
Amdt 1
6.4 Surface fire index .................................................................................................. 6
Amdt 1
6.5 Classification of floor coverings ............................................................................. 6
Amdt 1

7 Report ........................................................................................................................... 6

Figures 1-2 ........................................................................................................................ 7-8

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Fire testing of materials, components and elements used in buildings

Part 4:
Surface fire index of floor coverings Amdt 1

1 Scope
1.1 This part of the SANS 10177 covers the method of test used to determine the surface fire
index (based on the extent of spread of flame, the smoke density, and the heat contributed by the
material) of floor coverings. It is applicable to all types of combustible floor coverings that are used
as a floor finish. Amdt 1

2 Apparatus
2.1 Furnace
2.1.1 The furnace (see figure 1 and also figure 2) consists of a gas-heated tunnel of rectangular
cross-section with a roof that slopes up from the hot end to a rectangular stack. The floor is
horizontal and supports the test specimen.

2.1.2 The body of the furnace consists of a steel framework that supports a 12 mm thick asbestos
cement shell lined with 12 mm thick asbestos millboard insulation. The floor is a 12 mm thick
unpressed asbestos cement sheet which can be removed for cleaning. The internal length of the
tunnel is 3,00 m and the internal width is 0,305 m. The roof slopes from a height of 0,200 m to
0,955 m where it connects onto a rectangular stack of cross-sectional size 0,430 m by 0,30 m,
which rises to a height of 1,660 m above the floor of the tunnel.

2.1.3 In one side wall there are six 25 mm diameter observation ports, centred on a line 40 mm
above the floor and spaced respectively at distances of 300 mm, 600 mm, 900 mm, 1 350 mm,
1 800 mm, and 2 400 mm from the face of the main burner.

2.1.4 The main burner is a gas burner which supplies heat energy at 25 kW, and is housed in the
hinged door at the smaller end of the tunnel.

The size of the face of the burner is such as so to fit the end of the tunnel that no additional air
enters at the top and sides of the opening but that there is a gap of height 50 mm between the lower
edge of the burner and the floor of the furnace. (This gap is reduced to approximately 26 mm when
a mounted specimen is in the furnace.)

2.1.5 The igniting burner is a steel tube with an orifice of diameter 3 mm that faces towards the
stack. It is so mounted (vertically) in the roof of the furnace, 150 mm from the face of the main
burner, that it can be lowered to any level between the roof and the floor. It is connected by flexible
tubing to the gas supply, and should provide a 75 mm long flame without using any primary air.

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2.1.6 Smoke density is measured by means of a photo-electric smoke-meter. A smoke-meter and

a suitable source of incandescent light are mounted centrally in the shorter sides of the stack
1,40 m above the floor of the tunnel. The smoke-meter is connected to a suitable recorder (see
NOTE to 2.1.7).

2.1.7 The temperature in the stack is measured by means of a 12 mm diameter copper rod, of
length 450 mm, that is mounted 60 mm above and parallel to the line for smoke density
measurement, and that has, 110 mm from each end, an imbedded thermocouple so connected to a
suitable recorder that the mean temperature of the two positions is recorded.

NOTE It is convenient to use a multipoint recorder that enables temperature and smoke obscuration to be
registered simultaneously. The values of the two measurements are registered on opposite sides of the same
chart. The connection of alternate points into two sets results in more continuous lines which are easier to
interpret.

2.2 Stop-watch

3 Preparation of test specimens

3.1 From each test sample cut three test specimens each of length 2,5 m and width 0,3 m.

3.2 Mount each specimen on a base board of material similar to that on which it will be used in
service, of width 300 mm, and of length slightly less than that of the floor of the tunnel. So mount
each specimen (as in practice and using, when relevant, the adhesive recommended by the
manufacturer of the covering) that one end of the specimen is 150 mm from an end of its base
board, and cover this bare end of the base board with an asbestos cement slab of length 300 mm,
width 150 mm, and thickness 12 mm. In addition to any adhesive that may have to be used, use
thin steel wire ties to secure this end of the specimen to the base board.

3.3 Condition each test specimen at 22 ± 3 °C and a relative humidity of 50 % for at least 48 h in
the case of loose-laid specimens and for at least 96 h (after gluing) in other cases.

4 Preparation of apparatus
4.1 With the main burner adjusted to yield about 25 kW, preheat the apparatus for 30 min. When
the temperature of the copper rod (see 2.1.7) tends to stabilize at between 50 and 60 °C, swing the
main burner away (but do not extinguish the flame) and allow the furnace to cool slowly until the rod
temperature is 29,5 ± 2,5 °C, and then insert a 12 mm thick asbestos cement board, of length 2,5 m
and width 300 mm, into the tunnel.

4.2 So regulate the gas supply as to provide approximately 25 kW at the burners. Adjust the air
supply to the main burner to give clean and complete combustion and a flame front that is flush with
the refractory brick face of the burner, and so adjust the supply of gas to the igniting burner that the
length of the flame is approximately 75 mm.

4.3 As nearly simultaneously as possible, swing the main burner into position (i.e. close the door of
the furnace), and start the stop-watch and the temperature recorder. After exactly 15 min swing the
main burner away and stop the recorder. Measure (or calculate), in units of °C x min, the area
between the curve of the recorded temperature, the zero °C line, and the straight lines representing
zero min and 15 min.

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This area represents the heat contributed by the burners and is the calibration constant. If this area
differs from 1 075 °C × min by more than 25 °C × min, repeat the calibration procedure, using a
readjusted gas input or readjusted gas inputs until the area produced is in the range 1 050 °C × min
− 1 100 °C × min, and note the exact setting of the gas supply valve.

NOTE Guard against changes in heat content of the fuel gas. Liquefied mixtures of gases in containers are
best withdrawn in the liquid state and passed through an evaporator.

5 Test procedure
5.1 Ensure that the fuel supply is adequate for the duration of the test, and check that the recorder
zeros are properly set, that the light source and photo-electric cell lenses are clean, and that the
copper rod is free from loose soot and dust.

NOTE Repeat this procedure before every calibration and every test run.

5.2 Unless the furnace and main burner are still hot (after a calibration or a test run), preheat the
apparatus as in 4.1 and, after it has cooled to a copper rod temperature in the range 27 - 32 °C, so
place a mounted specimen in position on the floor of the tunnel that the asbestos-cement covered
end of the base board is flush with the mouth of the tunnel. Load the long edges of the specimen
with a 20 mm × 20 mm square steel rod.

5.3 Ensure that the gas supply valve is at the setting noted in 4.3, ignite the igniting burner, and
position it so that the flame is approximately 30 mm below the roof of the tunnel. Swing the main
burner into the test position, and start the stop-watch and the recorder as nearly simultaneously as
possible (ensuring that, in any event, any delay does not exceed 5 s).

5.4 After 5 min lower the igniting burner until its flame plays directly onto the surface of the
specimen. After a further 10 min (a total test time of 15 min) stop the recorder, swing the main
burner away, remove the test specimen, and extinguish any remaining fire.

6 Measurements and calculations

6.1 Spread of flame index
Measure the total distance, in millimetres, that the test specimen burned during the test, i.e. the
distance between the end of the specimen nearer to the burners and the furthest point reached by
the fire. Divide this distance by 650 and record it as the spread of flame index, If, of the specimen.
Amdt 1; amdt 2

6.2 Heat contribution index Amdt 1

Measure (or calculate), in units of °C × min, the area between the curve of the recorded
temperature, the zero °C line, and the straight lines representing zero min and 15 min. Deduct from
this the calibration constant (as determined in 4.3), divide the remainder by 240 and record the
result as the heat contribution index, Ih, of the specimen. Amdt 1; amdt 2

6.3 Smoke emission index Amdt 1

Measure (or calculate), in units of % obscuration × min, the area between the curve, the zero %
line, and the straight lines representing zero min and 15 min. Divide this area by 200, and record
the result as the smoke emission index, Is, of the specimen. Amdt 1; amdt 2

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6.4 Surface fire index Amdt 1

Calculate the mean of the spread of flame index, the heat contribution index, and the smoke
emission index, and record the result as the value of the surface fire index of the specimen, and
record the average of the surface fire indices of the specimens tested as the surface fire index, F, of
the test sample. Amdt 1

6.5 Classification of floor coverings Amdt 1

Classify the floor covering under test as a class 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 floor covering, as shown in table 1, in
accordance with the results obtained in terms of 6.1 - 6.4 (inclusive) for the spread of flame, heat
contribution, smoke emission, and surface fire indices. Amdt 1

Table 1 — Classification of floor coverings

1 2 3 4 5
Maximum values
Spread of flame Heat contribution Smoke emission Surface fire
Class
index index index index
If Ih Is F
1 0,2 0,2 0,15 0,1
2 1,0 0,9 0,9 0,7
3 2,1 2,1 2,1 1,7
4 3,9 3,9 3,9 3,3
5 5,0 5,0 5,0 4,5
Amdt 1

7 Report
7.1 Include the following information in the report of tests done on each sample:
a) A full description of the sample, including the manufacturer's name (when available), and any
additional information such as mass per unit area, types of fibres and other materials, and the
method of manufacture;

b) a description of the method of mounting the specimens, and the nature of the base board used;

c) the date(s) of the tests, and details of any observed phenomena considered relevant and (when
relevant) of any deviation(s) from the test procedure given in section 5;

d) the spread of flame index, heat contribution index, and smoke emission index of each test
specimen, as well as the surface fire index of the test sample. Amdt 1

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Figure 1 — Tunnel furnace for floor coverings

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Window fixture Burner fixture

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Flanged sleeve Swivel cover Bottom frame

Figure 2 — Details of tunnel furnace for floor coverings

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