Fire Endurance Testing of Floor Systems Effects of Scale and Restraint

Published

February 19, 2017

Author(s)

John L. Gross

Abstract

Three standard fire resistance tests (ASTM E 119) were conducted on a composite floor system to study the effects of 1) test restraint conditions, and 2) scale of the test. Two full-scale tests, 35 ft (10.7 m) span, and one half-scale test, 17 ft (5.2 m) span, were conducted. Two tests were conducted under restrained conditions and one under unrestrained conditions. Results showed that the full-scale restrained floor system obtained a fire resistance rating of 1 h, while the full-scale unrestrained floor system achieved a 2 h rating. Past experience with the ASTM E119 test method would lead one to expect that the unrestrained floor assembly would not perform as well as the restrained assembly, and therefore, would receive a lower fire rating. For the full- and half-scale floor systems tested in the restrained condition, the full-scale specimen obtained a fire resistance rating of 1 h, while the half-scale specimen achieved a 2 h rating. Both tests would be expected to produce the same fire resistance rating.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 1054

Report Number

1054

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Keywords

ASTM E119, fire, fire resistamce, fire testomg, floor systems, standard fire resistance tests, testing

Citation

Gross, J. (2017), Fire Endurance Testing of Floor Systems Effects of Scale and Restraint, Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed October 8, 2025)