Characterization of the Combustion Behaviour of Different Types of Carpets using A radiant Panel Device

Carpets are considered one of the most important elements of interior decoration in residential, commercial, and public buildings, as they cover large areas of flooring and provide comfort, thermal insulation.However, its dense presence in enclosed environments makes it one of the materials that may contribute to the rapid spread of fire within the building if exposed to an ignition source, especially since most of the fibres used in carpet manufacturing are combustible, whether natural like wool and cotton or synthetic like polypropylene.For this reason, a set of standard fire tests is applied to carpets to determine their flammability, the speed at which flames spread on them, This research aims to characterize the ignition behaviour of different types of carpets in terms of the type of fibre used or the carpet backing, whether latex or rubber.It also aims to determine which types of carpets can achieve safety levels according to the standard specification (ASTM E648).Fifteen carpet samples were used, and the results showed that all carpet samples with 100% wool or blended wool achieved a safety level (such as Class I or Class II in the American system) regarding flame spread rate.They achieved a relatively high percentage due to the rapid ignition of wool, but it self-extinguishes afterward.As for the carpets made with 100% synthetic fibres and also cotton, they did not meet the minimum safety level, as the results for all samples were 0.11watts/cm2, as for the flame spread rate, it was somewhat lower, which is attributed to the time it takes for the fibres to melt before ignition .