Flammability Measurement of flame, smoke or combustion toxicity characteristics in response to controlled burning environments. Thermal Measurement of the insulating value. Noise Measurement of sound wave absorption, reflection and transmission due to incident or impact. Special needs Measurement of performance properties dealing with special use situations such as antimicrobial, soil retardancy, stain resistance, etc. It is important to note that flammability characteristics often are legal requirements set forth in federal law or local jurisdiction building or fire codes.
Further testing is typically necessary for use in corridors, exits, etc.
The most common test used in local codes and referenced in all model codes is the Flooring Radiant Panel. Today, technology exists to measure and characterize the off-gassing or chemical emissions from products. While no absolute standards and no enforceable regulations dealing with emissions exist, some industry groups and governmental units have implemented guidelines or purchasing specifications that consider product emission characteristics. As carpet has become an alternative to hard floors in manufacturing and testing areas of sensitive electronic components, special static requirements have evolved. Conductive carpet or flooring along with appropriate conductive footwear are used to safely bleed extraneous static charges developed by many activities in these specialized areas.