Variety of flooring materials is used at the time. Natural materials as wood and wood imitations combining natural and synthetic materials have becoming popular in constructing and interiors. There are widely common laminate and PVC floorings. Carpets from natural or synthetic fibers represent another group. The base is usually made of non-flammable materials such as concrete or stone tiles. In case of fire the behavior of mentioned materials varies. It depends on the physical and chemical properties of each type. There are different initiating combustion temperature, rate of flame spread, mass loss and chemical composition of emissions that are released during combustion. In terms of STN EN 13501-11 flooring materials represent all classes of flammability from non-flammable Class A (concrete, granite, etc.) to flammable Class F. The wood-based floorings belong to class C, D, E (moderate flammability). Polyamide or nylon carpets belong to the class F, group of easily flammable materials.
The aim of laboratory measurements was to determine the behavior of the various types of flooring standard thickness at building fires. The main indicators clearly show the mass loss,the rate of flame propagation and release of emissions into the air. The samples of beech wood flooring, OSB boards, spruce flooring (decking), linoleum, laminate flooring, PVC and synthetic carpets .were tested. Mass loss of OSB was studied by Galla1. Thermal quantities of various wood spices including fire retardants were deeply studied by Martinka,2 Kačíková3 , or Osvald4. Emissions measurement is a fundamental part of thermo-chemical works. The variability of emission results when combusting or burning the same wood spices was proofed by numerous studies by Müllerová5-7, Valíček.8 Health risk and environmental risk should be always considered when dealing with harmful emissions9. Combustion of natural material is not always ecological and harmless as was proofed by Benčíková10 and Müllerová11 in their wood combustion studies. Especially high COx is problematic.
Characteristics of tested materials: Beech parquet belongs to flammability class Cfl 12 (table-1), flame retardant with limited development of smoke s1. A typical thickness is 21mm,humidity 9% ± 2%. They are sought after the long life(minimum 75 years), heat and sound insulation properties. Parquet floors without surface treatment were used for laboratory tests.
Spruce courtside is milled from a dry timber with a moisture content of 10% ± 2 %. Each board has a tongue on one side and on the other side of the groove. Individual pieces fit together and form a perfect connection, without spaces, without the use of adhesives. Thickness is 22mm. It is mainly used in holiday cottages and private houses.
OSB boards (OSB - Oriented Strand Board) is made from large particles of wood pressed flat chips, which are pressed under the influence of high pressure and temperature, with the use of synthetic resins based on formaldehyde. Formaldehyde at higher concentrations causes nausea, headaches. At concentrations of 120 g/m3 is fatal13.
Linoleum is a material made from jute fabric that forms the backbone of the flooring substrate, linseed oil and cork, wood or limestone flour, natural resins and color pigments. The advantages include linoleum elasticity, good thermal insulation at the current suitability for use with under-floor heating, static character, tough inflammability, resistance to temperature changes, cigarette butts, oil and grease, and partly acids and
solvents. Linoleum is bacteria-static material.
