Overview
ISO 3008-3:2016 defines a standardized test method for determining the fire resistance of horizontally oriented door and shutter assemblies (i.e., doors or shutters installed in a horizontal plane, such as within floors or roofs) that may be exposed to fire from the underside. The standard covers full-size test specimens (or the maximum size that fits the furnace), specifies furnace orientation (floor furnace for horizontal specimens), and allows measurement of integrity, radiant heat, thermal insulation, and load‑carrying ability under standard fire conditions.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and applicability
- Applies to all types of door and shutter assemblies installed horizontally within floor or roof assemblies requiring fire-resistance ratings.
- Test specimen and installation
- Full-size specimen requirements; guidance when furnace aperture limits size.
- Design and installation rules to ensure the specimen is representative of real use, including finishes, fittings and associated/supporting construction.
- Test equipment and furnace
- Use of floor-type furnace oriented for horizontal tests; instrumentation per ISO 834-1.
- Measurements and instrumentation
- Temperature monitoring (furnace and unexposed face thermocouples).
- Heat flux measurement from the unexposed surface (method described in clause 9.4).
- Pressure, deflection and load measurements where applicable.
- Performance criteria
- Integrity (resistance to flame and hot gas penetration).
- Insulation (thermal performance and optionally radiation limits).
- Load-bearing capacity (ability to carry imposed loads during fire exposure).
- Conditioning and verification
- Conditioning of specimens and supporting constructions (see Annex A).
- Verification of specimen dimensions and construction representative of intended use.
- Test reporting and application
- Required test report content and guidance on direct application of test results to timber, steel, glazed constructions and fixings.
Practical applications and users
Who uses ISO 3008-3:2016:
- Fire test laboratories conducting standardized fire-resistance tests on floor or roof doors and shutters.
- Manufacturers of horizontal doors, shutters and operable floor/roof elements seeking fire-resistance classification.
- Fire safety engineers, architects, and specifiers validating product performance for building designs.
- Code officials and certification bodies evaluating compliance with building fire-resistance requirements.
Practical value:
- Enables consistent, repeatable evaluation of horizontal assemblies exposed to underside fires.
- Supports product development, certification, and code compliance for fire-resistance ratings, including integrity, insulation and structural performance.
Related standards
- ISO 834-1 - General requirements for fire-resistance tests (standard fire exposure).
- ISO 834-5 - Loadbearing horizontal separating elements.
- ISO 3008 - General guidance for door and shutter assemblies.
- ISO 3009 - Glazed elements (incl. guidance for inclined specimens).
- ISO 13943 - Fire safety vocabulary.
Keywords: ISO 3008-3:2016, fire resistance tests, horizontally oriented doors, shutter assemblies, horizontal doors, fire-resistance rating, integrity, thermal insulation, load-carrying capacity, floor furnace.
