Although well studied, there are still interesting features about the ignition and steady burning rate behaviour of PMMA when heated by thermal radiation. In this contribution, the dependence on external heat flux of ignition delay time and steady mass flux of PMMA are investigated numerically. Ignition is modelled by the critical mass flux criterion. The heat transfer model includes effects of heat lost by out gassing, change of volume during degradation and absorption of radiation in both condensed and gaseous phases. Model results are compared to experimental data for both ignition delay time and quasi-steady mass flux across a range of heat fluxes from 20 to 210 kW m(-2) and the importance of both gas-phase and condensed-phase radiation absorption effects are discussed. (C) 2014 The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.