Flammability of Oil-Based Painted Gypsum Wallboard Subjected to Fire Heat Fluxes.
Flammability of Oil-Based Painted Gypsum Wallboard
Subjected to Fire Heat Fluxes.
(363 K)
Mowrer, F. W.
Fire and Materials, Vol. 28, No. 5, 355-385, 2004.
Sponsor:
National Institute of Standards and Technology,
Gaithersburg, MD
Keywords:
wallborad; gypsum; flammability; oils; heat flux; cone
calorimeter; fire models; flamd spread; paint
Abstract:
The flammability of painted gypsum wallboard (GWB)
exposed to fire heat fluxes is investigated. GWB samples
coated with multiple layers of alkyd/oil-based paint are
subjected to constant incident heat fluxes of 35, 50 and
75 kW/m2 in the Cone Calorimeter for periods of 5, 10
and 15 min. A number of coats of alkyd/oil-based
interior semi-gloss enamel paint, including 1, 2, 4, 6
and 8 coats, are applied over a single coat of oil-based
primer to the exposed surface of 16 mm (5/8 in.) thick
type X GWB. Unpainted type X GWB is also evaluated under
the same exposure conditions. The potential for upward
flame spread based on the Cone Calorimeter results is
evaluated. The occurrence of paint blistering is
observed to have a significant effect on the time to
ignition and consequently on the potential for upward
flame spread. Further work is needed to evaluate the
conditions under which blistering will occur and its
effects on the potential for surface flame spread on
painted gypsum wallboard.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899