Assessment Methodology for the Fire Performance of School Bus Interior Components.
Assessment Methodology for the Fire Performance of
School Bus Interior Components.
(269 K)
Braun, E.; Klote, J. H.; Davis, S.; Levin, B. C.; Paabo,
M.; Gann, R. G.
International Association for Fire Safety Science. Fire
Safety Science. Proceedings. 3rd International
Symposium. July 8-12, 1991, Edinburgh, Scotland,
Elsevier Applied Science, New York, Cox, G.; Langford,
B., Editor(s)(s), 855-864 pp, 1991.
Keywords:
fire research; fire safety; fire science; buses;
combustion products; tenability limits; toxicity; seats;
large scale fire tests; fire models; ignition source
Abstract:
A full-scale fire performance protocol for the
evaluation of school bus seat assemblies was developed.
This protocol is based on the results of full-scale
testing of end-use seat assemblies and computer fire
modeling of the ignition source and burning item(s) in a
single compartment enclosure. Tenability criteria were
applied to the results of the full-scale tests and
computer fire model calculations. The results showed
that temperature is a suitable criterion for this
application. Toxicity of the decomposition products
plays a secondary role in determining occupant
survivability. Occupant tenability limits are exceeded
for ignition sources over 300 kW, independent of the
type of seat assembly. Based on the full-scale test
data, computer simulations were conducted to determine
which tenability criteria were exceeded in the
full-scale tests.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899