Flammability Characterization of Foam Plastics.
Flammability Characterization of Foam Plastics.
(1921 K)
Cleary, T. G.; Quintiere, J. G.
NISTIR 4664; 142 p. October 1991.
Sponsor:
Society of Plastics Industries, Inc., Washington, DC
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB92-123033
Keywords:
flammability; rigid foams; cellular plastics;
combustibility; fire growth; fire hazards assessment;
fire spread; flammability testing; heat release rate;
low density foams; tunnel tests; lateral ignition
Abstract:
The results of a study to identify an alternative test
protocol to the Steiner Tunnel Test as a measure of
flammability for foamed plastic are presented. New fire
test apparatuses namely the Cone Calorimeter and Lateral
Ignition and Flame Spread apparatus were used to more
completely characterize foamed plastic flammability.
Key flammability properties obtained from these
apparatuses describe ignitability, flame spread rate,
rate of heat release and smoke obscuration. An
extensive data set of these flammability properties for
10 selected foamed plastics was generated. The tested
materials included melting foams (polystyrene foams) and
charring foams (polyurethanes, polyisocyanurate and
phenolic foams). The effects of melting and dripping
was limited by testing the materials in the horizontal
orientation. In addition, an integrated approach to
material flammability characterization is presented that
uses these parameters to predict fire growth potential.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899