Fire Conditions for Smoke Toxicity Measurement.
Fire Conditions for Smoke Toxicity Measurement.
(630 K)
Gann, R. G.; Babrauskas, V.; Peacock, R. D.; Hall, J.
R., Jr.
Fire and Materials, Vol. 18, No. 3, 193-199, May/June
1994.
Keywords:
smoke; toxicity; smoke inhalation; fire tests;
predictive models; computer simulation; fire incidence;
computer models
Abstract:
This paper identifies those fire conditions most often
present when smoke toxicity is the cause of death. It
begins with a review of the evidence that
smoke-inhalation deaths are in the majority in fire
fatalities in the United States. Next, there is an
analysis of the evidence from the national fire
experience showing the connection between post-flashover
fires and smoke-inhalation deaths. Third is a
presentation of real-scale fire test results
demonstrating that post-flashover conditions are
necessary to produce enough smoke to cause
smoke-inhalation deaths in the cases where they actually
occur. The fourth component is a sampling of results
from computer simulations of fires, affirming and
broadening the results from the fire tests. It is
concluded that smoke-inhalation deaths occur
predominantly after fires have progressed beyond
flashover. This conclusion then provides a focus for
smoke toxicity measurement in particular and fire hazard
mitigation in general.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899