Flammability of Painted Gypsum Wallboard Subjected to Fire Heat Fluxes.
Flammability of Painted Gypsum Wallboard Subjected to
Fire Heat Fluxes.
(416 K)
McGraw, J. R., Jr.; Mowrer, F. W.
Volume 2;
Interscience Communications Ltd.; National Institute of
Standards and Technology; Building Research
Establishment; and Society of Fire Protection Engineers;
Swedish National Testing and Research Institute.
Interflam 1999. (Interflam '99). International
Interflam Conference, 8th Proceedings. Volume 2. June
29-July 1, 1999, Edinburgh, Scotland, Interscience
Communications Ltd., London, England, 1325-1330 pp,
1999.
Sponsor:
Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Boston, MA
Keywords:
fire science; fire safety; wallboard; gypsum;
flammability; paints; heat flux; cone calorimeters;
latex; sensitivity; flame spread
Abstract:
The flammability of painted gypsum wallboard (GWB)
exposed to fire heat fluxes is investigated using the
Cone Calorimeter. 16-mm (5/8-in.) thick Type-X GWB
samples, painted with 2, 4, 6 or 8 coats of latex
interior paint over a single coat of latex primer, are
subjected to incident heat fluxes ranging from 25 to 75
kW/m for periods ranging from 5 to 15 minutes. A flame
spread model developed by Quintiere and coworkers and
previously applied by Mowrer and Williamson to thin
finishes on GWB substrates is used to evaluate the
potential for flame spread on painted GWB. The concept
of a critical heat flux for flame spread is developed
for thin combustible.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899