FireDOC Search

Author
Ohlemiller, T. J. | Rogers, F. E. | Summerfield, M. | Sikka, S. | Hsieh, F. C. | Rost, N. | Rathi, S. | Stegis, I. | Davidson, B.
Title
Research on the Fire Hazards of Cellular Plastics Subjected to Indirect Heating (RP-75-1-40). Second Annual Report. September 1, 1976-August 31, 1977.
Coporate
Princeton Univ., NJ Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, NJ
Sponsor
National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
Report
PRC-RP-75-1-40
November 30, 1977
64 p.
Keywords
cellular plastics | fire hazards | heating | smoldering | foam (materials) | fuels
Abstract
Rigid cellular plastics are widely utilized in buildings and in transportation vehicles for their excellent thermal and sound insulating properites. Recommended installation configurations now always include a thermal barrier, frequently a metal skin, over the foam surfaces. While this minimizes exposed surface ignition and flame spread problems it raises other questions as to the behavior of such materials when they are sandwiched within walls or ceilings and there exposed to heat sources (external fires, electrical failures, etc.). Of particular interest is the risk of smoldering combustion which poses serious toxicity hazards and potential for flashover to flaming. The present research is intended to elucidate some aspects of such behavior.