- Author
- Babrauskas, V. | Peacock, R. D. | Braun, E. | Bukowski, R. W. | Jones, W. W.
- Title
- Fire Performance of Wire and Cable: Reaction-to-Fire Tests--A Critical Review of the Existing Methods and of New Concepts.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- National Electrical Manufacturers Assoc., Washington, DC
- Report
- NIST TN 1291, December 1991, 130 p.
- Distribution
- Available from Government Printing Office Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- cables | wires | flame spread | heat release rate | large scale fire tests | small scale fire tests | standards | test methods | occupants
- Abstract
- U. S. and Canadian reaction-to-fire tests for wire and cable are examined. The technical basis for their development is analyzed. The data requirements for engineering computations of fire hazard are examined. It is found that the current methods are primarily based on determining ignitability, speed of flame travel, or distance of flame propagation. The fire hazard to building occupants, however, is associated with the heat release rate of the fire, instead. Newer testing methods, which are not yet standards but which do measure the heat release rate of cables, are already under development. A limited comparison is made to British and international standards. Recommendations are made for improved testing strategies. The document includes about 300 reference.