- Author
- Villa, K. M. | Babrauskas, V.
- Title
- Cone Calorimeter Rate of Heat Release Measurements for Upholstered Composites of Polyurethane Foam. (Abstract Only)
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Book or Conf
- International Conference on Fire Safety, 13th. Volume 13. January 11-15, 1988, Product Safety Corp., Sunnyvale, CA, Millbrae, CA, 115-116 p., 1988
- Keywords
- fire safety | cone calorimeters | heat release rate | composite materials | polyurethane foams | upholstery | melamine
- Abstract
- Certain regulatory authorities have recently banned or restricted the use of furniture upholstered with a combination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) covering and a melamine-treated polyurethane foam padding. These actions were taken because of problems observed of rapid flame spread, high specimen mass loss and smoke obscuration. Such behavior was considered unusual since PVC coverings and melamine treated polyurethane foams when paired with other fabrics or paddings generally have been considered to be adequately fire safe. In recent years quantification of upholstered furniture behavior has been pursued through the use of rate of heat release measurements. Thus, it was endeavored to determine if quantitative measurements would reveal any special hazards associated with this particular combination.