FireDOC Search

Author
Dod, R. L. | Mowrer, F. | Gundel, L. A. | Williamson, R. B. | Novakov, T.
Title
Size Fractionation of Black and Organic Particulate Carbon From Fires. Final Report.
Coporate
California Univ., Berkeley
Report
LBL-20654; UC-11, November 1985, 26 p.
Keywords
carbon | particles | emissions | building materials | construction | urban fires | plywood | wood | flexible foams | polyurethane foam
Abstract
Emission factors to total smoke particulates as well as organic and black carbon have been measured as a function of size for a set of building materials typical of those used in urban construction. Black carbon emissions (mass per fuel mass) were similar among the wood fuels studied, although the dominant form of combustion varied from flaming to smoldering. Black carbon was found predominantly in the finest size ranges (≤ 0.20 mum). Polyurethane foam produced a greater emission of black carbon, and the particle size distribution of that carbon extended to much larger aerodynamic diameters than did those of the wood samples. For the fuels tested, total smoke particle emissions ranged from 0.3 to 2.3 percent of fuel mass; black carbon emissions were 0.03 to 0.3 percent of fuel mass.