- Author
- Ohlemiller, T. J.
- Title
- Smoldering Combustion.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
- NBSIR 85-3294, February 1986, 31 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- cellulosic materials | flaming combustion | smoldering combustion | propagation | toxic hazards
- Abstract
- Smoldering combustion is a common fire safety hazard that contributes substantially to the fire losses in the United States; fire protection engineers thus have a need to be familiar with its characteristics. The post-initiation behavior of smoldering (self-sustaining propagation and transition to flaming) is described here. The most studied cases of propagation are one-dimensional; the underlying mechanisms are described qualitatively and spread rates for several materials are presented along with limited information on toxic gas evolution. Similar, though more limited, information is presented for more realistic multi-dimensional smolder spread, particularly in horizontal fuel layers. Mechanisms for the transition from smolder to flaming are briefly described; limited data on requisite air flows to force the transition are given.