- Author
-
Gann, R. G.
- Title
- Sublethal Effects of Fire Smoke: Toxicity Rides Again. BFRL Fire Research Seminar. VHS Video.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Report
-
Video
November 30, 1999
- Keywords
-
smoke
|
toxicity
- Abstract
- Most victims of fires die from smoke inhalation rather than burns. Thus, for over 30 years, laboratories have worked on developing metrics for the toxic potency of fire smoke. By the mid-1990s, NIST had developed a measurement method and a paradigm for obtaining smoke lethality data, and this has now become standardized as NFPA 269 and ASTM E1678. It was also realized that sublethal effects of smoke could impede escape and thus threaten life safety. Early research had produced some information on these but no standard methodology. Recently, a document has been introduced into the International Standards Organization (ISO) TC92 Committee on Fire Safety that instructs users in assessing the sublethal effects of fire smoke. While the intent of the document is creditable, the data and approach are flawed. The Fire Protection Research Foundation has formed a research consortium to address the topic of whether, when, and how to include sublethal effects of smoke in fire safety decisions. The speaker is to lead this project. The purposes of this seminar are to (a) inform the audience of the rationale for and potential content of this project and (b) gather additional ideas for consideration by the sponsors.