- Author
-
Issen, L. A.
- Title
- Fire Performance of Loose Fill Cellulosic Insulation in Residential Occupancies: A Progress Report. Interim Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- Department of Energy, Washington, DC
- Report
-
NBSIR 80-2085,
August 1980,
51 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
activation energy
|
borax
|
boric acid
|
cellulose
|
fires
|
fire retardants
|
fire tests
|
thermal analysis
|
thermal insulation
|
weight loss
- Abstract
- The smoldering and flame spread properties of celluosic loose fill insulation were examined as a function of retardant type, particle size, and concentration to provide a basis for the development of improved fire test methods. A series of laboratory insulations was prepared whose fire performance covered an extended range of critical radiant flux in the attic floor radiant panel test and weight loss in the cigarette smoldering test. These materials were evaluated in the recessed light fixture test in a simulated attic configuration. Borax and boric acid were effective in raising the critical radiant flux (CRF) in the attic floor radiant panel test, but borax alone, in the cigarette smolder test, increased the smoldering potential of losse fill cellulosic insulation. The divided box test for smoldering propagation appears to be a more realistic test than the present test for smoldering ignition. In the cigarette smoldering test, inclusion of 10% borax increased the boric acid requirement for passing from 7.5% to 20%. In the attic floor radiant panel test, the finer the grind, the less boric acid required to meet Federal Specification HH-I-515D. This varied from less than 10% level the presence of borax did not significantly affect the CRF level. Passing the recessed light fixutre test required a minimum of 30% impalpable boric acid, or 40% to 50% intermediate grind boric acid. In order to determine fundamental parameters which could be used to characterize smoldering ignition potential, a number of test methods have been investigated which can be used to determine the pre-exponential factor and the activation energy of ignition reaction. These include the Bowes and townshend hot plate, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and the adiabatic furnace.