Reduced‐scale test to assess the effect of fire barriers on the flaming combustion of cored composites: An upholstery‐material case study

Herein, we describe a reduced‐scale test (“Cube” test), measuring the fire performance of specimens including a fire barrier (FB) and a flammable core material, which acts as the main fuel load. The specimen is intended to reproduce a cross‐section of a composite product where heat/mass transfer occurs primarily in a direction perpendicular to the FB. The Cube test procedure and benefits are discussed in this work by adopting residential upholstery furniture as an exemplary study. One flexible polyurethane foam, one polypropylene cover fabric, and 10 commercially available FBs were selected. They were used to compare the fire performance of FBs, measured in terms of peak of heat release rate, in the ASTM E1474‐14 standard test and the newly developed Cube test. Edge effects severely affected the performance of FBs in the ASTM E1474‐14 standard test but not in the Cube test. Furthermore, appropriate test conditions were determined in the Cube test to measure the so‐called “wetting point,” that is, the time and value of heat release rate measured when flammable liquid products were first observed on the bottom of the specimen. The relevance of the “wetting point” in terms of full‐scale fire performance and failure mechanism of FBs is discussed.     

Effects of upholstery materials on the burning behavior of real‐scale residential upholstered furniture mock‐ups

Fire spread and growth on real‐scale four cushion mock‐ups of residential upholstered furniture (RUF) were investigated with the goal of identifying whether changes in five classes of materials (barrier, flexible polyurethane foam, polyester fiber wrap, upholstery fabric, and sewing thread), referred to as factors, resulted in statistically significant changes in burning behavior. A fractional factorial experimental design plus practical considerations yielded a test matrix with 20 material combinations. Experiments were repeated a minimum of two times. Measurements included fire spread rates derived from video recordings and heat release rates (HRRs). A total of 13 experimental parameters (3 based on the videos and 10 on the HRR results), referred to as responses, characterized the measurements. Statistical analyses based on Main Effects Plots (main effects) and Block Plots (main effects and factor interactions) were used. The results showed that three of the factors resulted in statistically significant effects on varying numbers of the 13 responses. The Barrier and Fabric factors had the strongest main effects with roughly comparable magnitudes. Foam was statistically significant for fewer of the responses and its overall strength was weaker than for Barrier and Fabric. No statistically significant main effects were identified for Wrap or Thread. Multiple two‐term interactions between factors were identified as being statistically significant. The Barrier*Fabric interaction resulted in the highest number of and strongest statistically significant effects. The existence of two‐term interactions means that it will be necessary to consider their effects in approaches designed to predict the burning behavior of RUF.     

Ergonomic mismatch between students anthropometry and university classroom furniture

University students spend most of their time in classrooms, mostly in a sitting position. Prolonged sitting on ill-fitted furniture and the resulting bad posture is making students suffer from different musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study evaluates the potential mismatch between furniture dimensions and anthropometric measurements. To determine potential mismatch, 13 anthropometric measurements of 550 students and 11 dimensions of two types of classroom furniture (mounted-desktop and chair-with-table) were measured and then compared. Additionally, chi-square test was performed to compare the relation between anthropometry and relevant furniture dimensions. Results showed that a significant number of mismatches emerged between anthropometric measurements and furniture dimensions. For both types of furniture, seat height was too high and seat depth was too deep. Moreover, for mounted desktop, desk height is almost appropriate for all students whereas for chair and table, it was too high for the males. These circumstances may lead to increase discomfort and increase MSDs problems among all students. It can be concluded that the dimensions of both types of classroom furniture were not appropriate for users according to anthropometric measurements. This analysis recommends the measurements of furniture dimensions based on participants’ anthropometric measurements to avoid or minimise discomfort and MSDs problems.     

Chemical exposures from upholstered furniture with various flame retardant technologies

Upholstered furniture is often manufactured with polyurethane foam (PUF) containing flame retardants (FRs) to prevent the risk of a fire and/or to meet flammability regulations, however, exposure to certain FRs and other chemicals have been linked to adverse health effects. This study developed a new methodology for evaluating volatile organic compound (VOC) and FR exposures to users of upholstered furniture by simulating use of a chair in a controlled exposure chamber and assessing the health significance of measured chemical exposure. Chairs with different fire-resistant technologies were evaluated for VOC and FR exposures via inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact exposure routes. Data show that VOC exposure levels are lower than threshold levels defined by the US and global indoor air criteria. Brominated FRs were not detected from the studied chairs. The organophosphate FRs added to PUF were released into the surrounding air (0.4 ng/m³) and as dust (16 ng/m²). Exposure modeling showed that adults are exposed to FRs released from upholstered furniture mostly by dermal contact and children are exposed via dermal and ingestion exposure. Children are most susceptible to FR exposure/dose (2 times higher average daily dose than adults) due to their frequent hand to mouth contact.     

基于第三方物流的家具配送开放式车辆路径问题

为了降低家具配送成本,提高物流效率,基于第三方物流配送模式,构建了以总行驶距离最短和车辆数最少为最优目标的开放式车辆路径问题(open vehicle routing problem,OVRP)数学模型,并设计了一个改进的两阶段禁忌搜索算法进行求解,第1阶段求解包含所有客户的TSP(traveling salesman problem)路径来作为第2阶段划分OVRP路径的基础.设计了一个随机动态禁忌表,并将"邻域算子编号"和"邻域交换点对"同时作为禁忌对象,避免了过度禁忌的情况.另外,对5个邻域算子进行了测试,表明采用由点交换、分序点插入、点逆序和前点前向插入这4个算子组成的多邻域结构体效果最佳.经算例测试和文献对比,验证了设计算法的有效性,采用第三方物流配送比自营物流配送更节省成本.     

明式椅凳类家具的模件化分析

目的以椅凳为例,从模件化的角度来探讨明式椅凳类家具的生成方法及椅凳类家具的模件化特征。作为我国古代家具的典型代表,明式家具历经数百年不衰。它有着丰富的内涵,蕴含了古代设计者、生产者的造物思想,是古代人民的智慧结晶。从模件的角度来探讨明式家具,可以丰富明式家具的研究体系。方法从明式椅凳本身出发,通过观察、分析明式椅凳类家具,分别从整体与细节上分析了明式椅凳类家具构件的组合方式,论述了明式椅凳家具模件的标准化与丰富性、明式椅凳家具的模件整体组合特征,以及单件明式椅凳家具的模件构成特征。结论明式椅凳类家具由一定数量的模件构成,并且在明式家具的特征范围内,它具有模件互换、能按照一定规则进行组合的模件化特征。     

纸绳在家具设计中的应用

目的 从绿色家具视角和纸绳家具设计实例出发,探究纸绳家具的设计原则和方法,旨在为实际应用提供一种新的思路.方法 通过对纸绳材料优势的深入分析,结合实例和现阶段绿色家具的设计要求,分析"6R""以人为本"设计原则在纸绳家具设计中的应用,并指导设计实践.结论 "6R"和"以人为本"的设计原则对纸绳家具设计具有指导作用,所设计的纸绳家具不仅能够避免复合纸板家具不耐水、不耐久等不足,也赋予纸家具产品温馨的人文主义气息,达到功能性与艺术性的完美统一.与此同时,在充分了解材料属性的基础上,赋予纸绳家具可回收、再循环和再利用的环保属性,拟满足当代消费者对产品实用性和环保性的双重要求,这对纸材料在家具设计中的进一步拓展具有重要意义.     

住宅的室内布置

家具是住宅建筑中不可或缺的元素,作为室内构成的重要组成部分,它的布置和摆设对室内功能的合理应用有着至关重要的作用。同时家具是房间布置的主体部分,对居室的美化装饰影响极大。家具的摆设、颜色、风格不合理不仅不美观不协调而且不实用,甚至给生活带来种种不便。     

桌子在社会交往中的作用研究

通过解析桌子的使用状况及其创造空间的特性,指出其在社会交往中的潜在作用,并探求如何在社会交往中利用桌子灵活的功能及塑性,并举例说明更多“类桌”空间设计的可行性。     

Compartment tests of polyurethane foam seating assemblies

Data from compartment tests of polyurethane foam seating assemblies are reported. Results show that the behavior of such assemblies during fires is strongly dependent on the type and position of interliners and upholstery fabrics. An incidental comparison of peak rate of heat release obtained in a compartment test with a predictive model equation is made and selected data from the tests are presented.