Fire spread from an open‐doors electrical cabinet to neighboring targets in a confined and mechanically ventilated facility

Electrical cabinet fire is one of the main fire hazards in nuclear power plants. As part of the OECD PRISME‐2 programme, four fire tests were carried out to investigate the fire spread from an open‐doors electrical cabinet to overhead cable trays and adjacent cabinets in a confined and mechanically ventilated facility. These tests, named CFS‐5 to CFS‐7 and CORE‐6, used same both cabinet (fire source) and three overhead cable trays. The trays were filled with a halogenated flame‐retardant cable‐type for CFS‐5 and one halogen‐free for the three other tests. Moreover, fire dampers were used for CFS‐7 test while CORE‐6 test implemented two additional cabinets adjacent to the fire source. Measurements such as flame and gas temperature, gas concentration, mass loss rate, and heat release rate were performed for investigating the fire spread. Cabinet fire spread to the cable trays for CFS‐5 and CFS‐6 tests. Three fast and short cable tray fires were shown for CFS‐5, while a slow and long cable tray fire was highlighted for CFS‐6. In contrast, the fire dampers shutdown for CFS‐7 test prevented ignition of the overhead cables. Furthermore, for CORE‐6 test, cabinet fire spread to the adjacent cabinets, but the upper cables were not ignited.     

Burning behavior of cable tray located on a wall with different cable arrangements

Cable fire risk analysis is important for fire protection design in nuclear power plants, where multiple horizontal cable trays are mostly located on the walls. Fire experiments using three cable trays with different cable arrangements were conducted in a confined room to investigate the burning behavior of a cable tray on a wall. A corner was formed by the side wall and the cable tray. Hot smoke emitted from the burning cable was trapped in the corner and then ignited the cable on the bottom surface of the upper cable tray. It is found that for cables densely packed together, spread of flame on the bottom surface of cable tray was clearly observed and increased the mass loss of cable burning during the growth stage of a cable tray fire. For cables arranged further apart, vertical propagation from the bottom tray to the top tray was fast and dominated the mass loss of cable burning.     

Characterization of the fire environments in central offices of the telecommunications industry

Eight free burning and two sprinklered fire tests were performed with electrical cable trays and live digital switch racks in a large enclosure to simulate telecommunications central office (TCO) fires started by electrical overheating. Very‐slow‐growing (non‐flaming), slower‐growing (partially flaming) and low‐intensity‐faster‐growing (flaming) fires releasing gray‐white, gray, and black smoke, respectively, were observed in the tests. Under quiescent conditions present in the unvented enclosure fire tests for cables, very‐slow‐growing fires were detected in about 1452 s, whereas the slower‐growing fires were detected in about 222 s by commercial fire detectors. Under ventilation conditions typical of TCOs, detection times were very similar for the five types of commercial TCOs fire detectors used in the tests. The average detection times for slower‐growing fires (cable fires) and low‐intensity‐faster‐growing fires (digital switch rack fires) were 242±17% and 249±11%s respectively. The TCO procedures to reduce smoke damage from fires (on fire detection, inlet ventilation flow is turned off and exhaust flow is turned on) were found to be beneficial. The extent of smoke damage decreased significantly with an increase in the exhaust flow rate. The chloride ion mass deposition suggested that equipment recovery would be possible in the smoke environment if the cable vapor concentration could be reduced below about 3 g/m³. The metal corrosion rate was found proportional to the 0.6th power of the smoke concentration, similar to that found for the corrosion of metal surfaces exposed to aqueous solutions of HCl and HNO₃ and for acid rain with no protective layer at the surface. Sprinkler water was found to wash down the smoke deposits on the surfaces with little indication of corrosion enhancement. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fire performance of plastics in building

This paper describes part of the work at RAPRA which has been sponsored by the BPF Building Group. The safe use of plastics in building from the viewpoint of fire and the performance of plastics in the framework of existing regulations are considered and the relevance of some tests are discussed. Attention is also given to smoke and toxic products. Some important topics are not included, however, one notable omission being a consideration of expanded plastics for thermal insulation.     

Poly(vinyl chloride) and its fire properties

This work provides an up‐to‐date review of the fire properties of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) materials, both rigid (unplasticized) and flexible (plasticized). The fire properties addressed include ignitability, ease of extinction (oxygen index), flame spread (small scale and intermediate scale), heat release, smoke obscuration, smoke toxicity, hydrogen chloride emission and decay, and performance in real‐scale fires. This comprehensive review includes a wide selection of references and tables illustrating the properties of PVC materials in comparison with those of other polymeric materials, including, in many instances, wood materials. The work puts these fire properties in perspective, showing that the heat release rate (the key fire property) of rigid PVC (and that of properly flame‐retarded flexible PVC) are among the lower values found for combustible materials. This work also shows that the smoke toxicity and smoke obscuration resulting from burning PVC materials in real‐scale fires is in the same range as those of other materials.     

The dynamic flammability and toxicity of magnesium hydroxide filled intumescent fire retardant polypropylene

The flammability properties of an intumescent fire retardant polypropylene added with magnesium hydroxide was discussed in this study. To evaluate the flammability of the material, limit oxygen index, smoke emission, tensile strength, and our exploitation dynamic flammability evaluation system, tests were assessed in experiments. The results showed that the intumescent flame retardant ammonium polyphosphate-filled polypropylene has superior flammability properties but higher carbon oxide (CO) concentration and smoke density. By adding some magnesium hydroxide additives in intumescent fire retarded polypropylene, the smoke density and CO concentration decrease; and the compound also has superior fire properties. It is concluded that intumescent system and magnesium hydroxide additives are effective on improving combustion properties for polypropylene. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67:989–995, 1998     

ABS的消烟阻燃改性研究

用Ｍｇ（ＯＨ）２硅酸铝、滑石粉和（ＮＨ４）２ＳＯ４等无机化合物与有机溴系阻燃剂复合填充于ＡＢＳ中，通过氧指数、垂直燃烧性能及发烟性能的测定，评价了各种复合体系的阻燃和消烟效果。结果表明，（ＮＨ４）２ＳＯ４与溴系阻燃剂复合后，对ＡＢＳ具有良好的阻燃和沙烟功能。     

Detailed determination of smoke gas contents using a small‐scale controlled equivalence ratio tube furnace method

A series of tests including seven different materials and products have been conducted using a controlled equivalence ratio tube furnace test method. The main objective of the tests was to determine yields of fire‐generated products at defined combustion conditions. The tube furnace test method was set up and run in close agreement with that described in BS 7990:2003. At the time of experimental work the new tube furnace method was in the process of becoming an international standard. It was thus of interest to make an assessment of the capability of the method for determining production yields of important toxic fire products from different types of materials and products. The test series included solid wood, flexible polyurethane (PUR), fire‐retarded rigid PUR, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) carpet, a high‐performance data cable with fluorine‐containing polymer matrix, a PVC‐based cable sheathing material and fire‐retarded polyethylene cable insulation material. Duplicate tests were generally conducted at both well‐ventilated and vitiated combustion conditions with these materials. The smoke gases produced from the combustion were quantified for inorganic gases by FTIR technique in all tests. A more detailed analysis of the smoke gases was conducted for some of the materials. This extended analysis contained a detailed assessment of organic compounds including, e.g. volatile organic compounds, isocyanates, aldehydes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The analysis further included measurement of the size distribution of fire‐generated particles for some of the materials. The quantification of toxic inorganic gases produced by combustion at both well‐ventilated and vitiated conditions was successful regarding repeatability and stability. Typical yields for the two fire stages investigated were determined for a wide range of materials and products. The detailed analysis of organic compounds further corroborated that the new tube furnace method can replicate defined combustion conditions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Empirical prediction of smoke production in the ISO Room Corner Fire Test by use of ISO Cone Calorimeter Fire Test data

The combustion conditions in the ISO Room Corner Fire Test make it possible to predict full scale smoke production by use of prediction models and bench scale fire test data procured by the ISO Cone Calorimeter Fire Test. The full scale smoke production is governed by the type of material burning only if the rate of heat release is less than 400–600 kW. For higher rates of heat release, the smoke production is more governed by the combustion conditions. The influence of the combustion conditions on the full scale smoke production reduces the possibilities of smoke prediction to materials causing flashover within 10 min in the ISO Room Corner Fire Test. The smoke to heat ratio S_Q (m²MJ) was used to compare smoke production between the scales. In general, the comparison revealed that the smoke yield was significantly less in full scale than in bench scale, especially for the plastics. Plastics do yield more smoke than wood based materials in both scales, but the differences in full scale are not as extreme as indicated by the bench scale smoke data. No simple correlations between the scales seem to exist. Multiple regression studies on empirical smoke prediction models show that bench scale fire parameters can be used to predict full scale fire performance. A quite accurate empirical smoke prediction model is presented for the group of materials which caused flashover within 10 min. The model predicts the full scale rate of smoke production at a rate of heat release of 400 kW. The presented results might be used to assess the fire safety hazard of visible smoke, but benchmarks of smoke hazard do not seem to exist. Thus further studies and agreement on safety levels and principles are needed for general visibility analysis concerning fire safety engineering purposes. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

火管式废热锅炉高温侧管板的热防护

介绍硫磺制酸装置火管废热锅炉板的热防护方法。采用锆刚玉套管插入高温侧管口,套管与换热管之间留有间隙,填入硅酸铝隔热材料;管板表面涂一层厚约８０ｍｍ的锆质耐火可塑料作隔热层。运行实践表明,这是一种行之有效的热防护方法。     

Design and testing of a new smoke concentration meter

The design of a new smoke concentration meter based on light‐extinction measurements with a He‐Ne laser is described. The measurement allows the determination of the mass‐generation rate of smoke and smoke yield during a fire test with little more time or labour than is required for performing heat‐release‐rate and mass‐loss‐rate measurements. The new smoke concentration meter was motivated by the finding from several studies of a nearly universal value of the specific extinction coefficient of post‐flame smoke produced by over ventilated fires. Key design features include the use of a stabilized laser, purge flow to eliminate smoke deposition on the optics, U channel construction to minimize the effect of heating on the optical alignment and beam correction optics. The facility was fabricated almost entirely from commercially available components to allow this design to be easily reproduced by fire research and testing laboratories. The smoke concentration meter was able to measure a smoke yield as small as 0.005 for a propane fire to as large as 0.10 for a toluene pool fire. A detailed uncertainty assessment was made. The result for a 50cm diameter heptane pool fire agrees well with previous smoke yield measurements made for the same fuel and pool diameter based on filter collection and weighing. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Feasibility study to demonstrate the potential of smoke hoods in simulated aircraft fire atmospheres: Development of the fire model

The subject of this paper is the development of a fire model producing smoke similar to that which could be anticipated from a burning passenger aircraft in the period before flashover. The simulated aircraft fire smoke was used to test filter and oxygen-donating smoke hoods as part of the Accident Investigation Branch research programme initiated after the Boeing 737 fire at Manchester in 1985. A relatively simple approach was adopted in which materials used in passenger aircrafts cabins were burned in an enclosed room. The smoke hood exposure tests were then carried out in the same room. The fire model permitted the smoke hoods to be tested for 5-min periods with an atmosphere approximating to that required and for longer periods with atmospheres with reduced concentrations of the more polar gases. Analytical procedures enabled both challenge atmospheres and filter penetration to be assessed. The evaluation of smoke hoods by Rapra Technology and British Coal demonstrated that filter smoke hoods were capable of providing protection (providing there was sufficient oxygen to sustain life), that carbon dioxide did not cause debilitation and that the heat produced by the oxidation of carbon monoxide was dissipated. Oxygen-donating systems were also capable of providing protection for the duration of their oxygen supply but it was necessary to prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide. Other important factors, such as the effectiveness of smoke hood to head seals and the effect of hood donning on aircraft evacuation times, have not been examined in this paper.     

Fire risks of burning asphalt

Eyewitnesses describe burning pavement surfaces in extreme fire scenarios. However, it was believed that the pavement plays a negligible role in comparison to other items feeding such an extreme fire at the same time. The asphalt mixtures used differ widely, thus raising the question as to whether this conclusion holds for all kinds of such materials. Three different kinds of asphalt mixtures were investigated with the aim of benchmarking the fire risks. Cone calorimeter tests are performed at an irradiance of 70kWm^?2. All three investigated asphalts burn in extreme fire scenarios. The fire response (fire load, time to ignition, maximum heat release rate and smoke production) is quite different and varies by factors of up to 10 when compared to each other. The fire load per mass is always very low due to the high content of inert minerals, whereas the effective heat of combustion of the volatiles is quite typical of non‐flame retarded organics. The heat release rate and fire growth indices are strongly dependent on the fire residue and thus the kind of mineral filler used. Comparing with polymeric materials, the investigated Mastic Asphalt and Stone Mastic Asphalt may be called intrinsically flame resistant, whereas the investigated Special Asphalt showed a pronouncedly greater fire risk with respect to causing fire growth and smoke. Thus the question is raised as to whether the use of certain kinds of asphalts in tunnels must be reconsidered. Apart from the binder used, the study also indicates varying the kind of aggregate as a possible route to eliminate the problem. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Comparative Study of the Fire Performance of Halogenated and Non-Halogenated Materials for Cable Applications. Part I Tests on Materials and Insulated Wires

This paper, the first of a series of three, describes the results of an extensive study of the mechanical physical, electrical and fire properties of polymeric materials, both halogenated and non-halogenated, intended for cable applications. The objective of this study was to provide, by means of generally recognized standard tests, data, which should make possible a dispassionate fire hazard analysis of the relative merits of materials. Excellent materials were found with different chemical compositions. The results indicate the following: (1) Materials can be suitable for wire and cable applications irrespective of their chemical composition. (2) Halogen-containing materials, as a group, tend to outperform non-halogen materials in terms of the major fire properties: •Heat release •Ignitability •Flammability (3)Most commercial materials tend to have adequate mechanical and physical properties, but halogenated materials are, as a rule, slightly more satisfactory. (4)Compared to fire retarded non-halogenated materials, halogen-containing materials tend to have better performance in terms of some of the more important electrical properties, particularly dielectric breakdown voltage. (5)The resistance to ageing of non-halogenated materials is somewhat suspect, particularly with respect to attack by oils. (6)The smoke obscuration per unit mass of non-halogenated (polyolefin-based) materials is superior to that of vinyl-based materials, but differences are significantly reduced when considering the expected smoke obscuration in actual full-scale fires, due to the overall lower tendency of halogenated materials to burn; the smoke obscuration resulting from fluorinated materials is also low. (7)Smoke corrosivity is the single property where non-halogenated materials clearly outperform halogenated materials.     

生物降解塑料的市场竞争研究分析

结合目前现有塑料的发展情况,在五种竞争力量中,针对目前主要竞争者(普通塑料、再生塑料、填充塑料),对生物降解塑料的市场竞争作了研究分析。     

Smoke characteristics of coal-lined tunnel fires

Characteristics of smoke particulates generated from a coal fire in a ventilated model tunnel were investigated by laser optical transmission and by electron microscopy. Average particle diameter and mass concentration of the smoke were determined as a function of the temperature and stoichimoetry of the coal tunnel fire. Smoke particle sizes ranged from 0.2 to 0.9 μm, with larger particle sizes associated with higher smoke concentrations. These coal smoke data are relevant to several aspects of underground mine safety including the development and location of smoke detection instruments, the understanding of the fire (toxic fume) hazard, and the development of new fire protection and control techniques.     

EG/DMMP阻燃聚氨酯酰亚胺泡沫塑料的研究

采用极限氧指数、拉伸试验机和扫描电子显微镜对可膨胀石墨(EG)和甲基膦酸二甲酯(DMMP)复配阻燃聚氨酯酰亚胺泡沫塑料(PUI)的阻燃性能、表面炭层形貌及力学性能等进行了研究。结果表明,阻燃剂添加量相同时,复配阻燃体系的极限氧指数值高于EG单独阻燃PUI,PUI/EG/DMMP体系的极限氧指数值由18.6 %提高至33.4 %;EG/DMMP的复配,减少了对泡孔结构的破坏,PUI/EG/DMMP燃烧后能生成更加连续和致密的炭层;阻燃剂添加量相同时,与EG单独阻燃PUI相比,EG/DMMP复配减少了对压缩性能的损害。     

A comparison of fire retarded and non‐fire retarded wood‐based wall linings exposed to fire in an enclosure

Full‐scale fire experiments were carried out in an ISO room to study the behaviour of commonly used cellulosic lining materials in real fire conditions. In addition to the temperature measurements recommended by the ISO 9705, temperature recordings were made at each node of grid lines on the wall lining surfaces. Four lining materials were chosen to represent different types of products and the surface spread of classifications determined using the BS 476 Part 7 flame spread test environment. The linings included fire retarded, melamine faced and non‐fire retarded boards which facilitated a comparative study of the behaviour of these materials with respect to ignition, flame spread, heat release rate and time to flashover. Corner fire scenarios were used in all the experiments. A T shape flame spread pattern on the surface of the two adjacent walls was observed prior to flashover. Prior to the onset of flashover conditions, downward opposed flow surface flame spread to the wall/ceiling intersection. For the non‐retarded wood based materials, such as plywood and medium density fibre board, flashover conditions occurred approximately 4 min after the start of the experiment. However, the fire retarded chipboard ignition was delayed by some 11 min 45 s after which flame spread was very rapid with flashover occurring within a further 1 min 45 s. An explanation for this particular behaviour is the considerable pre‐heating which occurred during the pre‐ignition period. For the fire retarded linings, much higher surface temperatures were recorded compared with those for non‐fire retarded linings. It was found that the areas of the fire retarded linings facing the source flame suffered extensive pyrolysis and charring which penetrated to the rear surface of the lining. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reconstruction of an arson hospital fire

An arson fire in a Swedish psychiatric detention clinic led to the death of two patients and injuries to many more. Rescue personnel were quick to go into the building on fire but had difficulties finding their way due to a very heavy smoke. The reconstruction made, indicates that a too easily ignitable mattress provided heat and radiation enough to ignite a PVC flooring material that then became the main source for fire and smoke. Analysis of soot from the fire site and measurements during the reconstruction show that the fire smoke contained large amounts of irritants that might have had an impact on the tragic outcome. In fact, comparing the toxicity of smoke gases produced during the reconstruction, based on different ‘toxicity indicators’, suggests that irritants in the fire smoke were as dangerous as or even more dangerous than the common asphyxiate type of gases present, CO and HCN. Another suggestion from the reported work is that the importance of flooring material for enclosure fire development might be overlooked. The reconstruction clearly demonstrates that the tragic fire would not have happened if the requirements for the flooring material had been the same as for the walls and ceiling materials. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enhanced flame retardancy,smoke suppression,and acid resistance of polypropylene/magnesium hydroxide composite by expandable graphite and microencapsulated red phosphorus

Low flame retardant efficiency and poor acid resistance of filled polymer composites are two main drawbacks of magnesium hydroxide (MH) as a flame retardant (FR). To solve these problems, expandable graphite (EG) and microencapsulated red phosphorus (MRP) were introduced into polypropylene/magnesium hydroxide (PP/MH) composite by melt compounding. The obtained PP/MH/EG/MRP quadruple composite was studied regarding its fire behavior as well as acid resistance. Obvious flame retardant synergism among MH, EG, and MRP is found in PP, which diminishes the loading of FR from 63.0 to 37.5 wt% to obtain V-0 rating in UL-94 test and low smoke release. Compact intumescent char with high thermo-oxidative stability was generated on composite surface, which plays a vital role in flame retardancy. The removal of MH by acid erosion on PP/MH/EG/MRP composite surface does not affect production of intumescent char and fire behavior of this composite. The composite displays good fire retardancy, smoke inhibition, and acid resistivity concurrently. This article renders an easy and cheap route to overcome the main faults of MH.