PVC in fires. 2nd edition

Publication Year

1996

Document Status

Withdrawn

Abstract

After a brief introduction to PVC itself, this publication outlines present understanding of the way fires grow from ignition to the fully developed fire. Ignitability, Rate of Flame Spread, Rate of Heat Release and Smoke Generation are identified as key parameters. The text then reviews the types of tests which can be used to assess materials and makes the very important point that fire test performance is not just an intrinsic property of a particular material but depends critically on the test conditions and on the test specimen used. Fire tests are classified into materials tests and product tests. Materials tests are often small, bench scale tests using small regular specimens which bear little or no relationship to finished products. Some small scale tests, especially those for smoke and toxic or corrosive effluent, employ severe test conditions designed to complete consume the whole specimen. The date from such tests may be misleading because it does not take into account the fact that the material being tested may be very resistant to ignition and flame spread, making complete consumption of a finished product in an actual fire very unlikely.

Document History

Document reference number: 299/2.

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