Skip to main content
Log in

Assessing toxic hazard as it relates to overall fire hazard

  • Published:
Fire Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A framework is proposed for assessing hazards associated with the spread of smoke and hot gases from fires in buildings, and the current predictive capabilities for each component of that framework are described. Particular attention is given to the significance of the toxicity of the combustion products of a material in relation to its other fire properties. The prediction of the onset of hazardous conditions in a three room residential arrangement with upholstered furniture as the burning object is presented to illustrate the usefulness of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) smoke transport computer code, a key component of the framework.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Berl, W. and Halpin, B., “Human Fatalities from Unwanted Fires,” National Bureau of Standards, NBSIR-168, 1979, p. 57.

  2. Cullis, C. F. and Hirschler, M. M.,The Combustion of Organic Polymers Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Office of the State Fire Marshal of California, “Assessment of Test Methods to Determine Combustibility/Toxicity of Materials,” A Report to the California State Legislature in response to ACR 146, April 1983.

  4. New York State, “Fire Gas Toxicity, Recommendations of the Secretary of State to the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code Council,” New York State, Department of State, May 1984.

  5. Alarie, Y. C. and Anderson, R. C., “Toxicologic and Acute Lethal Hazard Evaluation of Thermal Decomposition Products of Synthetic and Natural Polymers,”Toxicology & Applied Pharmacology Vol. 51, pp. 341–362, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Levin, B. C., Fowell, A. J., Birky, M. M., Paabo, M., Stolte, A., and Malek, D., “Further Development of a Test Method for the Assessment of the Acute Inhalation Toxicity of Combustion Products,” National Bureau of Standards, NBSIR 82-2532, June 1982.

  7. Ellis, W. P., “Toxicity Effects Resulting from Fires in Buildings,” National Institute of Building Sciences, May 1983.

  8. Snell, J. E., Levin, B. C., and Fowell, A. J., “Workshop on Combustion Product Toxicity — Summary of Presentations, September 10, 1982,” National Bureau of Standards, NBSIR 82-2634.

  9. Rockett, J. A., “Modeling of NBS Mattress Tests with the Harvard Mark V Fire Simulation,”Fire and Materials, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1982.

  10. Quintiere, J. G., and McCaffrey, B. J., “The Burning of Wood and Plastic Cribs in an Enclosure: Volume 1,” National Bureau of Standards, NBSIR 80-2054.

  11. Babrauskas, V., “Development of the Cone Calorimeter — A Bench-Scale Heat Release Rate Apparatus Based on Oxygen Consumption,” National Bureau of Standards, NBSIR 82-2611.

  12. Tewarson, A., “Reliable Small-Scale Fire Testing Apparatus,”Modern Plastics, Vol. 57, No. 11, pp. 58–62, Nov. 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Crane, C., et al., “Inhalation Toxicology: Design of Small-Animal Test System II. Determination of Relative Toxic Hazards of 75 Aircraft Cabin Materials,” Federal Aeronautical Administration Report FAA-AM-77-9, NTIS ADA043 646/9ST, 1977, p. 59.

  14. Hilado, C., “Evaluation of the NASA Animal Exposure Chamber for Fire Toxicity Screening Tests,”Journal of Fire and Flammability, Combustion, Toxicology Supplement, Vol. 2, pp. 298–314, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Huggett, C., “Combustion Conditions and Exposure Conditions for Combustion Product Toxicity Testing,”Journal of Fire Sciences, Vol. 2, Sept./Oct. 1984.

  16. Tanaka, T., “A Model of Multi-Room Fire Spread,” National Bureau of Standards, NBSIR 83-2718, August 1983.

  17. Wakamatsu, T., “Calculation of Smoke Movement in Buildings,” Research Paper 34, Building Research Institute, Tokyo, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Evers, E. and Waterhouse, A., “A Computer Model for Analyzing Smoke Movement in Buildings,” SCS Ltd. Report CP 68/78 for Fire Research Station.

  19. Klote, J. H., “A Computer Program for Analysis of Smoke Control Systems,” National Bureau of Standards, NBSIR 82-2512, June 1982.

  20. Babrauskas, V., Lawson, J. R., Walton, W. D. and Twilley, W. H., “Upholstered Furniture Heat Release Rates Measured with a Furniture Calorimeter,”Journal of Fire Sciences, Vol. 1, pp. 9–32, Jan./Feb. 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Jones, W. W., “A Model for the Transport of Smoke, Fire and Toxic Gases (FAST),”Fire Safety Journal, Vol. 9, pp. 55–79, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Stoll, A. M. and Chiata, M. A., “Heat Transfer Through Fabrics as Related to Thermal Injury,” New York Academy of Sciences,Transactions, Vol. 33, No. 7, November 1971, pp. 649–670.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Parker, J. F., Jr., and West, V. R., inBioastronautics Data Book, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA SP 3006 (1973), 2nd Edition.

  24. Jin, T., “Visibility Through Fire Smoke, Part 2,” Report of Fire Research Institute of Japan, No. 33, 31–48, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Jin, T., “Visibility Through Fire Smoke, Part 5,” Report of Fire Research Institute of Japan, No. 33, 12–18, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Jin, T., “Visibility Through Fire Smoke,” in Main Reports on Production Movement and Control of Smoke in Buildings, pp. 100–153, Japanese Association of Fire Science and Engineering, 1974.

  27. Levin, B., “The Effects of Exposure to Single or Multiple Combinations of the Predominant Toxic Gases and Low Oxygen Atmospheres Produced in Fires,” manuscript in preparation.

  28. Kimmerle, G., “Aspects and Methodology for the Evolution of Toxicological Parameters During Fire Exposure,”Journal of Combustion Toxicology Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 4–51, February 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  29. “Standard for Single and Multiple Station Smoke Detectors,” ANSI/UL, 217.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Reference: Andrew J. Fowell, “Assessing Toxic Hazard as It Relates to Overall Fire Hazard,”Fire Technology, Vol. 21, No. 3, August 1985, pp. 199.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fowell, A.J. Assessing toxic hazard as it relates to overall fire hazard. Fire Technol 21, 199–212 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01039974

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01039974

Key words

Navigation