Caution is required to interpret the results of small-scale tests for toxic potency of smoke. The purpose of carrying out such tests is the identification of materials which are unusually toxic or which represent an unusual toxic fire hazard. This objective can be achieved by classifying materials into categories of toxic potency separated by a factor of 10. Furthermore, in the case of materials with toxic potency higher than that for commonly used ones, results should be interpreted by means of a fire hazard analysis. A simplified method for carrying out the toxic fire hazard portion of this analysis is a comparison of the ratio of a mass loss rate parameter (MLRP) to the toxic potency (LC 50) of the material under investigation with that of a "standard or commonly accepted material."
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bukowski, R.W., W.W. Jones, B.M. Levin, C.L. Forney, S.W. Stiefel, V. Babrauskas, E. Braun and A.J. Fowell."Hazard I, Volume I: Fire Hazard Assessment Method," NBSIR 87-3602, Natl Bur. Stands (July 1987).
2.
Jones, W.W."A Model for the Transport of Fire, Smoke and Toxic Gases (FAST)," NBSIR 84-2934, Natl Bur. Stands (September 1984).
3.
Mitler, H.E. and H.W. Emmons."Documentation for CFC V, the Fifth Harvard Computer Fire Code," Harvard University Report to National Bureau of Standards, NBS-GCR-81-344 (1981 ).
4.
Smith, E.E. and S. Satija.J. Heat Transfer, 105:281 (1983).
5.
Cullis, C.F. and M.M. Hirschler."The Combustion of Organic Polymers,"Oxford:Oxford University Press (1981).
6.
Hilado, C.J."Flammability Handbook of Plastics,"3rd.Edn, Lancaster, PA:Technomic Publishing Company (1982).
7.
Nelson, G.L. and A.L. Bridgman. Proc. 11 th. Int. Conf. Fire Safety. C. J. Hilado, ed. San Francisco:Product Safety , p. 128 ( 1986).
8.
Hirschler, M.M.Proc. Third Int. PVC Conference-PVC '87, Brighton (England), Soc. Chemical Industry, London, Paper 38 ( 1987).
9.
Babrauskas, V."Development of the Cone Calorimeter. A Bench-Scale Heat Release Rate Apparatus Based on Oxygen Consumption," Nat. Bur. Stands, NBSIR 82-2611 ( 1982).
10.
Babrauskas, V.Fire Mats, 8:81 (1984).
11.
Breden, L.H. and M. Meisters, J Fire Flammability , 7:234 (1976 ).
12.
Babrauskas, V.J. Fire Flammability , 12:51 (1981 ).
13.
Quintiere, J.G.Fire Mats, 6:145 (1982).
14.
Ferguson, G.E.NFPA Quarterly, 27(2):110 (1933).
15.
Nelson, G.L., D.V. Canfield and J.B. Larsen. Proc. 11th. Int. Conf. Fire Safety. C. J. Hilado, ed. San Francisco:Product Safety , p. 128 ( 1986).
Burgess, W.A., R.D. Treitman and A. Gold."Air Contaminants in Structural Firefighting," N.F.P.C.A. Project 7X008, Harvard School Public Health (1979).
20.
Grand, A.F., H.L. Kaplan and G.H. Lee."Investigation of Combustion Atmospheres in Real Fire," U.S.F.A. Project 80027 , Southwest Research Institute (1981 ).
21.
J.E. Amoore and E. Hautala.J Appl. Toxicol. , 3:272 (1983 ).
22.
Babrauskas, V., B.C. Levin and R.G. Gann.Fire Journal, 81(2):22 (1987).
23.
Kaplan, H.L. , A.F. Grand, W.G. Switzer, D.S. Mitchell, W.R. Rogers and G.E. Hartzell.J Fire Sci. , 3:228 (1985 ).
24.
Hartzell, G.E. , S.C. Packham, A.F. Grand and W.G. Switzer. J Fire Sci. , 3:195 ( 1985).
25.
Beitel, J.J. , C.A. Bertelo, W.F. Carroll, Jr., R.A. Gardner, A.F. Grand.M.M. Hirschler and G.F. Smith.J. Fire Sci., 4:15 (1986).
26.
Bertelo, C.A. , W.F. Carroll, Jr., M.M. Hirschler and G.F. Smith. Proc. 11th. Int. Conf. Fire Safety. C. J. Hilado, ed. San Francisco:Product Safety, p. 192 (1986).
27.
Galloway, F.M. and M.M. Hirschler. Proc. A.S.T.M. Symp. on Mathematical Modeling of Fires and Related Fire Test Methods. STP 983, J. R. Mehaffey, ed. New Orleans, p. 35 (1986).
28.
Levin, B.C., A.J. Fowell, M.M. Birky, M. Paabo, A. Stolte and D. Malek."Further Development of a Test Method for the Assessment of the Acute Inhalation Toxicity of Combustion Products," Nat. Bur. Stands, NBSIR 82-2532 (1982).
29.
Alarie, Y. and R.C. Anderson.Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 51:341 (1979).
30.
Alexeeff, G.V. and S.C. Packham.J Fire Sci., 2:306 (1984 ).
31.
Kimmerle, G.J Combust. Toxicol. , 1:4 (1974 ).
32.
Fardell, P.J. , J.M. Baldwin, J.V. Murrell and S.P. Rogers."Chemical Fingerprints of Fire Atmospheres-Some Results from Full Scale Fires in a Compartment/Corridor Test Rig,"Fire Research Station, U.K., BRE Note N12/81 (1981).
33.
Fardell, P.J. and Z.W. Rogowski."Report of the Performance of the Pittsburgh/Alarie Combustion Model,"Fire Research Station, U.K., BRE CR21/85 (1985).
34.
Casarett, L.J. in "Toxicology—The Basic Science of Poisons," L. J. Casarett and J. Doull, eds. New York: Macmillan, p. 24 (1975).
35.
Babrauskas, V. personal communication.
36.
Walton, W.D. and W.H. Twilley."Heat Release and Mass Loss Rate Measurements for Selected Materials," Nat. Bur. Stands, NBSIR 84-2960 (1984).
37.
Smith, G. F. in RETEC Conf. on "PVC: THE ISSUES;' Atlantic City, NJ, p. 124 (September 1987).
38.
Babrauskas, V., J. Gurman, M. M. Hirschler, J. C. Norris, S. C. Packham and J. O. Punderson, personal communication.
39.
Babrauskas, V."Bench-Scale Methods for Prediction of Full-Scale Fire Behaviour of Furnishings and Wall Linings;' SFPE Technology Report 84-10, SocFire Prot. Engineers, Boston, MA ( 1984).
