No abstract

The flammability of tropical woods and the effect of a selected fire protection coating were evaluated using a cone calorimeter at a cone radiancy of 35 kW/m2. Three samples were from the South American continent (Cumaru, Garapa, Ipe), and two were from the Asian continent (Kempas and Merbau). Samples were treated with commercial fire retardant (FR) containing ferrous phosphate as an essential component. The untreated samples were used as reference materials that were of particular interest concerning their flammability. It was shown that there is unambiguous correlation between the effective heat of combustion (EHC) and total oxygen consumed (TOC) related to mass lost during burning for both the untreated and treated samples. In the case of Cumaru and Garapa, there exists an inverse relation between the amount of smoke and carbon residue. The decisive effect on the time of ignition was performed by the initial mass of the sample. This is valid for the spruce and the Cumaru, Ipe, and Kempas, both treated and untreated with retardant, while Garapa and Merbau were found to decline. According to the lower maximum average rate of heat emission (MARHE) parameter, a lower flammability was observed for the treated samples of wood, except for Garapa wood. Fire-retardant treated Garapa and Merbau also have a significantly lower time to ignition than untreated ones.

No abstract

The article considers the granulometric analysis of selected samples of tropical wood dust from cumaru (Dipteryx odorata), padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii), ebony (Diospyros crassiflora), and marblewood (Marmaroxylon racemosum) using a Makita 9556CR 1400 W grinder and K36 sandpaper, for the purpose of selecting the percentages of the various fractions (<63; 63; 71; 200; 315; 500 μm) of wood dust samples. Tropical wood dust samples were made using a hand orbital sander Makita 9556CR 1400 W, and sized using the automatic mesh vibratory sieve machine Retsch AS 200 control. Most dust particles (between 50–79%) from all wood samples were under 100 μm in size. This higher percentage is associated with the risk of inhaling the dust, causing damage to the respiratory system, and the risk of a dust-air explosive mixture. Results of granulometric fractions contribution of tropical woods sanding dust were similar. Ignition temperature was changed by particle sizes, and decreased with a decrease in particle sizes. We found that marblewood has the highest minimum ignition temperature (400–420 °C), and padauk has the lowest (370–390 °C).

Straw, a natural cellulose-based material, has become part of building elements. Eco-panels, compressed straw in a cardboard casing, is used as building insulation. Eco-panel is a secondary product with excellent insulating properties. If suitably fire-treated (insulation and covering), straw panels’ fire resistance may be increased. This contribution deals with monitoring the behavior of eco-panels exposed to a small ignition initiator (flame). The samples consisted of compressed straw boards coated with a 40 mm thick cardboard. Samples were exposed to a flame for 5 and 10 min. The influence of the selected factors (size of the board, orientation of flame with the sample) were compared on the basis of experimentally obtained data: mass loss. The results obtained do not show a statistically significant influence of the position of the sample and the initiating source (flame). The results presented in the article confirm the justifiability of fire tests. As the results of the experiments prove, the position of a small burner for igniting such material is also important. Such weakness of the material can also be eliminated by design solutions in the construction. The experiment on larger samples also confirmed the justifiability of fire tests along with the need for flame retardancy of such material for its safe application in construction.