Developments in International Smoke Obscuration Tests and British Assessment Procedures for Smoke Hazards in Fire Scenarios Containing Plastics

Abstract

Assessment of the smoke hazard caused by materials and products has normally been solely from the results of small-scale or full-scale test methods. Recent British proposals suggest that the results of smoke tests should be used as part of a total method of smoke hazard assessment which would consider fire test data, product design, and room scenario in a way which would reflect the dangers of a product in a real fire situation. This proposed assessment procedure would prevent the misinterpretation of test data which can occur when smoke test data are compared in isolation without reference to other fire parameters. Developments in static and dynamic procedures show that there are still significant differences in the fire models used in internationally recognized smoke obscuration tests. Results for small-scale tests (e.g., ISO single and dual chamber tests, NIST cone calorimeter) and large-scale tests (e.g., IEC 3m cube, room/duct, and room/corridor tests) are described. These results emphasize the need for a standardized analytical approach to smoke hazard assessment.

A Methodology to Select a Wire Insulation for Use in Habitable Spacecraft

“…The first is the weight given to the physical properties (0.5), the second is the weight given to the weight characteristic (0.428), and the third is the vector approximation of how Teflon wire insulation compares to Tefzel with regard to weight (0.2,0.8)T. The remaining terms are similar: the weight given to the physical properties or characteristic times, the weight of the criterion, and the comparison of the two insulations with regard to the criterion. The calculation in Eq (12). has the solution:[ ""-I = r .…”