Raman spectroscopy in the analysis of fire gases

Abstract

Raman scattering is a possible technique for analysing gas mixtures. In the work here described Raman scattering was used for detection of gases extracted from different model fires, where wood, polymethylmetachrylate (PMMA) and polystyrene were used as test materials. Raman spectra of gas samples from differently ventilated model fires are presented as well as the variation of O2, CO2 and CO concentrations as a function of time with an effective time constant of less than 5 s. The sensitivity of the experimental set‐up was estimated to be about 1000 ppm, but suggestions are given how to reach a detection limit of about 1 ppm. The feasibility of the technique and various ways of improving it are briefly discussed.