Real-Time Monitoring and Assessment of Thermal and Toxicological Risk Associated with Fire Retardant Textiles in a Full-Size Simulation of an Engulfment Flash Fire

Abstract

Abstract. A comparative risk assessment was performed on nine commercial flameretardant materials in garments intended for general occupational use. The assessment evaluated the relative hazards associated with combustion gases during a full engulfment flash fire in accordance with ASTM F1930 and ISO 13506. The materials in the form of whole body coveralls were subjected to propane-fired flash conditions of 84 kW/m 2 for a duration of 3 or 4 s. Combustion gas composition and concentrations were measured in the breathing zone of the test manikin in real time by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry as was the gas temperature. Results were used to parameterize thermokinetic and toxicokinetic models used to predict both injury and gas exposure. The results indicated that an individual maintaining regular ventilation would receive third degree burns to the upper airway at both durations. In the case of the 4 s burn, third degree injury would reach the larynx, resulting in involuntary apnea, in about 12 s post-ignition. Combustion gas production was high, but of very short duration meaning that exposure was limited by the receptor's ventilation cycle. Hazards to parties giving aid were limited by rapid declines in combustion gas production and temperature that returned to background concentrations within about 60 s post-ignition.

The “Warm Zone” Cases: Environmental Monitoring Immediately Outside the Fire Incident Response Arena by Firefighters

“… [20] During five routine fire incident response cases in South Florida that took place between August 2016 and February 2017, we describe multigas detector levels situated within the warm zone of the fire response to document gas exposures from gas and particulate emissions for those firefighters who did not enter the hot zone, but operated in the warm zone only. We define the warm zone based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) definition which characterizes the fire in potential for hazard [21] .…”

“…During a structure fire, firefighters expose themselves to high amounts of known carcinogens while inside the structure or in the IDLH environment [20] . This observation has been extensively studied, and firefighter behavior and PPE guidelines have adapted over the years to minimize the exposure risk [4] .…”