Assessing the corrosion risk of plastics in fires

Abstract

Corrosion risk is discussed as a component element of total fire risk, and the importance of the combustibility characteristics of materials in this connection is highlighted. The author discusses the contributions to corrosion hazard made by the ignitability of materials as well as their flame spread rates, rates of heat release and the chemical composition of their combustion products. The author illustrates this with experimental results from a programme of research into the flame and heat response characteristics of a series of filled and unfilled polymers, both halogenated and non-halogenated. The position of the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME) on the question of discriminatory standards is reviewed and, in this connection, the relative benefits and disadvantages of halogenated and non-halogenated materials are compared. The author draws attention to the limitations of small-scale tests in assessing the heat and flame response characteristics of materials (often referred to as ‘fire properties’). The need for qualification procedures of relevance to end-use performance is emphasised.