Evaluation Of Fire Performance Research Articles

Correlation analysis of sample thickness, heat flux, and cone calorimetry test data of polystyrene foam

This paper deals with thermal and fire performance evaluation of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and extruded polystyrene (XPS) in a cone calorimeter with a piloted ignition. The correlation analysis of sample thickness, heat flux (\( \dot{q}^{\prime \prime } \)), and experimental results is performed. It is found that the heat flux follows a linear function of the vertical distance from the standard horizontal level to the sample. An optimization ignition model is established considering the effects of sample thickness (or radiant distance). The modified ignition time (\( \bar{t}_{\text{ig}} \)) decreases with the increase of the sample thickness. Both tig (ignition time) and \( \bar{t}_{\text{ig}} \) drop as external heat flux rises. EPS’s tig is more sensitive to the variation of external heat flux. Thermal thickness (δP) decreases with the intensifying of heat flux, and δP is in linear correlation with \( \rho /\dot{q}^{\prime \prime } \). When sample is quite thin or the irradiance level is low (2 cm-thick PS under 35 kW m−2 and 3 cm-thick EPS under 25 kW m−2), single peak heat release rate (HRR) is present. Under other situations, there are at least two peak values. For EPS, the first peak value is higher than the last, while the reverse is true for XPS (exclusive of 5 cm-thick XPS at 35 kW m−2). Both peak and mean HRR rise linearly with the increase of external heat flux. tig, \( \bar{t}_{\text{ig}} \), critical heat flux and δP of XPS are smaller than those of EPS, while the reverse is true for mean HRR. The ignition and heat release risk of PS drop with the decrease of external heat flux, and these hazards of XPS are higher than those of EPS.

Fire Performance Assessment of a Fiber Reinforced Polymer Wall Panel Used in a Single Family Dwelling

This paper describes a fire performance assessment of a sandwich panel selected as the primary material in a high-performance house developed for the 2013 China Solar Decathlon competition. The sandwich panel has fiber reinforced polymer skins and a foam plastic core. Evaluation of fire performance showed that the selected panel would not comply with U.S. building code requirements for a single-family dwelling without additional protection. However, the use of an intumescent fire protective coating, coupled with the installation of a residential fire sprinkler system, is shown to be effective in meeting the intent of the fire and life safety requirements of the International Residential Code. Fire testing shows that the application of an intumescent fire protective coating to the panels significantly decreases the heat release rate, the smoke production characteristics, and the extent of flame spread on the panels.

Fire Performance Evaluation of Different Resins for Potential Application in Fire Resistant Structural Marine Composites

This work explores the possibility of reducing the flammability of unsaturated polyester (UP) resin, commonly used in marine composites, by co-blending with less combustible and char-forming resins such as phenol-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde and furans. The compatibility and curing properties of UP, other resins and their blends in 50:50 wt-% ratios have been have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) techniques. Based on the successful establishment of curing conditions, plaques of resins have been cast and cured. Thermal stability has been studied by thermogravimetry (TGA), whereas the fire performance evaluation was carried out by limiting oxygen index (LOI) and cone calorimtery at 50kW/m 2 heat flux. According to a fire risk assessment based on cone calorimetric data, the resole phenolic resins and their blends with UP achieved the highest fire safety rating.

Evaluation of fire performance of polypropylene fiber RC slabs

The fire performance of five RC slabs after exposure to the standard ISO 834 fire test without loading has been experimentally investigated and the results presented in this paper. To prevent the explosive spalling of concrete and to control the rise of temperature in the steel re-bar during fire, Polypropylene (PP) fiber was mixed in the slab and this improved the fire resistance of the concrete. During heating, concrete spalling was observed for concrete without PP fibers; however no spalling occurred in the specimens containing PP fibers. The maximum temperature of PP fiber concrete was lower than that of concrete without PP fibers. The results show that the fire performance of an RC slab is improved by adding PP fibers. Also, the addition of a volume fraction of PP fibers higher than 0.05% improves fire performance, including the reduction of explosive spalling and temperature. After fire damage, the residual load-carrying capacity of the RC specimen without PP fiber decreased to 67.5% of that of the intact case, but the specimens with PP fiber showed 91.6∼98.1% of intact load-carrying capacity. Therefore, it is confirmed that mixing RC with PP fiber can enhance residual load-carrying capacity after fire exposure.

Development of a Small Compartment Corner Test Method for the Preliminary Evaluation of Fire Performance of Cellular Plastics

Development of a Small Compartment Corner Test Method for the Preliminary Evaluation of Fire Performance of Cellular Plastics

Development of a Small Corner Test Method for the Preliminary Evaluation of Fire Performance of Rigid Cellular Plastics With and Without Protective Covering

Development of a Small Corner Test Method for the Preliminary Evaluation of Fire Performance of Rigid Cellular Plastics With and Without Protective Covering