Fire science

Fire test methods attempt to provide correct information on the fire contribution of a product by exposing a small sample to conditions expected in a fire scenario. Methods can be viewed in two ways the first entails the strategy of the fire test, ignition resistance or low flammabiUty once ignited the second addresses the test specimen, a sample representative of the product or a sample of a material that might be used in the product. Fire science has progressed markedly since the older test methods were developed and it is known that the basis for many of these tests is doubthil. Results from older tests must be used with great care. 

Jones, W. W., 1994, Modeling Smoke Movement Through Compartmented Structures Journal of Fire Sciences. 

There are various innovations that the fire science community can produce to reduce human losses. These include less flammable materials, early and accurate fire detection devices, and reliable suppression systems. Each of these approaches assists in keeping the fire from becoming large, an important factor since most fatalities in the United States occur some distance away from the room of fire origin from smoke generated from large fires (5). 

Hartzell, G.E. Grand, A.F. Switzer, W.G. "Modeling of Toxicological Effects of Fire Gases VII. Studies on Evaluation of Animal Models in Combustion Toxicology," J. Fire Sciences 1988, 6(6), 411-431. 

Kennah, H.E. Stock, M.F. Alarie, Y.C. "Toxicity of Thermal Decomposition Products from Composites, J. Fire Sciences 1987, 5(1), 3-16. 

Hartzell, G.E. Emmons, H.W. "The Fractional Effective Dose Model for Assessment of Hazards Due to Smoke from Materials," J. Fire Sciences 1988, 6(5), 356-362. 

Tsuchiya, Y. Nakaya, I. "Numerical Analysis of Fire Gas Toxicity Mathematical Predictions and Experimental Results, J. Fire Sciences 1986, 4(2), 126-134. 

Sakurai, T. "Toxic Gas Test by the Several Pure and Mixture Gases Using Mice," J. Fire Sciences 1989, 7(1), 22-77. 

Look up the significant people that contributed to the development of fire science. Pick one, and write a one-page description of the contribution and its significance. 

Fire retardant treatment, for wood, 26 348 Fire science, 11 450 Fire test methods, 11 449—450 Fire test terminology, 19 588 Fire-tube furnaces, 12 319—320, 327 Firing, of ferrites, 11 73 Firming agents, 12 32 as food additives, 12 57 First aid and rescue, 21 858 First aid, for nitric acid exposure, 17 192 First failure, time to, 26 987 First falling rate period, 23 67 First-generation ionic liquids, 26 837-838, 841, 865... 

Purser, D.A. 1984. A bioassay model for testing the incapacitating effects of exposure to combustion product atmospheres using cynomolgus monkeys. J. Fire Sciences 2 20-36. Purser, D.A., P.Grimshaw, and K.R.Berrill. 1984. Intoxication by cyanide in fires A study in monkeys using polyacrylonitrile. Arch. Environ. Health 39 394 100. 

Babrauskas, V., Ignition Handbook. Fire Science Publishers, Issaquah, WA, 2003. 

The data presented in Table El are for fuel gases and vapors and are taken almost exclusively from Zabetakis. [IJS Bur. Mines Bull. 627 (1965)]. The conditions are for the fuel-air mixture at 25°C and 1 atm unless otherwise specified. As noted in the text, most fuels have a rich limit at approximately = 3.3 and a lean limit at approximately = 0.5. The fuels which vary most from the rich limit are those that are either very tightly bound as ammonia is or which can decompose as hydrazine or any monopropellant does. Additional sources of flammability limit data can be found in the Ignition Handbook by Babrauskas (Fire Science Publishers, Issaquah, WA, 2003) and from Kuchta [1/5 Bur. Mines Bull. 680 (1985)]. 

For something so familiar, fire is a surprisingly complex phenomenon. There are many excellent detailed references on the physics of fires, properties of burnable material, and the fundamentals of fire science. Rather than attempt to be a comprehensive guide, this Appendix will introduce some common fire terms and concepts and discuss in simple terms how they relate to fire protection. 

Researchers at the Firelab study the behavior, chemistry, and fuels of forest fires. Browse this site to learn more about forest fire science and current research projects. 

---