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In a previous report "Comparison of Combustibility Test Procedures" (1), results of tests were given on the combustibility of seven different building materials for the purpose of guiding the Canadian Standards Association Sub-committee on Noncombustibility in the preparation of a new specification for the combustibility rating of materials.

The Inspection Services of the Department of National Defence requested the National Research Council to conduct studies directed toward the development of a performance test to ensure a certain degree of foam compatibility of dry chemical extinguishing powder for future procurements. A test method devised in compliance with this request and a limited number of experimental results are given in this report.

On cover page: "DBR report.", Print copy held at NRC. Digital version available upon request. Contact NRC.NSL-BSN.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, Copie papier conservée au CNRC. Version numérique disponible sur demande. Contactez NRC.NSL-BSN.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Animal experiments have been used by Pryor et al in investigating the hazard connected with combinations of toxic gases (CO and CO[2]), oxygen depletion, and high temperature that may occur at fires. They report finding a synergistic effect with some combinations. The authors of the present paper have examined their data in the light of statistical techniques whereby synergistic or antagonistic effects are detected as interaction of factors and have found that the effect of combinations of factors is generally additive. Some of the data involving combinations of O[2] and CO, O[2] and temperature, CO and temperature, and CO[2] and temperature indicated possible synergism. Variance analysis showed that the effect of interactions of pairs of factors was minor in comparison with that of the main factors., Reprinted from: Journal of Fire and Flammability, v. 4, April 1973, p. 132-140. ISSN: 0022-1104

Fatal fires are often attributed to smoking in bed, and it is found in some cases that the only material consumed is the victim's bedding. The mode of burning of cotton wadding in mattresses ignited in this way is unusual: there is no flame or glow, but heat and smoke are released. In a series of experiments with varying degrees of ventilation, the products of combustion were measured and the temperature recorded. On the basis of published information on toxicity, estimates were made of the duration of human survival in each case; this is found to be of the order of one hour either in a sealed room or one where the door is opened 2 in. Some simple passive defence measures against this type of fire were tested and found effective., Les morts au cours des incendies sont souvent causées par l' habitude de fumer au lit, et on découvre parfois que seule la literie a brûlé. La combustion du capitonnage de coton allumé ainsi se déroule de facon inhabituelle. Il ne se produit ni flamme ni incandescence, mais de la chaleur et de la fumée. Les auteurs ont réalisé une série d'expériences dans différentes conditions de ventilation, et ont mesuré les quantités de produits de combustion et les tempé ratures. Ils ont établi des estimations de la durée de survie de l'occupant du lit dans chaque cas, en se fondant sur les données de toxicité publiées; cette durée atteint une heure dans une pièce close ou dans une pièce dont la porte est entr'ouverte de 2 pouces. Les auteurs ont essayé quelques méthodes simples de défense préventive contre ce danger, et ils les ont trouvé efficaces., Reprinted from: Proceedings, Second Annual Meeting of the Information Council on Fabric Flammability, held in New York City, December 1968, p. 204-229., Réimprimé de : Proceedings, Second Annual Meeting of the Information Council on Fabric Flammability, held in New York City, December 1968, p. 204-229., Proceedings, 2nd Annual Meeting of the Information Council on Fabric Flammability: 1968-12, New York, NY, USA

The Division of Building Research, National Research Council, in cooperation with the Eastern Forest Products Laboratory, has undertaken studies on the effect of inorganic salts on the combustion and decomposition of wood and cellulose. The purpose of the study reported in this paper was to study the effect of retardants on the flame-spread and smoke-producing characteristics of Douglas fir plywood and Western red cedar particleboard.

Print copy held at NRC. Digital version available upon request. Contact NRC.NSL-BSN.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, Copie papier conservée au CNRC. Version numérique disponible sur demande. Contactez NRC.NSL-BSN.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

An important product, C[5]H[6]O[2], from the pyrolytic decomposition of phosphoric acid, treated cellulose was isolated and identified as cis-4,5-expoxy-2-pentenal. NMR, IR UV, and mass-spectral data of this product were analyzed and discussed. A method for the preparation of cis-4,5- epoxy-2-pentenal is presented, and a mechanism for its formation is proposed., Reprinted from: Journal of Applied Polymer Science, v. 17, no. 2, February 1973, p. 391-399. ISSN: 0021-8995

The author describes a method developed to determine the effectiveness of various high expansion foaming agents based on the rate of foam production and film stability. Three foaming agents were studied in detail. The parameters governing the foam production, such as the nature and concentration of the foaming agents were investigated as a basis for the design of a foam generator., L'auteur a mis au point un essai de détermination de l'efficience des agents producteurs de mousse se basant sur les critères de rapidité de formation de la mousse et de son taux d'affaissement. Il a entrepris des études en vue d'élaborer des agents actifs. Il a utilisé un matériel de type habituel pour l'étude des paramètres régissant la production de mousse, tels la nature de l'agent, la forme et les matériaux constitutifs du réseau formateur., DIE Erzeugung grosser Mengen von stark blahendem Schaum wurde vor etwa 10 Jahren als eine neue Methode zur Grubenbrandbekampfungl eingefiihrt. Feuer in Untertagestrecken sind mit konventionellen Feuerbekampfungsmethoden oft schwer zuganglich und zu bekampfen, da die Entfernungen vom Anfang der Strecke bis zum Brandherd oft betrachtlich sind und die Entfernung, aus der mit Wasserstrahlen gearbeitet werden kann, durch die geringe Firstenhohe begrenzt ist. Experimente die von der Forschungsanstalt fur Grubensicherheit in Grossbritamien und dem US Bureau of Mines1-3 durchgefiihrt wurden, haben gezeigt, dass Schaum schnell in grossen Mengen hergestellt werden kann, leicht durch Schachte oder Strecken transportiert werden und verfiillt werden kann. Dabei sind nur verhaltnismassig geringe Druckunterschiede erforderlich, um ein Feuer in betrachtlicher Entfernung unter Kontrolle zu bringen oder auszuloschen. In der letzten Zeit sind stark blahende Schaume zur Bekampfung von Hausbranden in Erwagung gezogen worden. Da die Mehrzahl der Hausbrande in stadtischen Gebieten, besonders in Kleinstadten, wirkungsvoll durch konventionelle Liischmethoden bekampft werden konnen, scheint der Einsatz von stark blahendem Schaum bei grossen schwierigen Feuern eine bessere Chance zu bieten. Die Feuenvehrmamer sehen sich grossen Schwierigkeiten gegeniiber, wenn grosse Rauchmengen entwickelt werden. Mangelnde Sicht hindert sie oft daran, den Sitz des Feuers auszumachen und das Wasser direkt auf den Brandherd zu richten. Unter derart ungiinstigen Umstanden kann stark blahender Schaum verwendet werden, um von der Aussenseite des Gebaudes unzugangliche Feuer zu bekampfen. Schaum mit einem Blahverhaltnis von 500 : l bis zu 1000 : 1 kann leicht in solchen Mengen und in solcher Zeit hergestellt werden, dass Teile eines Gebaudes oder selbst ganze Gebaude in verhaltnismassig kurzer Zeit gefiillt werden konnen. Die Abteilung fur Bauforschung im Forschungsrat interessiert sic11 fur die Moglichkeit stark blahende Schaume zur Brandbekampfung in Gebauden zu venvenden. Es wurde daher eine Untersuchung iiber den effektvollen Einsatz dieser Mittel bei Hausbranden unternommen. Es wurden Laborversuche zur Entwicklung geeigneter Schaummittel vorgenommen. Ausserdem wurden Studien unter Venvendung von Geraten wie sie bei anderen Methoden venvendet werden durchgefiihrt, urn verschiedene Werte bei der Schaumherstellung zu untersuchen., Reprinted from: Fire International, v. 2, no. 16, April 1967, p. 46-56. ISSN: 0015-2609, Réimprimé de : Fire International, v. 2, no. 16, April 1967, p. 46-56. ISSN: 0015-2609

Print copy held at NRC. Digital version available upon request. Contact NRC.NSL-BSN.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca, Copie papier conservée au CNRC. Version numérique disponible sur demande. Contactez NRC.NSL-BSN.CNRC@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

The purpose of this Note is to provide data on the toxic gases produced from the combustion of white pine and untreated polystyrene, and evaluate the toxic hazard that is created by the combustion products.

Five materials that contain nitrogen were burned in a flask at 800 degrees C, and the amounts of hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide produced were quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography. The harmful effects of these products to the resulting atmosphere were then evaluated. The results vividly illustrate the potential danger of HCN to a fire environment when materials containing nitrogen are involved in fire.

Knowledge of the chemical composition and structure of organic materials indicates which toxic gases are likely to be formed and which will not be formed when these materials are involved in fire. Most combustible materials contain carbon, and therefore produce carbon monoxide (CO). Materials that contain nitrogen such as wool and nylon will produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and those that contain chlorine such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) will produce hydrogen chloride (HC1)., Reprinted from: Fire Fighting in Canada, v. 14, no. 2, April 1970, p. 6-10. ISSN: 0015-2595

The effects of eleven inorganic flame retardants on the flammability of cellulose have been investigated, and these flammability data were compared with the tar (levoglucosan) formation from the pyrolysis process. There was no correlation between the effectiveness of these flame retardants as determined by a minimum oxygen concentration flammability test at 1 percent treatment level and the amount of levoglocosan formed. This finding is contrary to the suggestions made by previous workers. A study of the pyrolysis of levoglucosan in the presence of potassium bromide (neutral), potassium carbonate (basic), and phosphoric acid (acidic) was made. Phosphoric acid had the most pronounced effect on the breakdown of levoglucosan; and carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, and residual char were among the major products. The data from the DP study indicate that both basic and acidic additives, soduim tetraborate decahydrate, and ammonium monohydrogen orthophosphate, accelerate the depolymerization in the early stages of the pyrolysis of cellulose., Reprinted from: Wood Science, v. 5, no. 1, July 1972, p. 38-43. ISSN: 0043-7700

The Fire Research Section of the Division of Building Research in 1959 began studies of the use of retardants and suppressants for forest fire control. The range of possible studies is broad. Those made to date and now reported have been largely exploratory, involving consideration of the general problem, examination of laboratory evaluation procedures and investigation of one type of retardant.

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