Summary
The performance of fibre-reinforced plastics is assessed in relation to the various phases in the development of a fire. Tests relating to the phases are described and material response discussed. A strategy is outlined which requires both attention to the design and the material choice. This may well limit the properties available to the designer.
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Reference Information
Airbus Industrie Standard ATS 1000-001 Issue S — Appendix A — generally regarded as a definitive statement of aircraft cabin requirements.
Aircraft Material Fire Test Handbook, DOT/FAA/CT-89/15 — up-to-date presentation of procedures in use by aircraft industry.
Fire Toxicity of Plastics (1989) RAPRA Technology, Shawbury — papers presented at a seminar covering all the major aspects of fire, smoke and toxicity.
Madgwick, T. (1988) Aircraft fire safety — are we meeting the challenge? in Fire Performance of Materials in Mass Transport, RAPRA, Shawbury — book contains papers presented at a seminar covering all major forms of transport.
Makower, A.D. (1989) Fire Tests — Building Products and Materials, BSI, Milton Keynes — a standard reference providing a brief guide to the relevant British standards.
Mayer, R.M. (ed.) (1993) Design with Reinforced Plastics, Design Council, London, Chapter 4.9 covers designing against fire.
Extracts from British and International standards are reproduced with permission; complete copies can be obtained from national standard bodies like BSI, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, MK14 6LE, UK, Tel. (44) 0908 22 00 22.
Non-combustibility
Rogowski, B. (1988) Fire control and material selection in ships, in Fire Performance of Materials in Mass Transport, RAPRA Technology, Shawbury — describes the need for isolating fires in ships and outlines the International Maritime Organization tests.
Ignitability
ISO TR 3814 (Tests for Measuring Reaction of Fire to Building Materials) (1989) ISO, Geneva — outlines tests to characterize various phases of a fire and introduces the concept of a ‘tool-kit’ of tests.
Flame spread
ISO/DIS 5658 — is under discussion and is likely to appear as three parts in the future.
Plascams Database (1991) RAPRA Technology, Shawbury — lists oxygen index and flame spread (UL 94) for many resins and blends, particularly thermoplastics.
Troitzsch, J. (1986) International Plastics Flammability Handbook, Hanser, München — principles, regulations, testing and approval.
Rate of heat release
Babrauskas, V. (1984) Development of the cone calorimeter — a bench scale heat release apparatus based on oxygen consumption. Fire and Materials, 8, 81–95.
Smoke and toxic gas emission
DD 180 (Guide for the Assessment of Toxic Hazards in Fire in Buildings and Transport) (1989) BSI, Milton Keynes — provides guidelines and stipulates limits for incapacitating lethal doses and concentrations of the major toxic entities in fire for use in hazard estimation.
ISO TR 9122 (Toxicity Testing of Fire Effluents) (1989) ISO, Geneva — review of current state of the art.
Flash-over
BS 476 part 20 (Method for Determination of the Fire Resistance Elements of Construction).
Design strategy
ISO TR 3814 (Tests for Measuring Reaction of Fire to Building Materials) (1989) ISO, Geneva — need for risk assessment.
PD 6503 part 2 (1988) BSI, Milton Keynes — guide to the relevance of small scale tests for measuring the toxicity of combustion products of materials and composites.
Fire Test Procedures (1984) IMO, London — describes procedures and hazards in accordance with the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention.
Information sources
Material suppliers can advise on the selection of the most suitable resin within their range and its fire resistance properties. It is essential to verify the material combination proposed for production with the appropriate tests.
Building Research Station, Garston, Watford, WD2 7JR, Tel. (44) 0923 664664.
Queen Mary’s College, Mile End Road, London, El 4NS, Tel, (44) 071 980 4811.
SGS Yarsley Laboratories, Trowers Way, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 2JN, Tel. (44) 0737 765070.
Warrington Fire Research Centre (London) Ltd, 101 Marshgate Lane, London, hiS 2NQ, Tel, (44) 081 519 8297.
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© 1994 Rayner M. Mayer
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Hancox, N.L., Mayer, R.M. (1994). Fire Performance. In: Design Data for Reinforced Plastics. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0707-5_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0707-5_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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