NATL INST. OF STAND & TECH

A11107 3=10472

NBS

PUBLICATIONS

NBSIR 83-2787

Fire Performance of Furnishings

As Measured in the NBS Furniture

Calorimeter. Part I

U S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

National Engineering Laboratory

Center for Fire Research

Washington, DC 20234

August 1 983

Issued January 1984

100

,1155

33-2737

1934

C.2

Supported in part by:

department of Health and Human Services

Vashington, DC

NBSIR 83-2787

FIRE PERFORMANCE OF FURNISHINGS

AS MEASURED IN THE NBS FURNITURE

CALORIMETER. PARTI

J. Randall Lawson

W. Douglas Walton

William H. Twilley

NATIONAL BTJ OF LTy LIBRARY /'l ,

o. a

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

National Engineering Laboratory

Center for Fire Research

Washington, DC 20234

August 1 983

Issued January 1984

Supported in part by:

Department of Health and Human Services

Washington, DC

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Director
|inr • ’ •

... •. • • ;
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

LIST OF TABLES iv

LIST OF FIGURES v

SI CONVERSION UNITS xii

Abstract 1

1. INTRODUCTION 2

2. FURNITURE SPECIMENS AND WARDROBE FABRIC LOADS 6

2.1 Furniture Specimens 6

2.2 Wardrobe Fabric Loads 6

3. APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE 9

3.1 Description of Apparatus 9

3.2 Test Procedure 13

3.2.1 Calibration 13

3.2.2 Chairs, Sofas and Bookcase, Gas Flame Ignition 13

3.2.3 Chair and Bedding, Cigarette and Lighter Ignition... 14

3.2.4 Wardrobes, Match Ignition 15

4. EASY CHAIRS 16

4.1 Description of Easy Chairs 16

4.2 Results and Discussion of Easy Chair Tests 17

5. WAITING ROOM AND PATIENT CHAIRS 36

5.1 Description of Waiting Room and Patient Chairs 36

5.2 Results and Discussion of Waiting Room and Patient

Chair Tests 38

6. SOFAS AND BEDDING 64

6.1 Description of Sofas and Bedding 64

6.2 Results and Discussion of Sofa and Bedding Tests 65

7. WARDROBE CLOSETS AND BOOKCASE 82

7.1 Description of Wardrobe Closets and Bookcase 82

7 .2 Results and Discussion of Wardrobe Closet and Bookcase

Tests 84

7.2.1 Metal Wardrobes 84

7.2.2 Plywood Wardrobes (12.7 mm) 85

7.2.3 Plywood Wardrobes (3.2 mm)... 86

7.2.4 Particleboard Wardrobe and Bookcase 88

8. SUMMARY 117

9. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 119

10. REFERENCES 120

-iii-
LIST OF TABLES

Page

Table 1. List of Tests 5

Table 2. Simulated Clothing 8

Table 3. Simulated Clothing, Test 61 8

Table 4. Test Results on Easy Chairs 20

Table 5. Test Results on Waiting Room and Patient Chairs 40

Table 6. Test Results on Sofas and Bedding 68

Table 7. Test Results on Wardrobe Closets and Bookcase 90

-iv-
LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure 1. Furniture calorimeter, schematic of flow and

instrumentation 12

Figure 2. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair with

"California foam" cushions, test 45 21

Figure 3. Rate of heat release plot for easy chair, test 45 22

Figure 4. Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair, test 45 22

Figure 5. Target irradiance plot for easy chair, test 45 23

Figure 6. Smoke particulate conversion plot for test 45 23

Figure 7. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair

with foam cushions, test 48 24

Figure 8. Rate of heat release plot for easy chair, test 48 25

Figure 9. Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair, test 48 25

Figure 10. Target irradiance plot for easy chair, test 48 26

Figure 11. Smoke particulate conversion plot for test 48 26

Figure 12. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair

with foam cushions, test 49.... 27

Figure 13. Rate of heat release plot for easy chair, test 49 28

Figure 14. Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair, test 49 28

Figure 15. Target irradiance plot for easy chair, test 49 29

Figure 16. Smoke particulate conversion plot for easy chair,

test 49 29

Figure 17. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair, molded

flexible urethane frame, test 64 30

Figure 18. Rate of heat release plot for easy chair, test 64 31

Figure 19. Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair, test 64 31

Figure 20. Target irradiance plot for easy chair, test 64 32

Figure 21. Smoke particulate conversion plot for easy chair,

test 64 32

-v-
Figure 22. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair, cigarette

ignition, test 66 33

Figure 23. Rate of heat release plot for easy chair, test 66 34

Figure 24. Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair, test 66 34

Figure 25. Target irradiance plot for easy chair, test 66 35

Figure 26. Photograph and dimensions of adjustable back patient

chair, test 47 41

Figure 27. Rate of heat release plot for patient chair, test 47... 42

Figure 28. Rate of mass loss plot for patient chair, test 47 42

Figure 29. Target irradiance plot for patient chair, test 47 43

Figure 30. Smoke particulate conversion plot for patient chair,

test 47 43

Figure 31. Photograph and dimensions of minimum cushion chair,

test 50 44

Figure 32. Rate of heat release plot for minimum cushion chair,

test 50 45

Figure 33. Target irradiance plot for minimum cushion chair,

test 50 45

Figure 34. Photograph and dimensions of molded fiberglass chair,

test 51 46

Figure 35. Rate of heat release plot for molded fiberglass chair,

test 51 47

Figure 36. Rate of mass loss plot for molded fiberglass chair,

test 51 47

Figure 37. Target irradiance plot for molded fiberglass chair,

test 51 48

Figure 38. Photograph and dimensions of molded plastic patient

chair, test 52 49

Figure 39. Rate of heat release plot for molded plastic patient

chair, test 52 50

Figure 40. Rate of mass loss plot for molded plastic patient

chair, test 52 50

Figure 41. Target irradiance plot for molded plastic patient

chair, test 52 51

-vi-
Figure 42. Smoke particulate conversion plot for molded plastic

patient chair , test 52 51

Figure 43. Photograph and dimensions of metal frame chair,

test 53 52

Figure 44. Rate of heat release plot for metal frame chair,

test 53 53

Figure 45. Rate of mass loss plot for metal frame chair,

test 53 53

Figure 46. Target irradiance plot for metal frame chair,

test 53 54

Figure 47 . Smoke particulate conversion plot for metal frame

chair, test 53 54

Figure 48. Photograph and dimensions of chair from group setting,

test 55 55

Figure 49. Rate of heat release plot for chair from group setting,

test 55 56

Figure 50. Rate of mass loss plot for chair from group setting,

test 55 56

Figure 51. Target irradiance plot for chair from group setting,

test 55 57

Figure 52. Smoke particulate conversion plot for chair from group

setting, test 55 57

Figure 53 . Photograph and dimensions of chair with latex foam

cushions, test 56 58

Figure 54 . Rate of heat release plot for chair with latex foam

cushions, test 56 59

Figure 55. Rate of mass loss plot for chair with latex foam

cushions, test 56 59

Figure 56. ‘Target irradiance plot for chair with latex foam

cushions, test 56 60

Figure 57. Smoke particulate conversion plot for chair with

latex foam cushions, test 56 60

Figure 58 . Photograph and dimensions of metal frame stackable

chairs, test 75 61

Figure 59. Rate of heat release plot for metal frame stackable

chairs, test 75 62

-vii-
Figure 60. Rate of mass loss plot for metal frame stackable

chairs, test 75 62

Figure 61 . Target irradiance plot for metal frame stackable

chairs, test 75 63

Figure 62. Smoke particulate conversion plot for metal frame

stackable chairs, test 75 63

Figure 63. Photograph and dimensions of sofa with "California

foam" cushions, test 38 69

Figure 64. Rate of heat release plot for sofa with "California

foam" cushions, test 38 70

Figure 65. Rate of mass loss plot for sofa with "California

foam" cushions, test 38 70

Figure 66. Target irradiance plot for sofa with "California

foam" cushions, test 38 71

Figure 67 . Smoke particulate conversion plot for sofa with

"California foam" cushions, test 38 71

Figure 68. Photograph and dimensions of metal frame loveseat,

test 54 72

Figure 69. Rate of heat release plot for metal frame loveseat,

test 54 73

Figure 70. Rate of mass loss plot for metal frame loveseat,

test 54 73

Figure 71. Target irradiance plot for metal frame loveseat,

test 54 74

Figure 72. Smoke particulate conversion plot for metal frame

loveseat, test 54 74

Figure 73. Photograph and dimensions of wood frame loveseat,

test 57 75

Figure 74. Rate of heat release plot for wood frame loveseat,

test 57 76

Figure 75. Rate of mass loss plot for wood frame loveseat,

test 57 76

Figure 76. Target irradiance plot for wood frame loveseat,

test 57 77

Figure 77 . Smoke particulate conversion plot for wood frame

loveseat, test 57 77

-viii-
Figure 78. Photograph and dimensions of mattress and boxspring,

test 67 78

Figure 79. Rate of heat release plot for mattress and boxspring,

test 67 79

Figure 80. Target irradiance plot for mattress and boxspring,

test 67 79

Figure 81. Photograph and dimensions of mattress, test 74 80

Figure 82. Rate of heat release plot for mattress, test 74 81

Figure 83. Photograph of metal wardrobe and fabric load and

sketch of metal wardrobe 91

Figure 84. Rate of heat release plot for metal wardrobe, test 15.. 92

Figure 85. Rate of mass loss plot for metal wardrobe, test 15 92

Figure 86. Rate of heat release plot for metal wardrobe, test 21.. 93

Figure 87. Rate of mass loss plot for metal wardrobe, test 21 93

Figure 88. Target irradiance plot for metal wardrobe, test 21 94

Figure 89. Smoke particulate conversion plot for metal wardrobe,

test 21 94

Figure 90. Photograph and sketch of 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe 95

Figure 91. Rate of heat release plot for 12.7 mm plywood

wardrobe, test 39 96

Figure 92. Rate of mass loss plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 39 96

Figure 93. Target irradiance plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 39..... 97

Figure 94. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 12.7 mm plywood

wardrobe, test 39... 97

Figure 95. Rate of heat release plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 40 98

Figure 96. Rate of mass loss plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 40 98

Figure 97. Target irradiance plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 40 99

Figure 98. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 12.7 mm plywood

wardrobe, test 40 99

Figure 99 Rate of heat release plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 43 100

-ix-
Figure 100. Rate of mass loss plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 43 100

Figure 101. Target irradiance plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 43 101

Figure 102. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 12.7 mm plywood

wardrobe, test 43 101

Figure 103. Photograph and sketch of 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe 102

Figure 104. Rate of heat release plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 41 103

Figure 105. Rate of mass loss plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 41 103

Figure 106. Target irradiance plot for 3.2 plywood wardrobe,

test 41 104

Figure 107. Smoke particulate conversion for 3.2 mm plywood

wardrobe, test 41. 104

Figure 108. Rate of heat release plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe

painted inside with one coat of fire-retardant paint,

test 42 105

Figure 109. Rate of mass loss plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe

painted inside with one coat of fire-retardant paint,

test 42 105

Figure 110. Target irradiance plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe

painted inside with one coat of fire-retardant paint,

test 42 106

Figure 111. Carbon monoxide production plot for 3.2 mm plywood

wardrobe painted inside with one coat of fire-retardant

paint, test 42 106

Figure 112. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 3.2 mm plywood

wardrobe painted inside with one coat of fire-retardant

paint, test 42 107

Figure 113. Rate of heat release plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe

painted inside and out with two coats of fire-retardant

latex paint, test 44 108

Figure 114. Rate of mass loss plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe

painted inside and out with two coats of fire-retardant

latex paint, test 44 108

-x-
Figure 115. Target irradiance plot for 3.2 ram plywood wardrobe

painted inside and out with two coats of fire-retardant

latex paint, test 44 109

Figure 116. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 3.2 ram plywood

wardrobe painted inside and out with two coats of

fire-retardant latex paint, test 44 109

Figure 117. Comparison of heat release rates from test 41 and

test 44 110

Figure 118. Comparison of target irradiance experienced in

test 41 and test 44 110

Figure 119. Comparison of smoke particulate conversion for

test 41 and test 44 Ill

Figure 120. Photograph and sketch of 19.1 mm particleboard wardrobe,

test 61 112

Figure 121. Rate of heat release plot for 19.1 mm particleboard

wardrobe, test 61 113

Figure 122. Rate of mass loss plot for 19.1 ram particleboard

wardrobe, test 61 113

Figure 123. Target irradiance plot for 19.1 ram particleboard

wardrobe, test 61 114

Figure 124. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 19.1 ram particleboard wardrobe, test 61 114

Figure 125. Photograph and sketch of 12.7 mm wood bookcase,

test 62 115

Figure 126. Rate of heat release plot for 12.7 ram wood bookcase,

test 62 116

-xi-
SI CONVERSION UNITS

AREA

1 in^ = 0.000645 square meter (m^)

O = 6.4516 square centimeters (cm )

1 ft^ = 0.0929 square meter (m^)

LENGTH

1 in = 0.0254 meter (m)

1 ft = 0.3048 meter (m)

MASS

1 lb = 0.453 kilogram (kg)

POWER

1 watt = 1 joule per second (—

)

s

QUANTITY OF HEAT

1 BTU = 1055.87 joule (J)

TEMPERATURE

degree Fahrenheit (°F) = 9/5 °C + 32

-xii-
FIRE PERFORMANCE OF FURNISHINGS AS MEASURED

IN THE NBS FURNITURE CALORIMETER. PART I

J. Randall Lawson, W. Douglas Walton, William H. Twilley

Abstract

A heat release rate calorimeter developed at the

National Bureau of Standards was used to measure the free

burning characteristics of 23 different types of

furnishings. A total of 28 heat release rate experiments

were carried out during this project. The heat release

rates measured in the calorimeter were determined through

the use of an oxygen consumption technique. Data are

given on the rates of mass loss, thermal radiation, and

smoke production from the burning furniture specimens.

The furnishings evaluated are classed into the following

groups: easy chairs, sofas, waiting room and patient

chairs, wardrobe closets, bookcases and bedding.

Key Words: Furniture; calorimeter; fire

performance; heat release rate; mass loss rate; radiant

energy; smoke.

1
1 . INTRODUCTION

It is well known in the fire protection community that furnishings are

generally major contributors to the rate of fire growth and are often responsible for the peak energy released during an unwanted fire. This fact is

particularly important to the designers and operators of hospitals and nursing

homes where large numbers of people reside and patient response to fire

emergencies may be impaired. A number of multiple life loss fires in medical

care facilities have occurred in the last few years, and in most cases, furniture items were the first or second item ignited. Many of these unwanted

fires resulted from smoking activities by patients, but a few were associated

with electrical failures and arson. In the Wincrest Nursing Home fire

(Chicago, Illinois) during January 1976, 24 people died after an arson ignition of a wooden wardrobe closet. Only three days later, an electrical fault

in the Cermak House Nursing Home in Cicero, Illinois, ignited another wardrobe

closet and nightstand which resulted in the death of 8 people [1]^. Eight

people also died in the Sac-Osage Hospital (Osceola, Missouri) when a smoking

accident ignited a trash basket or bedding materials [2]Other fire

incidents reported have also identified the ignition of chairs and sofas

through smoking accidents. In each of the fire incidents discussed above, it

was clear from the investigations that furnishings played a major role in the

growth and propagation of the fires which lead to life loss and thousands of

dollars in damage.

1 Figures in brackets indicate literature references at the end of this

report.

2
Attempts have been made in recent years to evaluate the burning behavior

of furnishings. These studies have primarily been concerned with the evaluation of ignitability using small ignition sources such as cigarettes [3] .

Investigations have also been conducted on flame propagation over fabrics used

in furnishings, and large scale room fire tests using furnishings have been

carried out to develop information on how furnishings contribute to the growth

of fire in compartments [4,5]. The large scale room fire studies demonstrated

that two extremely important factors in the analysis of fire growth in furniture were missing. These related to knowledge concerning the rate of fire

growth over and the amount of heat released from a burning piece of furniture.

Until recently, there was no satisfactory way for measuring these quantities.

A heat release rate calorimeter has now been developed by the National

Bureau of Standards (NBS) specifically for measuring the mass loss and heat

release rates of furniture [6]

In the work reported here, a wide variety of

furnishings that may be found in health care facilities have been burned to

characterize their fire behavior. For this, instrumentation was added to

measure generated smoke and a remote radiometer was positioned to obtain

exposure data for possible ignition of nearby building materials or

furnishings

Twenty-eight heat release rate tests were conducted during this project

with 23 different types of furniture being characterized. Five of the 28

tests relate to repeatability measurements or varying specimen conditions with

wardrobe closet experiments. Table 1 located at the end of this section

contains a list of tests for this study. The numbering sequence for tests

throughout this report represents the experiment number as carried out in the

3
furniture calorimeter. Tests 1 through 14 are not presented since these were

developmental calibration runs used to debug the calorimeter. Other tests not

included in this report relate to gas burner calibrations and liquid pool fire

experiments. It should also be noted that the calorimeter tests were

conducted on furnishings as they were obtained, and the results were then

compiled into related groups.

The primary objective of this report is to provide a catalog of fire

performance data on a variety of furnishings. The data generated will be

useful in the development of fire safety performance standards for furnishings

and aid designers and operators of health care facilities in the selection and

use of furniture. Also, this report provides a data base for researchers

interested in studying fire growth in compartments and mathematical modeling

of fire development.

A second report, Part II, cataloging data on the fire performance of

furniture will be published upon completion of the next series of fire tests.

4
Table 1. List of Tests

Test Number

15

21

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

55

56

57

61

62

64

66

67

74

75

Furniture Item

Metal wardrobe

Metal wardrobe

Sofa "California foam cushions"

12.7

mm Plywood wardrobe

12.7

mm Plywood wardrobe

3.2

mm Plywood wardrobe

3.2

mm Plywood wardrobe with 1 coat of fire

retardant paint

12.7

mm Plywood wardrobe

3.2

mm Plywood wardrobe with 2 coats of fire

retardant paint

Easy chair "California foam cushion"

Adjustable back metal frame patient chair

Easy chair with foam cushions

Easy chair with wood frame and foam cushions

Waiting room chair with metal frame and

minimum cushion

Waiting room chair of molded fiberglass

Patient chair of molded plastic

Waiting room chair with metal frame and foam

cushions

Loveseat with wood frame and foam cushions

Group chair with metal frame and foam

cushions

Waiting room chair with wood frame and latex

foam cushion

Loveseat with wood frame and foam cushions

19.1 mm Particleboard wardrobe

12.7

mm Plywood bookcase

Easy chair with molded flexible urethane

frame

Easy chair with wood frame and foam cushions

Mattress and boxspring

Mattress

Metal frame chairs stacked four high

5
2. FURNITURE SPECIMENS AND WARDROBE FABRIC LOADS

2.1 Furniture Specimens

All chairs and sofas evaluated in this study were commercially

manufactured. Two pieces of furniture were specially built to NBS specifications. These items were specifically constructed from common furnishings

materials, but they were designed with a minimum of different types of

materials in the finished product. This was done in an attempt to reduce

variations in fire propagation resulting from varying materials, and it

provides fire growth information on those styles of furnishings with a simple

construction. The chair in test 45 and sofa in test 38 were the furnishings

with the simple design. This furniture design was also used in another

research project conducted by Babrauskas [6]

.

The only noncommercial furnishings in this study were the 12.7 mm thick

plywood wardrobes (section 7). These wardrobes were built at NBS from a

design used in full-scale fire tests investigating the operation of automatic

sprinklers in patient rooms [7]. A total of four different wardrobe closet

designs were evaluated. A description of each wardrobe closet is found in

section 7.1.

2.2 Wardrobe Fabric Loads

All wardrobes were tested with simulated clothing inside. The fabric

loads were the same for all tests except 15 and 61. Descriptions of these

exceptions are found later in this section.

6
Generally, four different fabrics were placed into the wardrobes on 16

clothes hangers which were evenly distributed across the wardrobes to simulate

6 different types of clothing (see table 2). The fabrics were cut to size to

equal the quantity typically found in the different types of apparel. The

fabrics were conditioned in a 21°C, 50% relative humidity room until the time

of the test. These fabrics were also selected to provide an agreement in test

procedure with the study reported in reference [7]. An exception to this

fabric loading was in test 15 where 3.18 kg of scrap cloth was hung on 8

clothes hangers spaced evenly across the wardrobe rod. This was a preliminary

test to evaluate the operation of the calorimeter system with a moderate size

fire. The second exception to the standard fabric loading occurred during

test 61. In this case, the wardrobe compartment was not large enough to hold

all of the fabrics. Seven clothes hangers were used with the simulated

clothing described in table 3.

7
Table 2. Simulated Clothing*

Item

Quantity

Per Test

Length & Width

(m) Fabric

Composition

(%)

Weight

(g/m2)

Night Shirt 6 1.02 x 0.38 Knit Jersey 65 Polyester

35 Cotton

164.3

T-Shirt 2 0.76 x 0.38 Knit Jersey 65 Polyester

35 Cotton

164.3

Robe 1 0.56 x 1.35 Terry Cloth 16 Polyester

84 Cotton

342 .0

Shirt 4 0.51 x 1.22 Kettle Cloth 50 Polyester

50 Cotton

161 .8

Dress 2 0.61 x 2.03 Kettle Cloth 50 Polyester

50 Cotton

161 .8

Pants 2 0.79 x 1 .02 Double Knit 100 Polyester 245.1

* The above cloths were used in all tests except test 1 5 and 61.

Table 3. Simulated Clothing, Test 61*

Item

Quantity

Used Fabric

Night Shirt 1 Knit Jersey

T-Shirt 2 Knit Jersey

Robe 1 Terry Cloth

Shirt 2 Kettle Cloth

Pants 1 Double Knit

NOTE: All fabric compositions, weights and cut sizes were the same

as in table 2.

8
3. APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE

3.1 Description of Apparatus

Several different methods for measuring heat release rates have been

developed over the years. These techniques and apparatus are described in

detail by Chamberlain [8]. Of the available methods, the oxygen consumption

technique developed by Sensenig and Parker [9,10] was selected for the test

apparatus because it allowed free burning of furniture specimens without the

radiation feed-back experienced in closed chambers. Briefly, Huggett [11]

established that to within 5 percent the burning of materials normally used in

construction and furnishings produces a constant value of heat per unit mass

of oxygen consumed. This value is E = 13.1 MJ/kg. Parker, taking this into

consideration derived the following equation which was used as the basis for

heat release rate measurements in this report.

Q

= 13.1 x 10' 32

28.97

• yA

m X

s 0,

1 + d (a -1) ( 1 )

where 0 = heat release rate (kW)

,

d = fraction of oxygen consumed.

A f

Xq = mole fraction of oxygen in air before the test (= 0.203)

a = 1.1 expansion factor for the fraction of air that was depleted

of oxygen, and

m

g = total gas flow in stack.

9
Figure 1, located at the end of this section, 3.1, shows schematically

the apparatus and instrumentation. In order to determine all of the factors

involved in the above equation, all of the products of combustion must be

collected from the burning specimen. Two different size hood systems were

used. The decision on which hood to use was based on the expected output of

the burning test specimen. The smaller of the hoods is 2.64 m long and 1.73 m

wide. This hood system has a fan-induced draft with a flow of approximately

1.3 m^/s at 21°C and a pressure of 760 mm Hg. It was designed to measure heat

release rates up to 2000 kW. The larger hood has a flow induced by a premixed

gas fired burner which is part of the building smoke abatement system. This

hood produces a flow of approximately 3 m^/s at 21°C and 760 mm Hg and its

size is 4.88 m long and 3.66 m wide. This hood can be used to measure heat

release rates up to approximately 6000 kW.

The exhaust stacks from both hoods are instrumented in a similar way.

Each stack has a sample point where stack gas temperature and velocity are

measured to determine m

g and gas samples (O

2

, CO, CO

2

) are taken to determine d. The gas sample is pumped continuously from the stack and passes

through a particulate filter, cold trap, and a chemical dessicant to remove

solids and moisture before it passes through the pump. The gas sample is then

divided and delivered in parallel to the paramagnetic oxygen analyzer and the

infrared absorption carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide analyzers. Gas concentrations are monitored continuously by the analyzers, and the data are

collected by a high speed data logger every 10 seconds. Calibrations of this

apparatus using natural gas metered to a 0.67 m by 1.0 m burner showed that

heat release rates are measured to within 10 percent of the actual value [6] .

10
In order to further characterize the burning of furniture with regard to

mass loss rate, smoke generation, and thermal radiation, additional instrumentation was fitted to the calorimeter systems. The specimens sit on a load

cell platform which provides continuous data on the mass burning rate for use

in the calculation of instantaneous heats of combustion and mass converted

into smoke. An extinction-beam photometer [12] is located in each exhaust

stack to measure smoke generated by the burning specimen. The smoke results

are expressed as the mass particulate conversion percent. A Gardon gage

located 0.5 m in front of the specimen and 0.5 m above the load platform floor

measures the radiant heat flux experienced at that point throughout the test.

This provides information on the possibility of secondary ignitions occurring

through thermal radiation emitted by the burning specimen.

11
FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Schematic of Flow and Instrumentation

Figure 1. Furniture calorimeter, schematic of flow and instrumentation

12
3.2 Test Procedure

3.2.1 Calibration

Before any tests were conducted, all instrument systems were carefully

calibrated to insure proper operation for the test. The gas analyzers were

zeroed with nitrogen and spanned with gases of known quality. The load platform was zeroed and spanned to a known weight approximating that of the test

specimen, and the smoke meter was also zeroed and spanned for maximum transmittance. The calibration of the radiometer was periodically checked by

comparison to a precision radiant energy source, and it was checked for output

before each fire test by exposure to a gas flame.

3.2.2 Chairs, Sofas and Bookcase, Gas Flame Ignition

(Tests #38, 45, 47-57, 62, 64, 75)

Each chair, sofa or bookcase was weighed prior to testing to determine

its mass. The test specimen was then placed on the load platform. The data

system was started and a gas burner was ignited just outside of the collection

hood. The heat release rate and time of flame exposure to the specimen was

designed to simulate the peak burning rate of a wastebasket [13] . The natural

gas flow was set to deliver a constant heat release rate of 50 kW. The ignition source was then moved into place, approximately 25 mm from the specimen's

side and 250 mm above the load platform. An event marker switch was closed to

identify the beginning of the test for the computer program. The computer

program subtracted the heat released from the ignition source from the test

results. The ignition source was left in position for 200 seconds and was

then removed from the test apparatus and extinguished. The furniture specimen

13
was then allowed to burn freely until the item was completely consumed or the

flame went out. At this point, an event marker switch was closed to indicate

the test's end.

3.2.3 Chair and Bedding, Cigarette and Lighter Ignition

(Tests #66, 67, 74)

The easy chair evaluated in test 66 was burned while sitting on the load

platform and data on mass loss rate were obtained. Neither of the bedding

tests, numbers 67 and 74, were conducted using the load platform because the

beds were too large; therefore, mass loss data were not taken.

The easy chair evaluated in test 66 was placed onto the load platform. A

non-f iltertip cigarette measuring 84 mm long was lit and placed between the

seat cushion and left chair arm. The cigarette burned completely and ignited

the chair.

The ignition source used in the two bedding tests was a gas cigarette

lighter. The mattress and boxspring in test 67 was covered with a bed sheet.

Attempts to ignite this mattress with several smoldering cigarettes were

unsuccessful. Sheet fabric hanging at one bed corner was easily ignited by a

50 mm flame developed by the cigarette lighter and the burning sheet ignited

the mattress.

In test 74, the mattress was covered with a bed sheet and a blanket.

Several attempts were made to ignite the bedding with smoldering cigarettes

placed under the sheets in direct contact with the mattress. The mattress

could not be ignited in this way. As in test 67, the sheet and blanket

14
covering the mattress was ignited by a 50 mm flame from a cigarette lighter

and flames from the sheet ignited the mattress.

3.2.4 Wardrobes, Match Ignition

(Tests #15, 21, 39-44, 61)

All wardrobes were tested using the following procedure. The wardrobes

were weighed and then placed on the apparatus load platform. A cardboard box,

measuring 305 x 305 x 305 mm, filled with 10 sheets of crumpled newspaper was

placed in the left rear corner of the wardrobe under the fabrics hanging on

the wardrobe rod. The door next to the box was closed, and the door at the

other end of the wardrobe was opened 178 mm for ventilation. In test 61, the

wardrobe had only one door, and it was left open 100 mm to provide ventilation. The weight of a typical box with newspaper was 0.90 kg. A book of

paper matches wired to be electrically ignited was placed in the box

containing the newspaper. The data logger was started and the newspaper in

the box was ignited by the matches. An event marker switch was closed at the

time of ignition to identify the test beginning for the computer program

during data reduction. Flames emitted by the burning newspaper and cardboard

box impinged on the wardrobe and fabrics. The wardrobes and their contents

were allowed to burn and data were collected until the flames went out.

15
4. EASY CHAIRS

4.1 Description of Easy Chairs

The five chairs in this group are typical of those easy chairs found in

offices, dayrooms, hotels, and private residences. The styles and construction were selected to obtain data on a varied sample of chairs currently being

manufactured. Figures with photographs of each piece of furniture in this

category are located with plots of the test data at the end of section 4.2.

Test 45 - This chair had a wood frame and its cushions were made from a

type of polyurethane foam often called "California foam" because it meets the

requirements of California State Bulletin 117. The fabric cover was polyolefin, and the chair's mass was 28.34 kg. (See figure 2.)

Test 48 - This chair consisted of a one-piece molded polystyrene foam

frame with plywood inserts for strength and was overlaid with polyurethane

foam padding. The fabric cover was a thin coat of foamed polyurethane with a

polyolefin backing. The seat and back cushions were filled with solid polyurethane foam pads, and the chair's mass was 11.52 kg. (See figure 7.) The

vertical object seen in the upper half of the picture and centered is the

radiometer and its shielded leads.

Test 49 - This chair was constructed with a wooden frame and a seat

cushion of solid polyurethane foam. Shredded polyurethane foam was used in

the back cushion. The fabric cover was cotton and the chair's mass was

15.68 kg. (See figure 12.)

16
Test 64 - This chair consisted of a one-piece wood reinforced cold-molded

flexible polyurethane foam. Metal springs were anchored to a wood base and

the structure was covered by 25-50 ram of polyester batting and then covered

with a polyurethane foam imitation leather. The chair's mass was 15.98 kg.

(See figure 17 .) [ 11 ]

Test 66 - This chair was constructed with a wood frame; it had polyurethane foam and polyester filled cushions. The fabric cover was cotton and

the welt cord was twisted paper. This chair's mass was 23.02 kg. (See figure

22 .)

4.2 Results and Discussion of Easy Chair Tests

The test results for easy chair fire performance are located in table 4

and figvires 3 through 25. Of the five different types of easy chairs evaluated, the one constructed from "California foam" (test 45) produced the

greatest peak heat release rate, total heat release, peak mass loss rate, and

peak target irradiance. The peak heat release rate measured was about

2100 kW. Research by Fang and Breese [5] showed that this would be more than

O enough heat release rate to cause flashover in an average size room. The

test results are shown graphically in figures 3-6. In test 48, shown in

figures 8-11, the second greatest peak heat release rate for this furniture

group was measured. This heat release rate is also capable of causing

flashover [5] and the target irradiance was high enough to result in the

2 Flashover is defined as a sudden change in fire growth from localized

burning to a fully involved burning room. Before flashover, temperatures

and heat fluxes are generally near-ambient except near zones of localized

burning. After flashover, the entire room is filled with flames and jets

of flames typically extend out through any room opening.

17
ignition of nearby combustible furnishings or interior finishes [13]. This

chair exhibited the highest average heat of combustion and produced the

greatest quantity of smoke. The peak percent particulate conversion and the

total smoke produced were very high. Carbon monoxide measurements were also

high for this chair.

The chair used in test 49 showed excellent burning characteristics

compared to the other easy chairs. See table 3 and figures 13-16. Its peak

heat release rate was slightly greater than 200 kW and its total heat release

was near 80 MJ. This chair also had the lowest level of thermal radiation

emitted and the least smoke produced. Data from test 64 show another chair

with generally low values, as shown in table 4 and figures 18-21. One major

exception, however, is that the total heat released was about 290 MJ . In test

66, shown in figures 23-25, the chair was ignited by a smoldering cigarette.

It took over 3700 seconds before the smoldering chair burst into flames, but

after flaming started, it burned very rapidly. It took only 200 seconds to

reach the peak burning rate. The smoke meter system did not operate properly

during this test and results are not given.

A general review of the data plots show that heat release rates are

closely related to the rates of mass loss. This relationship is not

unexpected. The peaks in heat release rate and mass loss rate typically occur

at the same time. However, it is clear that the two fire properties do not

exactly duplicate each other. A partial explanation of this may be attributed

to the fact that all mass lost during specimen heating does not represent

combustible volatiles, and it is known that heat release rate is highly

dependent upon the variable combustion processes in the fire plume and the

18
local fire environment. Another factor influencing these test results is that

heat release rate is a calculated value dependent upon five different measurements, each containing independent instrument errors. Three of these critical

measurements are also affected by time delays related to sample gas transport.

The computer program used in data reduction attempts to correct for these time

delays. In comparison, mass loss rate results are determined by taking simple

measurements from the load platform as the test specimen burns.

19
Table

4.

Test

Result

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20

Data

not

included

asa

result

of

instrumentation

failure
0.84 m —

»

>

0 A51m

r FRONT

Figure 2. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair with

"California foam" cushions, test 45

21
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 3: Rate of heat release plot for easy chair, Test 45

Figure 4: Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair. Test 45

22
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CJO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

m)

Figure 5: Target irradiance plot for easy chair, Test 45

Figure 6: Smoke particulate conversion plot for Test 45

23
'f

Figure 7. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair with

foam cushions, test 48

24
RATE

OF

MASS

LOSS

Cg/s)

TIME (see)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 8: Rate of heat release plot for easy chair, Test 48

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 9: Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair, Test 48

25
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

(JO

T

ARGE'

r

IRRAOIANCE

CkW/sq

m)

Figure 10: Target irradiance plot for easy chair. Test 48

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 11: Smoke particulate conversion plot for Test 48

26
<— 0.69m -

0.71m

FRONT

Figure 12. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair with foam

cushions, test 49

27
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 13. Rate of heat release plot for easy chair Test 49

Figure 14. Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair Test 49

28
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CJO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

irO

I 0

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

I

0

0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 2700 3000

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 15. Target irradiance plot for easy chair Test 49

Figure 16. Smoke particulate conversion plot for easy chair Test 49

29
Figure 17. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair, molded

flexible urethane frame, test 64

30
RATE

OF

MASS

LOSS

Cg/s)

I 000

3

X

LJ

O)<U

_lLJ

(X

Ij. o

LJ

I—<

CX

900 -

800

700

600

o 00

h-<

X 400

300

200

I 00

0 300 600 900 1200 I S00 1800 2100 2400 2700 3000

TIME (see)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 18. Rate of heat release plot for easy chair Test 64

20

18

16

M

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 2100 2400 2700 3000

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 19. Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair Test 64

31
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CJO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

m)

TIME Csec5

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 20. Target irradiance plot for easy chair Test 64

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 21. Smoke particulate conversion plot for easy chair Test 64
Figure 22. Photograph and dimensions of easy chair,

ignition, test 66

cigarette

33
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

TIME (see)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 23: Rate of heat release plot for easy chair Test 66

Figure 24: Rate of mass loss plot for easy chair Test 66

34
TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

rrO

Figure 25. Target irradiance plot for easy chair Test 66

35
5. WAITING ROOM AND PATIENT CHAIRS

5.1 Description of Waiting Room and Patient Chairs

Eight different types of chairs are grouped into this furnishings

category. Six of the chairs are typically found in waiting rooms and offices.

The two remaining chairs are primarily designed to be used by hospital

patients. These two chairs are found in tests 47 and 52. Figures showing

photographs of these chairs are located with the data plots at the end of

section 5.2.

Test 47 - This chair had a metal frame with an adjustable back. The seat

and back cushions were filled with solid polyurethane foam and a layer of

polyester fiber. The back and seat cushions were both supported by 16 mm

particle board. The two arm rests were made of wood and the chair's mass was

20.82 kg. (See figure 26.)

Test 50 - This chair had a metal frame with a vegetable fiber and cotton

layered seat and back cushion. The chair was covered with a plastic coated

fabric. The arm rests were made of thermosetting plastic and the chair's mass

was 16.52 kg. (See figure 31.)

Test 51 - This chair was a one-piece molded glass fiber construction with

metal legs attached to the bottom. No padding or cushions were used in this

chair and it's mass was 5.28 kg. (See figure 34.)

36
Test 52 - This chair was a specially designed one-piece molded thermoplastic chair for use in psychiatric hospital wards. It was believed to be

molded from polyethylene plastic. The chair could be used as either a rocking

chair or a fixed chair. This was determined by which end of the vertical axis

was placed on the floor and the chair's mass was 11.26 kg. (See figure 38.)

Test 53 - This chair had a metal frame with padded seat and back

cushions. The cushions were filled with solid polyurethane foam and were

attached to 12.7 mm plywood. The cushions were covered with a plastic coated

fabric and the chair's total mass was 15.54 kg. (See figure 43.)

Test 55 - This chair consisted of a metal frame with a body form plywood

seat and back. The seat and back were padded with thin layers of polyurethane

foam and covered with a synthetic fiber fabric. The chair was designed for

use with a metal frame capable of supporting several chairs in a group and

it's mass was 6.08 kg. (See figure 48.)

Test 56 - This chair was constructed with a wood frame. The seat and

back were constructed around 14 mm plywood. The seat cushion was made of 90%

latex foam rubber with 10% cotton felt. The back cushion consisted of 100%

latex foam rubber. The cushion covers were plastic coated fabric and the

chair's mass was 11.20 kg. (See figure 53.)

Test 75 - These chairs were built with metal frames capable of being

nested together for stacking. The seats and backs were lightly padded with

polyurethane foam and covered with a plastic coated fabric. The seats and

back cushions were attached to plywood boards and each chair's mass was

7.49 kg. (See figure 58.)

37
5.2 Results and Discussion of Waiting Room and Patient Chair Tests

All chairs in this category were ignited using the gas burner and

procedure described in section 3.2.2. The first chair studied in this group

was a metal frame, adjustable back patient chair (test 47). Data on this

chair, and other chairs in this group, are found in table 5. Data plots for

test 47 are shown in figures 27-30. This chair exhibited two heat release

peaks, the larger first peak resulting from the burning polyurethane foam seat

and back cushions and the second resulting from the burning particle board

seat and back supports. The total heat release was relatively low compared to

the easy chairs shown in table 4. In test 50 (figures 31-33), the metal frame

chair was ignited by the gas burner, but the flames did not propagate and went

out shortly after the exposure flame was removed. All values measured during

this test were very low since the chair did not continue to burn. The target

irradiance shown in figure 33 resulted from the exposure flame of the gas

burner.

The molded fiberglass chair evaluated in test 51 also gave low values.

See figures 35-37. It ignited and flames slowly propagated across the surface

of one arm and across part of the back. The heat release rate shown in figure

35 exhibits several peaks as a result of the slow and erratic burning. The

maximum peak heat release rate occurred while the chair was still receiving

energy from the exposure flame.

One of the most interesting chairs studied in this project was examined

in test 52. See figures 39-42. This molded plastic patient chair was ignited

easily, burned at a very slow rate for over 1900 seconds, became a pool of

38
melted plastic and burned rapidly once the pool was established. This chair

also exhibited the highest average heat of combustion. The chair in test 53

produced the second highest peak heat release rate of this furniture group.

See figures 44-47.

The group chair shown in results from test 55 performed well. Test

results are seen in figures 49-52. The peak heat release rate was the lowest

in this furniture group. The peak target irradiance was also low. This is

much smaller than that shown in earlier tests that had low heat release rates.

This low value resulted from the chair deflecting the exposure flame away from

the radiometer where other chair shapes caused the flame to pass closer to the

radiometer.

The chair in test 56 had a peak heat release rate slightly above that

provided by the ignition source as shown in figures 54-57. However, the chair

had the largest peak particulate conversion for smoke in this group of furniture. In test 75, the four stacked chairs had a total heat release which was

the second highest for this class of furniture. The results for this test are

shown in figures 59-62. The early peak in heat release rate, as seen in

figure 59, occurred with the burning polyurethane foam cushions. This is also

seen in figure 62 where the peak particulate conversion took place. The

chairs burned for a total of 2230 seconds as a result of the plywood seat and

back boards.

39
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eg X c E H H E *H d) E E 4J H eg o eg U *H 5 r—i <-> 0 eg X eg eg X E eg eg CO X Ui s-i U. T-C a- •H t-i (0 6

l-l CO eg O L4 eg U« 4-1 u- e X 4-> X Ct< 3 u* 3 (-1 u- U- •» 4-J CO i-H c

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4-» T3 CD eg aj •H o o o eg o 0) o c. (1) o o eg a; X t—t < z 0- z z z z z CU z z O z u-t 3 X z >3-

40

No

second

peak.

Data

not

available

because

mass

loss,

irradiance

and

smoke

were

too

small

to

measure

Exposure

flame

was

burning

during

time

peak

was

measured.

Data

not

available

as

a

result

of

instrument

failure.
Figure 26. Photograph and dimensions of adjustable back patient

chair, test 47

41
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 27: Rate of heat release plot for patient chair Test 47

Figure 28: Rate of mass loss plot for patient chair Test 47

42
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

OO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

Figure 29: Target irradiance plot for patient chair Test 47

Figure 30: Smoke particulate conversion plot for patient chair Test 47

43
**— 0.56m -*>

A

0.86m

FRONT

Figure 31. Photograph and dimensions of minimum cushion chair,

test 50

44
TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

rrO

RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

(kW)

Figure 32: Rate of heat release plot for minimum cushion chair.

Test 50

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

0 120 240 360 480 600 720 840 960 1080 1200

TIME Csec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 33: Target irradiance plot for minimum cushion chair,

Test 50

45
Figure 34

0.64m

0.74m

FRONT SIDE

Photograph and dimensions of molded fiberglass chair

test 51

46
RATE

OF

MASS

LOSS

Cg/s)

RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

Figure 35: Rate of heat release plot for molded fiberglass chair,

Test 51

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 36: Rate of mass loss plot for molded fiberglass chair,

Test 51

47
TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

m)

TIME (see)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 37. Target irradiance plot for molded fiberglass chair

Test 51

48
0.58m

0.81m

FRONT

Figure 38. Photograph and dimensions of molded plastic patient

chair, test 52

49
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkVO

Figure 39: Rate of heat release plot for molded plastic patient chair,

Test 52

TIME Csec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 40: Rate of mass loss plot for molded plastic patient chair.

Test 52

50
PARTICULATE:

CONVERSION

OO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

rrO

’igure 41: Target irradiance plot for molded plastic patient chair,

Test 52 J

TIME Csec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 42: Smoke particulate conversion plot for molded plastic

patient chair. Test 52

51
Figure 43. Photograph and dimensions of metal frame chair,

test 53

52
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

500

Figure 44: Rate of heat release plot for metal frame chair.

Test 53

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 45: Rate of mass loss plot for metal frame chair.

Test 53

53
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CJO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

m)

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 46: Target irradiance plot for metal frame chair,

Test 53

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 47: Smoke particulate conversion plot for metal frame chair,

Test 53

54
0.51m

0.76m

FRONT

Figure 48. Photograph and dimensions of chair from group setting,

test 55

55
RATE

OF

MASS

LOSS

Cg/s)

^

RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkU)

igure 49: Rate of heat release plot for chair from group setting,

Test 55

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 50: Rate of mass loss plot for chair from group setting,

Test 55

56
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CJO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

rrO

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

0 120 240 360 480 600 720 840 960 1080 1200

TIME (see)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 51: Target irradiance plot for chair from group setting

Test 55

i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 i 1 i i

r

J— 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i— ! I 1 1 L

TIME Csec5

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 52: Smoke particulate conversion plot for chair from group

setting. Test 55

57
0 . 6

1

m

0.76m

FRONT

Figure 53. Photograph and dimensions of chair with latex foam

cushions, test 56

58
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

Figure 54: Rate of heat release plot for chair with latex foam

cushions, Test 56

TIME Csec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 55: Rate of mass loss plot for chair with latex foam

cushions. Test 56

59
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

OO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/eq

rrO

Figure 56: Target irradiance plot for chair with latex foam

cushions, Test 56

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 57 : Smoke particulate conversion plot for chair with

latex foam cushions, Test 56

60
0.44m

0.81m

FRONT

Figure 58. Photograph and dimensions of metal frame stackable

chairs, test 75

61
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

TIME Csec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 59: Rate of heat release plot for metal frame stackable

chairs, Test 75

Figure 60: Rate of mass loss plot for metal frame stackable chairs.

Test 75

62
Figure 61. Target irradiance plot for metal frame stackable chairs,

Test 75

r\X

2O

H

<f) CL

LlI >2

O

UJ

I

<

_l3O

H

I—

CL<

Q_

TIME Csec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 62. Smoke particulate conversion plot for metal frame

stackable chairs. Test 75

63
6. SOFAS AND BEDDING

6.1 Description of Sofas and Bedding

In this group, one sofa and two loveseats were tested. These furniture

items are the types that will be found in waiting rooms or private residences.

The two bed mattress are representative of those found in public dwellings

such as hotels and some retirement homes and private residences. Figures

showing photographs of these furnishings are located with the data at the end

of section 6.2.

Test 38 - This sofa had a wood frame and its cushions were made of

"California foam". The fabric cover was polyolefin. This sofa was built by

the same manufacturer as the chair in test 45 and it's mass was 51.50 kg.

(See figure 63.)

Test 54 - This loveseat consisted of a metal frame with four solid polyurethane foam filled cushions. The cushions were covered with a plastic

coated fabric and the mass was 27.26 kg. (See figure 68.)

Test 57 - This loveseat was constructed with an oak wood frame with

exterior end panels made of 9.5 ram plywood covered with polyurethane foam

padding and a plastic coated fabric cover. The seat and back cushions

consisted of solid polyurethane foam covered with a layer of cotton. The

cushions were covered with a plastic coated fabric. The loveseat' s mass was

54.60 kg. (See figure 73.) The photograph shows several burn marks on the

loveseat which resulted from dropped cigarettes. This piece of furniture was

obtained from a hospital.

64
Test 67 - The mattress was constructed with 312 unit W/flexedge wires,

40% blended cotton felt, 40% polyurethane foam, and 20% sisal spring cover.

The boxspring had a wood frame with a plastic net coil spring unit and a

blended cotton felt insulator. The total mass of the mattress and boxspring

was 62.36 kg. (See figure 78.)

Test 74 - The full-size spring-core mattress was covered with a quilted

ticking over layers of polyurethane foam, fiber batting and a second layer of

foam. (See figure 81.) Mass for this specimen was not determined.

6.2 Results and Discussion of Sofa and Bedding Tests

Data for all the furnishings tested in this group are found in table 6.

The sofa and two love seats were ignited using the procedure stated in section

3.2.2 and the two bedding tests were ignited using the procedures in section

3.2.3.

The sofa burned in test 38 produced the largest peak rate of heat release

in this furniture group with a peak rate greater than 3000 kW, and it also had

the greatest total heat release. See figures 64-67. This rate of heat

release would cause flashover or rapid fire development in any average size

waiting room [12] . The peak mass loss rate was high, and the peak target

irradiance was about 38 kW/M . This amount of thermal radiation would easily

ignite almost any common combustible item found in a typical living quarter

[13]

.

Also, this sofa produced the greatest amount of carbon monoxide experienced in this group of furniture.

65
In test 54, the metal frame loveseat had the lowest peak heat release

rate of this group. Data plots for test 54 are found in figures 69-72. The

wood frame loveseat evaluated in test 57 was not easily ignited with the gas

ignition flame because a plywood panel was located under the fabric on the

ends. See figures 74-77. The peak heat release rate did not occur until the

seat and back cushions became involved. The peak particulate conversion for

smoke was 10.7 percent. This was experienced early in the test as a result of

burning inside the loveseat's arm which was exposed to the ignition source.

Large quantities of smoke were experienced until the seat and back cushions

became fully involved and then smoke production dropped rapidly as

particulates and the loveseat were consumed. The second greatest peak carbon

monoxide level for this category of furnishings was experienced with this

loveseat.

The first bedding materials were burned in test 67. The photograph in

figure 78 shows the mattress after being exposed to lit cigarettes in an

earlier test. None of the cigarettes resulted in the ignition of the

mattress. The results from this test are shown in figures 79 and 80. Mass

loss was not measured in this test because the mattress and boxspring were

larger in size than the load cell platform. Therefore, results on smoke

particulate conversion and total smoke produced are not available, as well as,

values on rate of mass loss and heat of combustion. The initial peak heat

release rate resulted from the burning mattress. The secondary peak heat

release rate resulted from the burning boxspring. The second bedding burn was

test 74. As seen in figure 81, cigarettes were also used unsuccessfully as an

ignition source with this mattress. However, ignition of the sheet with a

cigarette lighter resulted in a fully involved mattress in 740 seconds. See

66
figure 82.

in test 67,

In this test, the target irradiance was not measured and again, as

the load platform was not used.

67
Table

6.

Teat

Results

on

Sofas

and

Bedding

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2.0m 0.84m

0.81m

FRONT SIDE

Figure 63. Photograph and dimensions of sofa with California

foam" cushions, test 38

69
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkVO

Figure 64. Rate of heat release plot for sofa with "California foam"

cushions, Test 38

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 65. Rate of mass loss plot for sofa with "California foam"

cushions, Test 38

70
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CJO

%

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

m)

e 66. Target irradiance plot for sofa with "California foam"

cushion. Test 38

TIME (see)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 67. Smoke particulate conversion plot for sofa with

"California foam" cushions, Test 38

71
< 1.32m

FRONT

a

0.72m

Figure 68. Photograph and dimensions of metal frame loveseat,

test 54

72
Figure 69. Rate of heat release plot for metal frame loveseat,

Test 54

TIME Csec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 70. Rate of mass loss plot for metal loveseat,

Test 54

73
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

OO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

m)

10

0 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800

TIME (sec)

2100 2400 2700 3000

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

"igure 71. Target irradiance plot for metal frame loveseat.

Test 54

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 72. Smoke particulate conversion plot for metal frame

loveseat, Test 54

74
1.37m 0.81m

0.76m

FRONT SIDE

Figure 73. Photograph and dimensions of wood frame loveseat,

test 57

75

li
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 74. Rate of heat release plot for wood frame loveseat,

Test 57

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 75. Rate of mass loss plot for wood frame loveseat.

Test 57

76
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

OO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

rrO

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 76. Target irradiance plot for wood frame loveseat.

Test 57

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 77. Smoke particulate conversion plot for wood frame

loveseat. Test 57

77
MATTRESS

TOP VIEW

A ? 0.1 7m

0.34m -*

H

1.91m

MATTRESS SIDE VIEW

BOXSPRING

Figure 78. Photograph and dimensions of mattress and boxspring,

test 67

78
UJ

cn<

UJ

I UJ

a:<

UJ

TL

U.o

UJ

t-<

tx

Figure 79. Rate of heat release plot for mattress and boxspring,

Test 67

£

o-W\

3X

UJO

a

<

ix

<x

UJ

COcx<

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 80. Target irradiance plot for mattress and boxspring,

Test 67

79
)

1.3:

[

f

TOP VIEW

^ 1 . v7 1 III w

0.17m SIDE VIEW

Figure 81. Photograph and dimensions of mattress, test 74

80
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

Figure 82. Rate of heat release plot for mattress Test 74

81
7. WARDROBE CLOSETS AND BOOKCASE

7.1 Description of Wardrobe Closets and Bookcase

The four wardrobe closets in this furniture group are of the types

generally used in nursing homes and hospitals for storage of clothes and

personal items of patients. These furnishings are also sold for use in

private residences. The bookcase is of a design typically found in waiting

rooms. Figures showing photographs of the wardrobes and bookcase are located

with the data at the end of section 7.2.4.

Tests 15 and 21 - The wardrobe closet used in these tests was constructed

from 0.69 mm thick sheet steel. A sheet metal shelf extended completely

across the interior, 216 mm down from the top. Two metal doors were hinged to

swing open on the front. This was a commercially manufactured item and was

originally coated with a brown colored paint. This wardrobe’s mass was

approximately 41 kg. (See figure 83.)

Tests 39, 40 and 43 - These wardrobes were constructed at the National

Bureau of Standards from 12.7 mm thick Douglas-fir plywood. The wardrobe had

two 12.7 mm plywood doors hinged on the front for access to the interior. No

finish was applied to either the inside or outside and no surfaces were sanded

smooth. These wardrobes had a mass approximately 68 kg each. (See figure

90.)

82
Tests 41 , 42 and 44 - These wardrobes were commercially manufactured

units. They were built with 3.2 mm thick Philippine mahogany veneer plywood

and hardboard on a 19 by 40 mm hardwood frame. The top, bottom, and back were

hardboard with the sides and doors constructed from plywood. Two rolling

doors provided access to the interior. A 384 mm deep shelf extended across

the width of the wardrobe just above the hanger rod. In test 41, the wardrobe

had no finish. In test 42, the wardrobe was painted inside with one coat of

oil-based fire-retardant paint. In test 43, the wardrobe was painted inside

and out with two coats of latex fire-retardant paint. These paints exhibited

intumescence when exposed to heat. These wardrobes had a mass approximately

37 kg each. (See figure 103.)

Test 61 - This wardrobe, with a mass of about 120 kg, was constructed

from 19.1 mm thick particle board covered with a thin plastic coating. The

wardrobe had one hinged door, a swing down desk, two drawers, and four

shelves. The back of the wardrobe was covered with a thin sheet of hardboard.

(See figure 120.)

Test 62 - This bookcase was constructed with an aluminum frame and

12.7 mm thick plywood. Two hinged doors were located on the front lower third

and two book shelves were located above. The bookcase's mass was 30.39 kg.

(See figure 125.)

83
7.2 Results and Discussion of Wardrobe Closet and Bookcase Tests

7.2.1 Metal Wardrobe

As summarized in table 7, two different metal wardrobe closet tests were

conducted. As mentioned in section 2.2, test 15 was run with rags for the

fabric fire load. The results are shown in figures 84 and 85. The peak heat

release rate of better than 770 kW was experienced at 60 seconds into the

test. The paper-filled box and the fabrics accounted for this heat release.

Target irradiance and smoke particulate was not measured in this test since

these instruments were not operating during this early test.

Test 21, with the same metal wardrobe as in test 15, was the first test

to duplicate the fabric load as used in the sprinkler test program reported by

O'Neill, Hayes, and Zile [7], and as shown in table 2. Test results are

presented in figures 86-89. This test provided baseline data on the combustible contents placed in the wardrobes as a fire load. The peak heat release

rate of the cardboard box with 10 sheets of newspaper and the fabrics was

267 kW at 120 seconds into the test. The total heat released by the contents

was 52 MJ and the maximum target irradiance measured by the radiometer 50 cm

above the load platform and centered on the wardrobe's front was 4.0 kW/M .

The peak smoke particulate conversion was 3.7 percent with total smoke

produced at 14.9 grams. Carbon monoxide production was low.

84
7.2.2 Plywood Wardrobes (12.7 mir.)

All of the 12.7 mm thick plywood wardrobes were tested under the large

hood described in section 3.1. The test results are shown in table 7. Test

number 39 was the first of the 12.7 mm wardrobe closets burned. See data

plots in figures 91-94. The wardrobe doors were attached to chains which were

to keep them from falling off the load cell platform during the test.

However, the fasteners attaching the chains to the plywood structure burned

through the plywood and the doors fell. The large mass loss rate spikes shown

in figure 92 resulted when the wardrobe doors burned away and fell from the

load platform. The zero rate shown at 240 seconds occurred as a gypsum board

thermal shield from a nearby experiment fell onto the load platform as a

result of the intense fire. The peak mass loss rate was measured just before

the doors fell. A second 12.7 mm plywood test number 40 was conducted to

obtain the full complement of data from this wardrobe design. See data plots

in figures 95-98. A wire cage was constructed on the load platform to keep

the wardrobe components from falling off. The wire cage is shown in figure

103. With this test, a mechanical problem was experienced with the load

platform which resulted in the mass loss rate spikes in figure 96. The third

and final 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe test number 43 was conducted after the load

cell problem was corrected. See data plots in figures 99-102. Data spikes

also show up on the mass loss rate plots for test 43, but these spikes were

observed when the doors dropped to the load platform and coincided with the

collapse of the wardrobes structure.
Taking into account the problems associated with the first two tests,

analysis of the data shows good repeatability with an average peak rate of

heat release of 3300 kW, a standard deviation of 208 kW, and a coefficient of

variation of 6.3 percent. The total heat release for tests 40 and 43 are

substantially close, but are somewhat higher than those for test 39. The

total heat release shown for test 39 is lower as a result of the doors falling

away and not continuing to burn.

7.2.3 Plywood Wardrobes (3.2 mm)

Three tests were conducted using the 3.2 mm thick plywood wardrobes. As

mentioned in section 7.1, one was unpainted and two were painted with different applications of fire-retardant paint. All of these tests were conducted

under the large calorimeter hood. Test results for these three tests are

shown in table 7.

The first of these wardrobes tested was unpainted and the data plots for

test 41 are shown in figures 104-107. This wardrobe, with the fabrics and

newspaper, had a mass of 36.00 kg. When the box of newspaper was ignited, the

wardrobe ignited and burned rapidly. The peak heat release rate was in excess

of 6000 kW at 130 seconds into the test with a peak rate of mass loss of

301 g/s. This was the fastest burning item with the greatest peak heat

release rate of this research project. This magnitude of heat release rate

was totally unexpected.

86
The second 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe was evaluated in test 42. This wardrobe was painted inside with an oil-based intumescent fire-retardant paint.

The results are shown in figures 108-112. The peak heat release rate for this

wardrobe was approximately 1000 kW less than that of the unpainted wardrobe in

test 41. The peak heat release rate occurred at 170 seconds into the test as

compared to the time to peak of 130 seconds for the unpainted specimen. Thus,

inside painting of the wardrobe appears to have reduced the time to peak heat

release rate by 40 seconds. The peak rate of mass loss for this test was also

less than test 41 but only by 50 g/s. A peak target irradiance for test 42

was measured at 190 seconds into the test. As seen in table 7, the highest

rate of carbon monoxide production was experienced with a value of 12.6 grams

per second. Since the production of CO in this test was particularly significant, the curve for CO production is given in figure 111. This test produced

the most CO of all of the furnishings tested in this project.

As a result of the high heat release rate experienced with the partially

painted 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe, the interior and exterior of a third wardrobe

were painted with two coats of latex intumescent fire-retardant paint. The

specimen was burned and the results are shown as test 44 in table 7 and

figures 113-116. The peak heat release rate for this wardrobe was a reduction

of more than 50 percent when compared with the peak value of the unpainted

wardrobe in test 41. A comparison of these heat release rate results is shown

in figure 117. In addition, the peak heat release rate for test 44 occurred

at 170 seconds equaling the time-to-peak for wardrobe test 42 which was

painted only on the interior. A comparison of target irradiance for the

unfinished wardrobe in test 41 is made with the fire-retardant painted wardrobe of test 44 in figure 118. This figure shows that the unfinished wardrobe

87
had a much smaller peak radiant flux when compared to the wardrobe with two

coats of fire-retardant paint. Part of this may be attributed to the fact

that the painted wardrobe remained intact longer and provided a better surface

for radiating energy where the surface of the unfinished wardrobe burned away

rapidly, and the radiating surface disappeared.

Another interesting comparison of the unfinished wardrobe to the fireretardant painted wardrobe is shown in figure 119. This figure shows that the

fire-retardant painted wardrobe produced a significant quantity of smoke as

compared to the unfinished wardrobe. Based on the total smoke values from

table 7, the fire-retardant painted wardrobe in test 44 produced better than 5

times the smoke of the unfinished wardrobe burned in test 41.

7.2.4 Particleboard Wardrobe and Bookcase

The 19.1 mm thick particleboard wardrobe evaluated in test 61 was the

heaviest piece of furniture tested with a mass of 120.33 kg. This wardrobe

was filled with the fabrics described in section 2.2 and table 3. The burning

wardrobe produced two heat release rate peaks. The first peak resulted from

the burning closet and fabrics and the second resulted from the burning desk,

shelves, and drawers on the right side of the wardrobe closet. The total heat

release of 1349 MJ was the greatest quantity measured throughout the 28 tests

in this project. This result was not a surprise since the specimen mass was

large. The large spike on the rate of mass loss figure 122 at approximately

900 seconds resulted from the side wall and the door of the wardrobe closet

falling down onto the load cell platform. The peak target irradiance occurred

shortly after this structural failure when flames extended from the wardrobe's

88
back surface through the desk and shelves. The total smoke produced for this

test was high when compared to the peak particulate conversion. This is again

attributable to the specimen mass.

The 12.7 mm plywood bookcase burned in test 62 ignited when it was

exposed to the 50 kW gas flame. However, open flaming only lasted for 60

seconds after the 200 second exposure flame period. The peak heat release

rate of 28 kW occurred during the period of pilot flame exposure. See figure

126. Other data from this test are not available because the values were too

small to measure
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=

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Hinged

door

1.6m

Hanger rod

FRONT SIDE

Figure 83. Photograph of metal wardrobe and fabric load and

sketch of metal wardrobe

91
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkU)

Figure 84. Rate of heat release plot for metal wardrobe,

Test 15

TIME Csec5

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 85. Rate of mass loss plot for metal wardrobe,

Test 15

92
RATE

OF

MASS

LOSS

Cg/s)

TIME Csec>

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 86. Rate of heat release plot for metal wardrobe

Test 21

0 120 240 360 480 600 720 840 960 1080 1200

TIME (see)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 87. Rate of mass loss plot for metal wardrobe

Test 21

93
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

(%)>

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

Figure 88. Target irradiance plot for metal wardrobe,

Test 21

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 89. Smoke particulate conversion plot for metal

wardrobe. Test 21

94
1.22m

r_r'_r

Hinged

door

Door

1.78m i Hinged

door

FRONT SIDE

Hanger rod

Figure 90. Photograph and sketch of 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe

95
Figure 91. Rate of heat release plot for 12.7 ran plywood wardrobe,

Test 39

Figure 92. Rate of mass loss plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe.

Test 39

96
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CJO

5

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

rrO

93. Target irradiance plot for 12.7 mm plywood plywood wardrobe

Test 39

Figure 94. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 12 . 7 mm plywood

wardrobe, Test 39

97
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkVO

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 95. Rate of heat release plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe.

Test 40

TIME Csec5

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

figure 96. Rate of mass loss plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

Test 40

98
TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

nO

Figure 97. Target irradiance plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

Test 40

TIME Csec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 98. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 12.7 mm plywood

wardrobe. Test 40

99
Figure 99. Rate of heat release plot for 12.7 ran plywood wardrobe.

Test 43

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER — 103* Rate of mass loss plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

test 43

100
O'

in \

UJo

Q

<

a

c*M

UJCD

QL<

Figure 101. Target irradiance plot for 12.7 mm plywood wardrobe,

Test 43

TIME (see)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 102. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 12.7 mm plywood

wardrobe. Test 43

101
i

0. 62m

Shelf

a<- Hanger rod

Hardboard

and bottom

back

SIDE

Figure 103. Photograph and sketch of 3 . 2 mm plywood wardrobe

102
PROCESSED

10/15/81

10:

42:27

Figure 104. Rate of heat release plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe,

Test 41

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 105. Rate of mass loss plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe.

Test 41

103
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CJO

^

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/sq

m)

igure 106. Target irradiance plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe,

Test 41

TIME Csec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 107. Smoke particulate conversion for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe,

Test 41

104
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW)

Figure 108. Rate of heat release plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe

painted inside with one coat if fire-retardant paint,

Test 42

Figure 109. Rate of mass loss plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe

painted inside with one coat of fire-retardant paint.

Test 42

105
C0

PRODUCED

CG/S)

Figure 110. Target irradiance plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe

painted inside with one coat of fire-retardant paint,

Test 42

Figure 111. Carbon monoxide production plot for 3.2 plywood wardrobe

painted inside with one coat of fire-retardant paint,

Test 42

106
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CJO

TIME Ceec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 112. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 3.2 mm plywood

wardrobe painted inside with one coat of fire-retardant

paint, Test 42

107
TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 113. Rate of heat release plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe,

painted inside and out with two coats of fire-retardant

latex paint, Test 44

TIME Csec}

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 114. Rate of mass loss plot for 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe painted

inside and out with two coats of fire-retardant latex paint

Test 44

108
Figure 115. Target irradiance plot for 3.2 com plywood painted

inside and out with two coats of fire-retardant latex paint,

Test 44

A

XV/O

M

toct

Ld>

z

o

o

LU

z>o

M

CY<

Q_

TIME (sec)

FTJRNITIKE CALORIMETER Figure 116. Smoke particulate conversion plot for 3 . 2 mm plywood

wardrobe painted inside and out with two coats of fireretardant latex paint, Test 44

109
TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/»q

m>

Figure 117. Comparison of heat release rates from Test 41 and

Test 44

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 118. Comparison of target irradiances experienced in Test 41

and Test 44

110
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

CK)

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CAI CPTNETER

Figure 119. Comparison of smoke particulate conversion for Tests

41 and 44

111
Shelf

Figure 120. Photograph and sketch of 19.1 mm particleboard wardrobe,

test 61
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

CkW!)

Figure 121. Rate of heat release plot for 19.1 mm particleboard

wardrobe, Test 61

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 122. Rate of mass loss plot for 19.1 mm particleboard

wardrobe. Test 61

113
PARTICULATE

CONVERSION

OO

TARGET

IRRADIANCE

CkW/*q

m)

TIME (sec)

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

irigure 123: Target irradiance plot for 19.1 mm particleboard

wardrobe. Test 61

TIME Csec}

FURNITURE CALORIMETER Figure 124: Smoke particulate conversion plot for 19.1

particleboard wardrobe. Test 61

114

TTTTT1
< 0.78m **

1.83m

FRONT SIDE

Figure 125. Photograph and sketch of 12.7 mm wood bookcase,

test 62

115
RATE

OF

HEAT

RELEASE

(kW)

TIME CsecD

FURNITURE CALORIMETER

Figure 126. Rate of heat release plot for 12.7 mm wood bookcase,

Test 62
8 . SUMMARY

A heat release rate calorimeter based on the oxygen consumption technique

developed at the National Bureau of Standards was used to measure the fire

performance of 23 different types of furniture. This study was conducted to

provide a catalog of performance information needed by the Department of

Health and Human Services for developing guidelines for the selection of

furnishings to be used in hospitals and nursing homes. Consequently, the

furnishings evaluated in this study are typical of the types used in hospitals

and nursing homes. Some of these furnishings may also be used in hotels or

private residences. A total of 28 fire experiments were carried out which

included five easy chairs, eight waiting room or patient chairs, three sofas,

two mattresses, one bookcase, and nine wardrobe closets.

Data from these tests show that each of these furniture categories have

furnishings that will promote the rapid growth of fire if they become ignited.

Two of the five easy chairs tested and two of the three sofas tested released

enough energy by themselves to promote flashover in an average size waiting

room. Most of the metal frame chairs with minimum cushions or padding

performed well. Results from the two bedding tests showed that the mattresses

could not be easily ignited by a smoldering cigarette; however, the mattresses

could be easily ignited by a relatively small flame on its bed sheet. The

heat release rates from both bedding tests were also high enough to promote

the rapid spread of flames in a room. Test results on wardrobe closets showed

that this class of furnishing can provide a significant potential for the

rapid development of a high intensity fire. Three of the four different

wardrobe designs evaluated in this research project produced peak heat release

117
rates in excess of 1800 kW. The 12.7 mm plywood wardrobes consistently gave

peak heat release rate values greater than 3000 kW, and the unfinished 3.2 mm

plywood wardrobe exhibited the highest peak heat release rate measured in this

study, more than 6000 kW. Painting the 3.2 mm plywood wardrobe inside and out

with 2 coats of latex fire retardant paint only reduced the peak heat release

rate by about one half. While this was a significant reduction, substantial

increases in irradiance, smoke production, and carbon monoxide were experienced.

Only the metal wardrobe closets produced relatively low peak heat release

rate values. It should be noted that the heat release rate from a metal

wardrobe closet is primarily a function of the fabric load, contents spacing,

and ventilation. Therefore, a large fire could also result from the burning

contents of a metal wardrobe.

In conclusion, the information developed by this study on the fire

performance of furnishings should provide designers and operators of health

care facilities with information on the potential for fire growth resulting

from the ignition of different types of furnishings. It also provides data

which should be helpful in the development of fire performance standards for

furniture. In addition, these test results provide a data base on furnishings

for the study of fire growth in compartments and should be useful in mathematical modeling of fire development.

118
9 . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Appreciation is extended to the Washington, D.C. , Veterans Administration

Hospital, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission

for the furniture used in this research project. Appreciation is expressed to

Mr. William Bailey and Mr. Charles Veirtz of the Center for Fire Research for

their assistance in the construction and operation of the furniture calorimeter. Special thanks is given to Mr. William Parker for his consultation on

oxygen consumption theory and to Mr. Sanford Davis for providing assistance

throughout the research project. This work was partially supported by the

Department of Health and Human Services.

119
10. REFERENCES

[1] Best, R., Wincrest Nursing Horae and Cermak House Nursing Home Fires,

Fire Journal, Vol. 70, No. 5 (September 1976).

[2] Lathrop, J., Harrison, G. and Custer, R., In Osceola, A Matter of

Contents, Fire Journal, Vol. 69, No. 3 (May 1975).

[3] Damant, G.H., Williams, S.S. and Krasny, J.F., "Cigarette Ignition

Behavior of Commercial Upholstery Cover Fabrics", Journal of Consumer

Product Flammability, Vol. 9, No. 1, 31-46 (March 1982).

[4] Babrauskas, V., Full-Scale Burning Behavior of Upholstered Chairs,

National Bureau of Standards (U.S.) Tech. Note 1103 (1979).

[5] Fang, J. and Breese, J., Fire Development in Residential Basement Rooms,

National Bureau of Standards (U.S.), NBSIR 80-2120 (1980).

[6] Babrauskas, V., Lawson, J., Walton, W. and Twilley, W., Upholstered

Furniture Burning Rates Measured with a Furniture Calorimeter, National

Bureau of Standards (U.S.) NBSIR 82-2604 (1982).

[7] O'Neill, J., Hayes, W. and Zile, R., Full-Scale Fire Tests with

Automatic Sprinklers in a Patient Room, Phase II, National Bureau of

Standards (U.S.), NBSIR 80-2097 (1980).

[8] Chamberlain, D., Heat Release Rate Properties of Wood-Based Materials,

National Bureau of Standards (U.S.), NBSIR 82-2597 (1983).

[9] Sensenig, D., "An Oxygen Consumption Technique for Determining the

Contribution of Interior Wall Finishes to Room Fires", National Bureau

of Standards (U.S.) Tech. Note 1128 (1980).

[10] Parker, W., Calculations of the Heat Release Rate by Oxygen Consumption

for Various Applications, National Bureau of Standards (U.S.),

NBSIR 81-2427-1 (1982).

[11] Huggett, C., "Estimation of Rate of Heat Release by Means of Oxygen

Consumption Measurements", Fire and Materials, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1980).

[12] Bukowski, R., Smoke Measurements in Large and Small-Scale Fire Testing,

Fire Technology, 15, 173-9, 271-281 (1979).

[13] Babrauskas, V., Will the Second Item Ignite?, National Bureau of

Standards (U.S.), NBSIR 81-2271 (1981).

120
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NBS-1 14A (rev. 2 -eo) U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. 1. PUBLICATION OR 2. Performing Organ. Report No. 3. Publication Date BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

REPORT NO.

SHEET (See instructions) NBSIR 83-2787 January 1984

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Fire Performance of Furnishings as Measured in the NBS Furniture

Calorimeter. Part I

5. AUTHOR(S)

J. Randall Lawson, W. D. Walton, William H. Twilley

6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION (If joint or other than NBS, see instructions)

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

7. Contract/Grant No.

S. Type of Report & Period Covered

9. SPONSORING ORGANIZATION NAME AND COMPLETE ADDRESS (Street. City. State, ZIP)

10.

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

Q] Document describes a computer program; SF-185, FIPS Software Summary, is attached.

11.

ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here)

A heat release rate calorimeter devexoped at the National Bureau of Standards was

used to measure the fire performance of a wide range of furnishings. The heat

release rates measured in the calorimeter are determined through the use of oxygen

consumption techniques. Data are presented on the free burning characteristics of

28 tests involving 23 different types of furnishings. The furnishings evaluated

are classed into the following groups: easy chairs, sofas, waiting room and patient

chairs, wardrobe closets, bookcase and bedding.

The information presented in this report will provide a basis for selecting types

of furniture to be used in health care facilities, hospitals and other living

facilities. The test results also provide information needed by other areas of

fire research, such as the study of fire growth in compartments and mathematical

modeling of fire development.

In addition to heat release rates, data are given on the rates of mass loss,

thermal radiation and smoke production from the burning furniture specimens.

12.

KEY WORDS (Six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only proper names; and separate key words by semicolons)

Furniture; calorimeter; heat release rate; mass loss rate; radiant energy; smoke.

13.

AVAILABILITY

|Xf] Unlimited

| | For Official Distribution. Do Not Release to NTIS

Order From Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

20402.

[X^] Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Springfield, VA. 22161

14. NO. OF

PRINTED PAGES

133

15. Price

$ 14.50

U S COMM-DC 6043-P80
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