A composite sheet material comprising: at least one porous core layer comprising a web of open cell structures formed by random crossover of reinforcing fibers held together by at least one thermoplastic material, wherein the porous core layer is formed by heating the web above a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material to substantially soften the thermoplastic material, passing the heated web through one or more consolidation devices set to a dimension less than that of an unconsolidated web and greater than that of a web if it were to be fully consolidated, and allowing the web to expand and remain substantially permeable after passing though the consolidation device, wherein about 40% to about 100% of the open cell structures are open and allow the flow of air and gases through the core layer, said porous core layer having from about 20 weight percent to about 80 weight percent reinforcing fibers based on a total weight of said porous core layer, said porous core layer having a density from 0.2 gm/cc to 1.8 gm/cc, and having a void content of about 5 percent to about 95 percent by volume of the porous core layer, wherein said reinforcing fibers have an average length from about 7 mm to about 200 mm; and at least one skin (14, 16) covering at least a portion of a surface of said at least one porous core layer, said skin comprising at least one of a thermoplastic film, an elastomeric film, a thermosetting coating, an inorganic coating, a fiber based scrim, a non-woven fabric, and a woven fabric, wherein said thermoplastic film comprises at least one of poly(ether imide), poly(ether ketone), poly(ether-ether ketone), poly(phenylene sulfide), poly(arylene sulfone), poly(ether sulfone), poly(amide-imide), poly(1,4-phenylene), polycarbonate, nylon, and silicone, and said skin having a limiting oxygen index greater than 22, as measured per ISO 4589, to enhance at least one of the flame, smoke, heat release and gaseous emission characteristics of the composite sheet material. at least one porous core layer comprising a web of open cell structures formed by random crossover of reinforcing fibers held together by at least one thermoplastic material, wherein the porous core layer is formed by heating the web above a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material to substantially soften the thermoplastic material, passing the heated web through one or more consolidation devices set to a dimension less than that of an unconsolidated web and greater than that of a web if it were to be fully consolidated, and allowing the web to expand and remain substantially permeable after passing though the consolidation device, wherein about 40% to about 100% of the open cell structures are open and allow the flow of air and gases through the core layer, said porous core layer having from about 20 weight percent to about 80 weight percent reinforcing fibers based on a total weight of said porous core layer, said porous core layer having a density from 0.2 gm/cc to 1.8 gm/cc, and having a void content of about 5 percent to about 95 percent by volume of the porous core layer, wherein said reinforcing fibers have an average length from about 7 mm to about 200 mm; and at least one skin (14, 16) covering at least a portion of a surface of said at least one porous core layer, said skin comprising at least one of a thermoplastic film, an elastomeric film, a thermosetting coating, an inorganic coating, a fiber based scrim, a non-woven fabric, and a woven fabric, wherein said thermoplastic film comprises at least one of poly(ether imide), poly(ether ketone), poly(ether-ether ketone), poly(phenylene sulfide), poly(arylene sulfone), poly(ether sulfone), poly(amide-imide), poly(1,4-phenylene), polycarbonate, nylon, and silicone, and said skin having a limiting oxygen index greater than 22, as measured per ISO 4589, to enhance at least one of the flame, smoke, heat release and gaseous emission characteristics of the composite sheet material.