ISO has defined fire effluent as the “totality of gases and aerosols, including suspended particles, created by combustion or pyrolysis in a fire”. Fire effluents can be classified into four main categories: asphyxiant (narcotic) gases, irritant gases, sub-acute toxicants and sub-lethal toxicants.
A wide range of common materials used in modern buildings produce a mix of combustion products, which can have an adverse effect on human health and the environment. Exposure to some compounds may show both acute on sub-lethal or sub-acute effects.