Evaluation of hazard of combustion products: smoke generation and toxicity

About 82% of deaths in fires are related to the toxicity of fire effluents. There is a lot of synthetic products used in building construction. The amount of toxic gas species in combustion gases of the synthetic products may highly increase. For example, the amount of sold polystyrene on the world market is 8,5 million tons per year. Therefore the toxicity testing of fire effluents and smoke generation is of great importance. None of methods has an ISO standard status currently. Furthermore, the evaluation of fire hazard of building products in respect of smoke generation and toxicity is not regulated by any normative document in Lithuania. Analysis of experience of other countries in the fire testing of building materials is presented in this article. Testing methods commonly used in the international practice for toxicity and smoke generation have been analysed as well. Methodical problems, advantages and lack of test methods are briefly reviewed. Taking this into account, equipment for sample preparation of polystyrene has been established. The principle of the method: a specimen of polystyrene is out under determined temperature and airflow. The combustion products are drawn through the organic solvent. The solvent is analysed with IR spectrometer and/or gas chromatograph. Preliminary qualitative analysis of combustion products of plastic composites has been carried out using the proposed method combined with IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography methods. The results will be published in scientific press in the near future.