Andrews, G.E., Daham, B., Mmolawa, M.D., Boulter, S., Mitchell, J., Burrell, G., Ledger, J., Gunamusa, W., Boreham, R.A. and Phylaktou, H.N., 2005. FTIR Investigations Of Toxic Gases In Air Starved Enclosed Fires. Fire Safety Science 8: 1035-1046. doi:10.3801/IAFSS.FSS.8-1035
ABSTRACT
Toxic gases in air starved fires in rooms where the ventilation flow areas are very small, were investigated in a 1.57 m3 fire enclosure with 2.7 air changes an hour. Three fires were investigated: kerosene and diesel pool fires and a pine wood crib fire and all had a similar total heat release. The results showed that air starved fires develop slowly with low fire temperatures and overall lean mixtures. CO levels were relatively low and FTIR analysis of 23 toxic gases showed that aldehydes, acrolein, acetic acid, SO2, NO2 and some toxic hydrocarbons had a combined toxicity that was much greater than that due to CO. The wood fire had particularly high acrolein, aldehydes and acetic acid levels. The toxicity of the complex mixture of fire toxic gases was assessed using the COSHH 15 min. exposure limit as the reference limiting toxic concentration
Keyword(s):
enclosure fires, fire toxicity, acrolein, pool fires, wood crib fires
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