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Towards regulating toxicity of materials in building
Author(s) -
Reichwerger Z.,
Balbin J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
fire and materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-1018
pISSN - 0308-0501
DOI - 10.1002/fam.810090303
Subject(s) - hazardous waste , toxicity , environmental science , hazard , toxic gas , hazard analysis , flammability , fire hazard , building material , waste management , forensic engineering , materials science , engineering , chemistry , composite material , environmental engineering , reliability engineering , environmental protection , organic chemistry
A method is presented for evaluating the toxic hazard resulting from the thermal decomposition of materials used in buildings or other closed structures. It was developed in conjunction with the current revision of Israel Standards pertaining to the behavior in fire of building materials. The method is based on the measurement and evaluation of those gases recognized as hazardous in fire situations. A ‘toxicity ratio’ of the materials is defined in terms of the sum of concentration ratios of all toxic gases monitored to the corresponding lethal threshold limit concentration levels. The ‘toxicity index’, a material property, relates the toxicity ration to the material quantity and the plenum volume. The toxicity index is found by experiment for specimens heated to their smoldering and flaming temperatures in a closed system. Fire hazard levels due to toxic gases emitted from different materials can then be compared using the toxicity ratio computed for the specified situation. The proposed method is compatible with Israel Standards IS 921, where allowable levels for buildings and compartments are defined.