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Flammability of oil‐based painted gypsum wallboard subjected to fire heat fluxes
Author(s) -
Mowrer Frederick W.
Publication year - 2004
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.832
Subject(s) - cone calorimeter , alkyd , flammability , gypsum , composite material , flame spread , materials science , gloss (optics) , waste management , ignition system , calorimeter (particle physics) , forensic engineering , environmental science , pulp and paper industry , combustion , chemistry , engineering , coating , char , pyrolysis , electrical engineering , organic chemistry , detector , aerospace engineering
The flammability of painted gypsum wallboard (GWB) exposed to fire heat fluxes is investigated. GWB samples coated with multiple layers of alkyd/oil‐based paint are subjected to constant incident heat fluxes of 35, 50 and 75 kW/m 2 in the Cone Calorimeter for periods of 5, 10 and 15 min. A number of coats of alkyd/oil‐based interior semi‐gloss enamel paint, including 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 coats, are applied over a single coat of oil‐based primer to the exposed surface of 16 mm (5/8 in.) thick type X GWB. Unpainted type X GWB is also evaluated under the same exposure conditions. The potential for upward flame spread based on the Cone Calorimeter results is evaluated. The occurrence of paint ‘blistering’ is observed to have a significant effect on the time to ignition and consequently on the potential for upward flame spread. Further work is needed to evaluate the conditions under which ‘blistering’ will occur and its effects on the potential for surface flame spread on painted gypsum wallboard. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.