Citation

Quintiere JG. Fire Safety J. 2001; 36(3): 291-312.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Data were taken to show the flame spread characteristics of thin materials burning on an insulating substrate. Metalized polyethylene terephthalate (0.20 mm) and paper (0.17 mm) were burned on the surface of glass fiber insulation. Flame spread was measured in the upward or downward facing orientation for the material and in the directions of gravity assistance (up) or gravity opposition (down). Measurements were taken at various angles ranging from a vertical to a horizontal orientation. A theoretical analysis was developed to predict the flame spread as a function of material properties, sample orientation, and flame spread direction. The one-dimensional theory was in reasonable agreement with the paper data. Vertical upward spread was found to yield the highest velocity. Critical angles (measured from the vertical) show transition to increasing flame spread for downward bottom spread at -60[deg], and for upward top surface spread at 60[deg].