Abstract

This paper reviews the available literature on experimental measurements of smoldering to flaming transition in upholstered furniture. It is found that of 102 items, 64% made the transition to flaming. For the items which transitioned to flaming, the time for the transition to occur ranged from 22 to 306 min. Some of the factors affecting the likely time to transition are known qualitatively, but a quantitative method of prediction is not available which would allow one to predict such transition occurrence (and time) on the basis of construction details and fire environment.

References

1.
Ohlemiller
T J
.
Smoldering combustion
, In:
SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering
. 2nd ed,
Boston
,
Society of Fire Protection Engineers
, and
Quincy (MA)
,
National Fire Protection Association
,
1995
; No.
2-171 to 2-179
.
2.
Babrauskas
V
,
Krasny
J F
.
Fire behavior of upholstered furniture
.
Gaithersburg (MD)
,
[U.S.] Natl. Bur. Stand.
;
1985
. NBS Monograph 173.
3.
Sundström
B
, editor.
Fire safety of upholstered furniture—the final report on the CBUF Research Program. Directorate-General Science, Research and Development (Meaurements and Testing) of the European Commission
. London (England):
Interscience Communications Ltd
;
1995
. Report No.. EUR 16477 EN.
4.
Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1632, Standard for the Flammability of Mattresses (and Mattress Pads)
, FF 4-72.
Washington
:
Government Printing Office
.
5.
Hoebel
J F
,
Sharman
L J
.
Upholstered furniture flammability—status report
.
Washington
,
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
;
1985
.
6.
McCormack
J A
,
Damant
G H
,
Williams
S S
,
Mikami
J F
.
Flaming combustion of upholstered furniture ignited by smoldering cigarettes
.
North Highlands (CA)
,
California Bureau of Home Furnishings
;
1980
.
7.
Krasny
J F
,
Peacock
R D
,
Paabo
M
,
Smith
G F
,
Stolte
A
.
Cigarette ignition of upholstered chairs
.
J Consumer Product Flammability
1982 Dec;
9
(
4
):
167
-
183
.
8.
Bukowski
R W
,
Christian
W J
,
Waterman
T E
.
Detector sensitivity and siting requirements for dwellings
.
Boston
,
National Fire Protection Assn.
;
1977
. Publ. SPP 43.
9.
Harpe
S W
,
Waterman
T E
,
Christian
W J
.
Detector sensitivity and siting requirements for dwellings, Phase 2
.
Boston
,
National Fire Protection Assn.
;
1977
. Publ. SPP 43A.
10.
Bukowski
R W
.
Investigation of the effects of heating and air conditioning on the performance of smoke detectors in mobile homes
. Gaithersburg (MD):
[U.S.] Natl. Bur. Stand.
;
1979
. Report: NBSIR 79-1915.
11.
Hafer
C A
,
Yuill
C H
.
Characterization of bedding and upholstery fires
.
San Antonio (TX)
,
Southwest Research Institute
;
1970
.
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.