|
|
|
|
Flammability
|
| |
|
| |
Flammability is defined at how easily something will burn or ignite, causing fire or combustion. The degree of difficulty required to cause the combustion of a substance is subject to quantification through fire testing. Internationally, a variety of test protocols exist to quantify flammability. The ratings achieved are used in building codes, insurance requirements, fire codes and other regulations governing the use of building materials as well as the storage and handling of highly flammable substances inside and outside of structures and in surface and air transportation.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Flammability' Start a new discussion about 'Flammability' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Flammability is defined at how easily something will burn or ignite, causing fire or combustion. The degree of difficulty required to cause the combustion of a substance is subject to quantification through fire testing. Internationally, a variety of test protocols exist to quantify flammability. The ratings achieved are used in building codes, insurance requirements, fire codes and other regulations governing the use of building materials as well as the storage and handling of highly flammable substances inside and outside of structures and in surface and air transportation. For instance, changing an occupancy by altering the flammability of the contents requires the owner of a building to apply for a building permit to make sure that the overall fire protection design basis of the facility can take the change into account
Testing
A fire test can be conducted to determine the degree of flammability. Test standards used to make this determination but are not limited to the following:
Categorization of building materials
Materials can be tested for the degree of flammability and combustibility in accordance with 4102. DIN 4102, as well as its British cousin 476 include for testing of passive fire protection systems, as well as some if its constituent materials. The following are the categories in order of degree of combustibility as well as flammability:
- A1 (100% noncombustible = nichtbrennbar)
- A2 (~98% noncombustible = nichtbrennbar)
- B1 difficult to ignite (schwer entflammbar) Example: intumescents and some high end silicones
- B2 normal combustibility (like wood)
- B3 easily ignited (leichtentflammbar)
Important characteristics
Flash point
Flash points below are regulated in the United States by OSHA as potential workplace hazards.
Vapour pressure
- The vapour pressure is an important parameter in determining the ease of ignition. The higher the vapour pressure, the more flammable vapour is evolved from a free liquid surface at a given temperature.
Examples of flammable liquids
Flammable liquids include, but are not limited to:
Examples of nonflammable liquids
Codes
Flammability
For existing buildings, fire codes focus on maintaining the occupancies as originally intended. In other words, if a portion of a building were designed as an apartment, one could not suddenly load it with flammable liquids and turn it into a gas storage facility, because the fire load and smoke development in that one apartment would be so immense as to overtax the active fire protection as well as the passive fire protection means for the building. The handling and use of flammable substances inside a building is subject to the local fire code, which is ordinarily enforced by the local fire prevention officer.
Linguistics: Flammable vs. inflammable
The word "inflammable" came from Latin inflammare = "to set fire to", where the prefix in- means "in" as in "inside" (compare English "in flames"). But there have been instances of people thinking that this "in-" prefix means "not" as in "invisible" and "incombustible" etc, and thus wrongly thinking that "inflammable" means "cannot burn". To avoid this safety hazard, the shortened word "flammable" has come into use in recent years.
The Elements of Style (by Strunk and White) says:
- Flammable. An oddity, chiefly useful in saving lives. The common word meaning "combustible" is inflammable. But some people are thrown off by the in- and think inflammable means "not combustible." For this reason, trucks carrying gasoline or explosives are now marked FLAMMABLE. Unless you are operating such a truck and hence are concerned with the safety of children and illiterates, use inflammable.
See also
External links
|
| |
|
|
