New national fire code requirements for potentially flammable plastics
Children's Play Areas
Plastic Balls in Children's Romper Rooms
Plastic Decorations and Plants
Foam Plastics
Exhibit Booths
Detailed Fire Product Listing and Test Summary Follows
PRODUCTS TO BE TESTED
Maximum Heat Release
Materials that are hung from walls or ceilings
100 kW
Exposed foam plastics used for decorative purposes
100 kW
Stage scenery or exhibit booth
100 kW
Decorative artificial vegetation
100 kW
Children's play structures:
Foam plastic
Romper room plastic balls
Foam plastics used in signs
100 kW
100 kW
150 kW
Exhibits:
Flame retardant materials
Foamed plastics
Cardboard honeycombed paper & other combustible materials
100 kW
100 kW
150 kW
Mannequins, murals, signs, etc.
150 kW
For test information, refer to the summarized fire test which follows.
Summarized fire test:
Scope/Purpose of Test
To reduce the fire hazard of plastic materials that might be prevalent in areas where large groups of people are assembled.
Brief Description of Test
The test item sits on a barrier-protected weigh cell. The configuration of the test item is product dependent. Some examples are shown by the accompanying sketches.
The 20-kW gas burner is ignited for a period of 15 minutes. The effluent of the burning test item flows through a ducting system which allows for the measurement of the amount of heat and smoke given off by the test item.
Mass lost is measured by the weigh cell.
Measured Fire Properties
Ignition Time
Approximate Location of the Flame Front Most Distant from the Ignition Source
Maximum Heat Release
Total Heat Release
Maximum Smoke Release
Total Smoke Release
Mass Loss
Burning Time of Flaming Debris or Droplets on the Weigh Cell Barrier
Reference: NFPA 289 - Standard Method of Fire Test for Individual Fuel Packages
Fire Safety Consulting Services
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