Studies on fire safety assessment of construction products: Dissertation

Various aspects of assessing the fire safety of construction products related to the initiation and development of fire and the determination of toxic smoke gases have been studied. Two models for predicting the results of the Single Burning Item (SBI) test have been introduced. The models gave a correct classification for 80-90 % of the products studied. The models provide practical tools for product development and quality control. The fire test methods and classification parameters of the Japanese and European fire classification systems of surface linings are different. Owing to the common reference scenario, the classification systems are still strongly consistent for the majority of products. Inconsistencies can be recognized by examining the product type and composition and by considering the special features of the main fire tests used in the classification. An optimised sampling system for smoke gas measurements in the fire test environment using the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry has been defined. Recommendations related to data analysis, calibration and software have been given. The fire behaviour of wooden facades in multi-storey houses has been studied in two different fire scenarios: an external fire and a post-flashover compartment fire. Acceptance criteria for the facades of sprinklered and unsprinklered buildings have been proposed. Post-flashover gas temperatures and charring behaviour of timber construction compartments have been studied in large-scale fire experiments. The gas temperature development in the test rooms was found to be dependent on the contribution of wooden enclosure surfaces on the production of pyrolysis gases. The onset of charring of timber structures could be delayed significantly by using sufficient gypsum plasterboard protection.