URETHANE FOAMS MAY IGNITE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS
“URETHANE FOAM IS FLAMMABLE” DO NOT EXPOSE URETHANE FOAM TO OPEN FLAMES OR ANY OTHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT HIGH TEMPERATURE IGNITION SOURCES SUCH AS BURNING OPERATIONS, WELDING, BURNING CIGARETTES, SPACE HEATERS OR NAKED LIGHTS.
TEMPERATURES IN THE CORE OF DISPENSED URETHANE FOAMS ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN SURFACE TEMPERATURES. THESE TEMPERATURE CAN BE HIGHER IN MEDIUM-HIGH DENSITY INSULATING MATERIALS THAN IN LIGHTER DENSITY VOID FILL PRODUCTS. CORE TEMPERATURES IN LARGE POURS OF MEDIUM-HIGH
DENSITY MATERIAL PROCESSED AT HIGH HEAT SETTING MAY APPROACH 400°F. AT THIS TEMPERATURE, THE CENTER OF THE URETHANE PRODUCT MAY DISCOLOR OR SCORCH, DUE TO THE GREAT HEAT BEING GENERATED. THE URETHANE FOAM MAY ALSO IGNITE AND BURN RAPIDLY, RELEASING GREAT HEAT AND CONSUMING OXYGEN AT A HIGH RATE. IN AN ENCLOSED SPACE THE RESULTING DEFICIENCY OF OXYGEN WILL PRESENT A DANGER OF SUFFOCATION TO THE OCCUPANTS. HAZARDOUS GASES RELEASED BY THE BURNING FOAM CAN BE INCAPACITATING OR FATAL TO HUMAN BEINGS IF INHALED IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES.
ONCE IGNITED, URETHANE FOAM IS DIFFICULT TO EXTINGUISH. FOAM FIRES THAT APPEAR TO BE EXTINGUISHED MAY SMOLDER AND REIGNITE. ALWAYS HAVE FIRE OFFICIALS DETERMINE WHETHER A FIRE HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED.
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS REGARDING THE FLAMMABILITY, TOXICITY, USE AND
STORAGE OF POLYURETHANE FOAMS
“Storage of Flexible Polyurethane”, (8-17s) Factory Mutual System,
(1969).
“Smoke from Cellular Polymers”, C. J. Hilado: Fire Technology,
volume 5, page 130, (1969).
“The Life Hazard of Bedding and Upholstery Fires”, C. H. Yuill:
Journal of Fire and Flammability, volume 1, page 313,
(1970).
“Toxicological Aspects of Flammability and Combustion of Polymeric
Materials”, J. Autian: Journal of Fire and Flammability,
volume 1, page 239, (1970).
“Project RAPRA 1”, Humphris, Prager, Wilson: Inter-Company
Urethane Panel, (1970).
“Project RAPRA 2”, Dawson, Prager, Wilson, Wood: International
Isocyanate Institute, (1973).
“Combustion Products of Polymeric Materials Containing Nitrogen
in their Chemical Structure”, K. Sumi & Y. Tsuchima:
Journal of Fire and Flammability, volume 4, page 15, (1973).
“A Fire Study of Rigid Cellular Plastic Materials for Insulated
Wall and Roof/Ceiling Construction, Part I”, Factory Mutual Research Corp, (1973).
“Project Moreton-1”, Dawson, Prager, Wilson: International
Isocyanate Institute, (1974).
“Extreme Toxicity from Combustion Products of a Fire-Retarded
Polyurethane Foam”, Petajan, Voorhees, Packham, Baldwin,
Einhorn, Grunnet, Dinger, Birky: Science, volume 187,
page 742, (1975).
“Isocyanurate Foams: Chemistry, Properties, and Processing”,
Reymore, Carelton, Kolakowski, Sayigh: Journal of Plastics,
number 6, page 328, (1975).
“Large Scale Fire Tests”, W. J. Wilson: Journal of Fire and
Flammability, volume 7, page 112, (1976).
“Fire Safety in the Home: Relative Toxicity of the Pyrolysis Products from Some Materials used in Home Furnishings and the Impact of the California Regulations”, California Bureau of Home Furnishings Laboratory Report SP-76-5, (1976).
“Oxidative Pyrolysis of Aircraft Interior Materials”, Spurgeon
Speitel, Feher: Journal of Fire & Flammability, volume 8,
page 349, (1977).
“Project RAPRA 3”, Wood, Prager, Wilson: International Isocyanate
Institute, (1977).
“Project RAPRA 4, Project Moreton-2”, Prager, Wood: International
Isocyanate Institute, (1979).
“Full Scale Burning Behavior of Upholstered Chairs”, NBS Technical
Note 1103, U. S. Dept. of Commerce, (1979).
“Precautions for the Proper Usage of Polyurethanes, Polyisocyanurates, and Related Materials: Technical Bulletin 107, Second Edition”, Upjohn Chemical Division, (1980).
“Further Development of a Test Method for the Assessment of the Acute Inhalation Toxicity of Combustion Products”, #PB82-217886, Levin: , U. S. Dept. of Commerce, (1982).
“Polymer Degradation During Combustion”, #NBS-GCR-82-403,
U. S. Dept. of Commerce, (1982).
“Calculation of the Heat Release Rate by Oxygen Consumption for
Various Applications”, #NBSIR 81-2427-1, U. S. Dept. of Commerce, (1982).
“Upholstered Furniture Heat Release Rates Measured with a Furniture Calorimeter”, #NBSIR 82-2604, U. S. Dept. of Commerce, (1982).
“Understanding Polymer Flammability”, Dow Chemical, (1983).
“Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials, Sixth Edition”, N. I. Sax: Reinhold Van Nostrand co, New York, N.Y. (1984)
“Fire Behavior of Upholstered Furniture”, NBS Monograph 173, Babrauskas & Krasny: U. S. Dept. of Commerce, (1985).
“Factors Affecting Fiber Flammability” from website of the American
Fiber Manufacturers Association / Fiber Economics Bureau, Inc.
www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/HEALTH.htm
“Proposal to Revise California Technical Bulletin 117”, California Bureau of Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation (2001).
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