Experimental and Numerical Simulation Research on Burning Characteristics of Common Combustible Materials

Based on the importance of fire hazard research of common indoor combustibles, the ignitability, heat release, smoke toxicity and specific extinction area of three kinds of wood, PVC and PMMA were studied with a cone calorimeter at an external heat flux of 50 kW/m(sup-scr)2. The fire risks of a single room with these materials were numerical simulated by CFAST, a fire zone simulation software. The results show that the ignition time of PVC and PMMA is less than wood, while other parameters of burning characteristics, such as the average heat release rate (HRR), the peak HRR, the total heat released, the average effective heat of combustion, the average mass loss rate and the average specific extinction area of PVC and PMMA are all greater than wood. PVC has a greater specific extinction area and a higher yield of CO than other combustible materials. PVC and PMMA have greater fire risk than wood has, and PMMA is far more dangerous than other combustible materials in fires.