Fire-related standards and testing

The state of the art of flammability testing has been changing rapidly. Here, the progress in developing general test methods for solid materials and products exposed to an external fire are reviewed. The special requirements pertinent to environments of concern to NASA are examined and some suggestions for possible directions for future test method developments are given

Minimum Values of Voltage, Current, or Power for the Ignition of Fire

Under some circumstances, fires can be ignited by electric current. The two main mechanisms for this are arcing/sparking and hot surfaces. However, it has been viewed for a long time that this will not happen if the voltage, current, energy, or power are too low. The concept of a minimum ignition energy (MIE) characterizing the ignitability of flammable gas atmospheres is well established, and extensive published data are available. However, a corresponding ignition energy criterion for solids (minimum energy fluence) has been shown not to be valid. Some additional systematic experimental data (minimum voltage, current, power) have been collected for the spark ignition of gas atmospheres. However, it is found that the results are strongly dependent on the test conditions. Exceedingly scant data are available for the minimum electrical conditions for ignition of solid materials. Two concepts—intrinsic safety, and Class 2 or 3 power supplies—have long been available as safety measures against ignition from electrical circuit sources. However, ignition has been demonstrated to be possible with Class 2 power supplies. Ignition of solid material from a 1.2 V battery has been documented in the literature. Wide-ranging experimental research is urged to expand the knowledge base in this important area of electrical safety

Ignition Handbook: Principles And Applications To Fire Safety Engineering, Fire Investigation, Risk Management And Forensic Science

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