Abstracts EDITOR'S NOTE: For information on how to set up your own abstract file and information retrieval system incorporating abstracts from FIRE TECHNOLOGY and other sources, see the article, "Information R e t r i e v a l - Three Practical Methods," on page 69 of the February 1965 issue. In clipping these abstracts for mounting on file cards, the reverse side of each page should be photocopied to retain the abstracts appearing thereon. The classification code numbers followed by an asterisk (*) refer to new categories assigned subsequent to the publication in May 1964 of the N F P A Library Classification System for Fire Protection. The corresponding subject heading entries are designated in the footnotes.

NFPA Lib. Class. 9.4A.2 KEY WORDS: fire retardants, polyester resins, glass fibers, ducts, ignition, air flow, fire losses, corrosion prevention, fiarnmability, test fires, fire spread. ABSTRACT: Non-flre-retardant polyester resins used for corrosion protective applications have been responsible for the rapid spread of flame in duct fires, two of which involved losses of $2 million. Hetron resins haveflre-retardant propertlesthat depend on the incorporation of chlorendlc acid and antimony oxide into the polyester resins. In comparative tests with an oxyacetylene torch, Hetron resin ducts could not be ignited in 1 minute. However, a non-fireretardant duct was ignited immediately and consumed within 2V2 minutes of the removal of the torch. REFERENCE: "Fire Retardancy in Chemical Process Ductwork," C. A. Siconolfi, Fire Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1969), pp. 217-224.

Abs: 6 9 - , 2 9 Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

NFPA Lib. Class. 6.1C. 11 oxygen-enriched, hyperbaric chambers, hypobaric chambers, autoignition, ignition temperature, flame spread, combustibles. KEY WORDS:

ABSTRACT: Minimum ignition temperatures and flame spread rates were determined in oxygen-enriched atmospheres for several combustible fabrics and other solld materials likely to be found in hyperbaric chambers. Hot plate ignition temperatures decreased with increasing oxygen concentration and total pressure, and gave good correlations with the oxygen partial pressure of the oxidant atmosphere (oxygen or oxygen-nltrogen mixtures). Flame spread rates tended to depend more upon oxygen concentration than upon total pressure, although the rates in oxygen correlated well with oxygen pressure. REFERENCE: "Flammability of Fabrics and Other Materials in Oxygen-Enriched Atmospheres, Part I, Ignition Temperature and Flame Spread Rates," J. M. Kuchta, A. k. Furno, and G. H. Martindill, Fire Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1969), pp. 203-2 16.

Abs: 6 9 - 3 0 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

249

250

Fire Technology N F P A Lib. Class. 9 . 1 D . 3

KEY WORDS: clearances, combustion, autoignition, exposure, temperature. A B S T R A C T : Clearances around heat producing equipment are determined by the limits placed on the maximum allowable temperature that exposed surfaces of surrounding combustibles will be permitted to attain. One of the half-century-old theories that inBuenced present-day limits could not be proven in several experimental attempts - - the theory that long exposure to low pressure steam pipes can convert wood to charcoal, which would then ignite spontaneously. After examining the problem, the author concludes that 100 ~ C would be a reasonable temperature limit, its adoption could of course lead to smaller clearances. REFERENCE: "Limiting Safe Surface Temperature of Combustible Materials," J. H. McGuire, Fire Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1969), pp. 2 3 7 - 2 4 1 .

Abs: 6 9 - 3 1 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

N F P A Lib. Class. 6 . 9 A KEY WORDS: spraying mist, fire safety, air filters, flash points, ignition, Bre hazards, emulsions, drops, oils. A B S T R A C T : To evaluate the potential fire hazard involved in the oil spraying of wire mesh industrial air filters, the ignition characteristics of spray gun mists were studied. Only the high velocity, high density mist produced within 6 ft of the spray nozzle could be ignited. Under normal operations with an oil having a minimum Bash point of 450 ~ F, no ignition was obtained. An emulsion of 25 per cent water and 75 per cent oil had combustion characteristics similar to oil The spray could be ignited only by a large ignition source located between the spray gun and the filter. REFERENCE: "An Evaluation of Sprayer Mist Fire Hazards," J. C. Kovalo, Fire Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1969), pp. 233-2'36.

Abs: 6 9 - 3 2 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

N F P A Lib. Class. 2 0 . 1 D KEY WORDS: aircraft, fuel tanks, inerting, explosions, safety, fire fighting, liquid nitrogen, oxygen, cryogenics. A B S T R A C T : An inerting system designed to prevent aircraft fuel tank explosions Is based on the dilution of oxygen present in the tanks by nitrogen. Air is prevented from entering the tanks during descent of the plane and while fuel is being consumed by maintaining a nitrogen pressure of 0.25 psi to 0.5 psi in the tanks. The system permits the use of high fueling rates since electrostatic ignition is not a hazard in the oxygen-lean vapor space. The average cost of liquid nitrogen for a coast to coast flight would be about $5.00. REFERENCE: "Fuel Tank Inerting and Fire Fighting with Liquid Nitrogen," Tolmon Geffs, Fire

Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1969), pp. 193-196. Abs: 6 9 - 3 3 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

N F P A Lib. Class. 2 0 . 1 B KEY WORDS: liquid nitrogen, aircraft, inerting, powerplants, Bre fighting, cryogenics. A B S T R A C T : It has been proposed that liquid nitrogen carried aboard some aircraft for fuel tank inerting could also be used to fight powerplant fires. The effectiveness of liquid nitrogen as a Bre extinguishing agent was investigated under full-scale simulated low altitude Bight conditions. According to preliminary test results, liquid nitrogen is an effective extinguishing agent for fires in aircraft powerplant compartments, and the quantity of liquid nitrogen available from o fuel tank inerting system would be sufficient to extinguish this type of fire. REFERENCE: "Liquid Nitrogen as a Powerplant Fire Extinguishant," Eugene P. Klueg, Fire

Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1969), pp. 197-202. Abs: 6 9 - 3 4 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

Abstracts

251 N F P A Lib. Class. 1 5 . 1 D

KEY WORDS: water, oblation, temperature, boiling points, thermal conductivity, fluid flow.

ABSTRACT: Water has always been a highly effective fire fighting agent. This paper suggests that, because of its ideal properties, its efficiency can be dramatically increased when transformed and used as an ablative liquid within the fire environment. A key to effective use is flow control. Experimental testing carried out on high-challenge fires demonstrates that the suggested improvements are practical and highly effective as compared to plain water. Several reasons for the improvement are tentatively offered. REFERENCE: "Ablative Fluids in the Fire Environment," J. John Stratta and William L. Livingston, Fire Technology, Vol. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1969), pp. 181-192.

Abs: 6 9 - 3 5 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

N F P A Lib. Class. 4.1 KEY WORDS: heat feedback, flame trailing, flame dimensions, burning rate, interacting fires,

flammable liquids. ABSTRACT: The interaction of multiple fires from liquid pools burning in close proximity has a substantial effect on the burning rate of the fuel, the size of the flame, and the rate of heat transfer from the flame to the surroundings. The equipment used for studying interacting pool fires is described, and the results of measurements of burning rates, heat feedback, flame height, and flame trailing are reported. REFERENCE: "Interaction Effects of Multiple Pool Fires," K. G. Huffman, J. R. Welker, and C. M. Sliepcevlch, Fire Technology, Vo~. 5, No. 3 (Aug. 1969), pp. 2 2 5 - 2 3 2 .

Abs: 69-36, Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

N F P A Lib. Class. 9 . 3 F . 2 k KEY WORDS: electronic computers, printed circuits, resistors, fire losses, fire protection, epoxy

resins, simulation, smoke detectors, ignition, fire tests. ABSTRACT: Simulation of a fire at the NASA Goddard Flight Center was possible because the failure mechanism was not destroyed. The fire occurred in supposedly noncombustible epoxybase printed circuit cards in an electronic clock housed in a 22-in. by 28-in. metal enclosure along with a maze of wire and lamp modules. The smoke detectors operated only after the fire, which was detected by odor, had been extinguished. Fire tests showed that a 12-volt current limiting power supply could cause a 3.3-ohm resistor to crack, glow red hot, and produce a combustible gas from the cards. Ignition occurred only when the resistor was in direct contact with the printed circuit cards. REFERENCE: "Computer Fire and Resultant Circuit Card Fire Tests," Gregory A. Harrison and David G. Lowec, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch St., Boston, Mass. 0 2 1 1 0 ) , Vol. 63, No. 2 (March 1969), pp. 5-7, 20.

Abs: 69-37, Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

N F P A Lib. Class. 7 . 2 D . 1 KEY WORDS: flammable liquids, drums, storage, automatic sprinkler systems, dry chemical ex-

tinguishers, foam generators, drains, spill fires. ABSTRACT: For flammable solvent storage three or four drums high, a spacing of 63.5 sq ft per sprinkler with discharge densities of 0.35 gpm/sq ft/mln at the ceiling and 0.15 gpm/sq f t / mln at intermedlatelevels will cool the drums and wash away the spill and fire. Sprinkler water washes the spill and fire across sloping floors to specially designed drainage trenches, which discharge to external solvent traps. Solvent is retained in the trap, and water is discharged to a 15,000-gal. drainage pit. Heat detectors over the drainage pit will actuate foam generators in the event that burning solvent escapes from the trap and enters the pit. REFERENCE: "Safe Storage of Flammable Liquids in Drums," A. W. Horning, Fire Journal

(National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch St., Boston, Mass. 02110), Vol. 63, No. 2 (March 1969), pp. 4 9 - 5 2 , 56. Abs: 6 9 - 3 8 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

252

Fire Technology NFPA Lib. Class. 1.4C.1

KEY WORDS: large-loss fires, automatic sprinkler systems, textiles, water supply, delayed

notification, fire spread, industrial fires. ABSTRACT: A holocaust of undetermined origin in a large mill complex in Bondsville, Mass., occupied by a variety of tenants, overpowered the sprinkler system and resulted in the worst fire loss of 1968 - - $10 million to $15 million. Delayed notification, a partially filled, cracked water reservoir, and inadequate sprinkler system water supply, inoperative fire pumps, the arrangement of work areas and contents, and improper protection between buildings contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Fire fighters concentrated their efforts on preventing the spread of fire to dwellings in the neighborhood. REFERENCE: "Fast Fire in Mill Buildings," Carl E. Peterson, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch St., Boston, Mass. 02110), Vol. 63, No. 3 (May 1969), pp. 39-44, 69.

Abs: 6 9 - 3 9 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

NFPA Lib. Class. 8.8D. 1 KEY WORDS:

adhesives, flammable liquids, high-rise buildings, life safety, revisions, fire

deaths, mastics. ABSTRACT: Four deaths occurred after the ignition of an adequately labeled flammable flooring adhesive, which was being installed on the 20th floor of a new hlgh-rise, low-risk office building. Hazards contributing to the deaths were the creation of additional danger to egress by the unsafe use of flammable substances in normally low-hazard areas of occupied buildings, long deadend corridors, and the lack of adequate distance between alternate exits. REFERENCE: "Flammable Adhesive improperly Used," Carl E. Peterson, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch St., Boston, Mass. 02110), Vol. 63, No. 2 (March 1969), pp. 8-11.

Abs: 6 9 - 4 0 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

NFPA Lib. Class. 8.1C.3a KEY WORDS: hospitals, emergencies, planning, riots, disasters, explosives, fires, fire exit drills, fire brigades, security. ABSTRACT: Any situation that can tax the existing facilities of a hospital requires emergency planning. Because a fire potential is always present, the fire emergency demands special preplanning. Ahospital fire safety program should stress rescuing those in immediate danger; reporting the fire; confining the fire; securing the area; using the proper extinguisher; controlling employees, visitors, and patients; and guiding fire department personnel. An essential for a hospital emergency plan is an effective safety and security program.

REFERENCE: "Emergency Planning for Hospitals," Robert T. Palmer, Fire Journal (National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch St., Boston, Mass. 02 110), Vol. 63, No. 2 (March 1969), pp. 36-41. Abs: 6 9 - 4 1, Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.

NFPA Lib. Class. 8.4B.1 KEY WORDS: floor assemblies, roof assemblies, fire resistance ratings, joists, fire tests, ceilings,

ceiling assemblies. ABSTRACT: Ceilings do not have fire resistance ratings since they are tested as o component of a floor-ceiling or roof-ceiling assembly. Assembly tests are based on fire exposure to the underside of the assembly, and the conditions for acceptance are measured on the unexposed surface of the assembly. It is not correct to interchange ceilings in two assemblies even though they may have the same fire resistance rating. REFERENCE: "For Architects and Builders: Fire-Rated Ceilings," Richard E. Stevens, Fire Journal

(National Fire Protection Association, 60 Batterymarch St., Boston, Mass. 0 2 1 1 0 ) , Vol. 63, No. 2 (March 1969), pp. 29-31. Abs: 6 9 - 4 2 , Fire Technology, August 1969; Boston, Mass.