Some Comparisons of the Performance in Fire of Polyurethane Flexible Foams and Other Materials in a Small-scale Simulation of a ‘Woolworths’ Type Fire Scenario

The performance of cushions made from a number of fabrics and in-fills have been compared in small-scale fire experiments designed to simulate conditions in the fire at the Woolworths Store in Manchester on 8 May 1979. It is concluded that contrary to much comment at that time, other materials in addition to the polyurethane foam present made a significant contribution to the fire and that replacement of polyurethane by some other conventional in-fill materials would not have made a major difference to the rate of development of the fire or of smoke and toxic gases. Tests in the same configuration indicate the beneficial effects of composite design and of the major improvement obtained by the use of a polyurethane barrier foam composition.