Better Codes via Fire Technology

This paper provides an illustration of the concept of how fire tech nology may be used to determine the combustion characteristics of building products in laboratory-scale tests and, in turn, through the use of computer models, to predict the hazard that such products could generate in a specific fire scenario. By using this technology, building code requirements may be written which better differentiate a group of building products and provide a greater degree of protection for life and property in a given occupancy. The products chosen for this study are used for internal wall coverings and in clude four varieties of molded plastic panels and one woven fabric. The fire hazard assessment model was validated by comparing results predicted from the assessment model with observed results from a full-scale test. An example is given of how new building code requirements may be written for these prod ucts, reflecting the new technology.