Heat Release Rate of Building Materials

Equipment and procedures for determining rate of heat release versus time for building materials and furnishings are being developed. The object is to obtain data which can be used in the design of rooms and their furnishings that will be safe from catastrophic fires. A description of the equipment is given and the significance of the data obtained is discussed. Rate of heat release versus time curves at different levels of exposure are used to describe burning characteristics of various materials. The use of this information as the basis for assigning fire hazard classification is examined.