Modified Smoldering Test of Urethane Foams Used in Anechoic Chambers.

A program is under way at the Naval Research Laboratory to develop small-scale laboratory fire tests that will predict more accurately the behavior of Class A materials in fires. After development of five small-scale performance specifications for assessing the hazard of carbon-impregnated polyurethane foam, samples of the materials were installed in a large-scale fire test facility to determine the scaling parameters applicable to the foam. The knowledge gained from the large-scale tests under different experimental conditions and with several polyether and polyester foams has been used to scale down to a laboratory test that dynamically measures the expected behavior of the foam in a scaled situation. Author