Intrinsic Smoke Properties and Prediction of Smoke Production in National Bureau of Standards (NBS) Smoke Chamber

Smoke production in a smoke chamber is characterized by the accumulation of smoke and the continuous consumption of oxygen leading to a vitiated atmosphere. However, a method is proposed to predict the smoke evolution in a smoke chamber at 25 kW/m² by using material properties calculated from a cone calorimeter, as already shown in a previous article. These properties represent the ability of a material to produce smoke at a specific mass loss rate. The influence of a flame retardant on these properties can be used as a quantitative measurement of its action on smoke production. These properties can be calculated at another heat flux than 25 kW/m². The knowledge of the curve “mass loss rate = f(time)” in a smoke chamber is still required, but this curve is close to that measured in a cone calorimeter at the same heat flux. The results prove that the smoke production in a smoke chamber and cone calorimeter is qualitatively similar, i.e., the decrease of oxygen content in a smoke chamber has no influence on smoke (at least as long as optical density does not exceed 800).