The increase in reported engine compartment fires by the National Fire Incident Reporting System(NFTRS) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has increased the importance ofinvestigating and documenting vehicle fires. This along with the increase of polymers and changes inbattery power in the engine compartment of vehicles being produced, make it essential to betterunderstand the origin and cause of these fires. This paper will address the usage and effectiveness ofshielding hot surfaces, containment systems for fuels, electrical system wiring and pyrotechnical safetycutoff switches. The majority (65%) of vehicle fires originate in the engine compartment, running gear, orwheel area. The same statistics show that “mechanical failure or malfunction” and “electrical failure ormalfunction” contributed to 49 % and 23% of vehicle fires respectively. “Arcing” as a heat sourceaccounted for 21% of vehicle fires reported. These statistics show that a leading cause of post-accidentfires is electrical in nature; with the first fuel ignited being the insulation of electrical wires and cables 1.This paper will discuss the testing and documentation of engine compartment fires as well as the researchof other fire scientists regarding engine compartment fires. The routing of electrical cables and entry areasthat exist in the firewall / bulkhead will also be discussed related to engine compartment fires and theentry of fire into the occupant compartment of vehicles.Tests of engine fluids on hot surfaces have been conducted by several laboratory testing facilities todetermine the approximate temperatures at which engine fluids will ignite. The investigation of enginefluids on hot surfaces of the engine compartments of vehicles will be addressed in this publication.
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