Modern televisions have changed dramatically in design and materials of construction from those of just 15 years ago. Flat panel designs now dominate the marketplace. Large screen flat panel display (FDP) televisions, ≥30 inches, represent the vast majority of televisions sold internationally. Previous studies on televisions studied consol type and or cathode ray tube (CRT) systems with smaller screens and different materials of construction. However data on modern FPD televisions combustion as described here has not been previously published in peer reviewed journals. Because polymeric materials are used in modern FPD televisions, these devices can contribute to fires as either the first item ignited, either by internal or external sources, or by becoming a second item ignited and adding to the overall fuel load. International markets also have different requirements for resistance to fire with the United States having the strictest standards for ignitability. The statistical analysis of Hall points to the V rating from UL94 standard fire testing for the television housing as a driver for the better performance of televisions in the US market as compared to their European counterparts. For these reasons a study was performed using small flame, external ignition sources applied to televisions that were procured during 2013 in Brazil, Mexico and the United States. Matching sizes and models were used to do a comparison of the response to ignition. Flame spread, heat of combustion, smoke production and toxic constituents of smoke were all measured in this study.
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