Preliminary study on the suppression chemistry of water mists on poly(methyl methacrylate) flames

摘要

It is well-known that fire suppression by water mist is mainly based on physical effects such as heat extraction, oxygen displacement and attenuation of thermal radiation. However, the chemical effects of water mist on fire suppression are not yet clearly understood. As polymeric materials have been widely used in modern buildings, investigating the suppression chemistry of water mist on burning polymers is also important. The objective of this paper is to simulate the water sprays for fire extinction by a small-scale apparatus. Combustion products of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) in the surroundings with and without fine water mist were collected and analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC with mass spectrometry. The results showed that there exists a critical flow value of the water mist applied in the confined fire space. Complex products, such as aromatic compounds, were produced due to the interaction of water vapour with the PMMA flame. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.