Expanded Polystyrene Protective Barricade Full-Scale Fire Exposure Test.

摘要

This test program evaluated the burning characteristics of expanded polystyrene foam used as a munitions barricade in underground storage facilities. In accordance with nationally-accepted standards, a crib fire burning 30 pounds of wood was used as the ignition source. Standard sheet rock was evaluated as a protective material for the polystyrene barricades. Additionally, the two potential ignition sources present within munitions storage bays, an electrically overloaded light fixture and a 4 ounce paint spill, were evaluated for their ability to ignite the test polystyrene cell. While the sheet rock did protect the polystyrene from the fire and extend the time to failure, test results show that a large fire will melt the polystyrene material releasing the sand and extinguishing fire before a dangerous temperature is reached at the weapons location or serious damage is done. Therefore, a polystyrene barricade retrofit with a protective covering does not appear to be warranted. Polystyrene, Firefighting.