7.4 Fire Safety

Most national fire safety strategies are based on prescriptive approaches that have been developed historically to meet fire safety needs, often in the wake of major fire disasters. Building regulations of most countries have codes that can be stated in very general terms, as seeking to insure that [111]:

• The structure remains stable for the required period (fire resistance),

• The fire is contained within defined compartments by the appropriate fire separating elements (fire resistance),

• Internal spread of fire (and smoke and toxic gases) is restricted within the building (reaction-to-fire and fire resistance),

• Spread of fire from one building to another is limited (reaction-to-fire and fire resistance),

• Adequate means of escape are provided (reaction-to-fire and fire resistance), and

• Access and provision are maintained for firefighting and rescue.

Fire is a continuous threat to life and property. The human cost is financially incalculable.

The demand of better and safer engineering materials has lead to a rapid proliferation of high performance polymers in the building construction and other industries. Polymers used in building for thermal and acoustic insulation, panels, carpets, frames for door or windows, floor tiles, cable insulation, paints, wallpaper, etc., are exposed to fire. Most being organic polymers, are combustible, decompose thermally, and decomposition products burn. In the case of polymers used in buildings, fire safety combines: thermal decomposition, ignition, flame spread, heat release, smoke obscuration, ignition, and other characteristics [112].

Our environment is largely one of organic polymers and these materials...