Some relevant parameters for assessing fire hazards of combustible mine materials using laboratory scale experiments

Area of Science:

• Fire Science
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Combustible materials pose significant fire hazards beyond flame spread, including toxic gas production and smoke obscuration.
• Underground mines face exacerbated risks due to ventilation systems that can spread fire contaminants.
• Material properties like decomposition temperature and ignition heat flux are critical factors in fire hazard assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and quantify parameters for assessing the fire hazards of combustible materials.
• To investigate toxic gas and smoke generation during non-flaming and flaming combustion.
• To evaluate material decomposition and ignition characteristics under varying thermal conditions.

Main Methods:

• Conducted small-scale laboratory experiments in multiple configurations.
• Measured toxic gas and smoke production during combustion.
• Analyzed mass loss rates versus temperature and incident heat flux to determine decomposition and ignition behavior.

Main Results:

• Quantified toxic gas and smoke yields for various materials.
• Determined mass loss rates and ignition times as functions of temperature and heat flux.
• Established relationships between material properties and fire hazard potential.

Conclusions:

• Developed a set of parameters for assessing overall fire hazard using small-scale experiments.
• Findings can inform material selection and safety protocols, especially in confined environments like mines.
• The study provides a foundation for more accurate and comprehensive fire hazard evaluations.