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Exposure Risks and Potential Control Measures for a Fire Behavior Lab Training Structure: Part B. Chemical Gas
Gavin P Horn1, Keith Stakes1, Danielle L Neumann2
1Fire Safety Research Institute, UL Research Institutes, 6200 Old Dobbin Lane, Suite 150, Columbia, MD, 21045, USA.
Fire Technology
|April 23, 2024
Summary
Firefighter training fuel type impacts chemical exposure. Moving instructors lower in structures and outside reduces exposure risk during live-fire exercises. This study evaluated various fuels and control measures.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Fire Science
- Environmental Chemistry
Background:
- Firefighter training involves live-fire exercises, potentially exposing personnel to hazardous combustion byproducts.
- Fuel types and their arrangement significantly influence fire dynamics and airborne contaminant generation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of different training fuels and engineering controls on airborne chemical exposure risk for instructors during live-fire training.
- To compare chemical concentrations resulting from various fuel packages (fiberboard, OSB, pallets, particle board, plywood) under different ventilation cycles.
Main Methods:
- Conducted live-fire experiments in a structure using different fuel packages mounted high.
- Monitored airborne chemical concentrations (benzene, 1,3-butadiene, PAHs, methyl isocyanate, hydrogen chloride, formaldehyde) at the instructor's typical location.
- Evaluated two ventilation cycle durations (6-cycle and 3-cycle) and assessed the effect of instructor position.
Main Results:
- Oriented strand board (OSB) and plywood fuels generated higher concentrations of specific toxic compounds like benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
- Pallet-fueled fires produced the highest hydrogen chloride, while particle board fires yielded the highest methyl isocyanate.
- Moving instructors to lower positions within the compartment or outside the structure significantly reduced exposure to measured airborne contaminants.
Conclusions:
- No significant difference in exposure was observed between solid wood pallets and wood-based sheet products for high-mounted fuel arrangements.
- Engineering controls, specifically altering personnel location, are effective in mitigating exposure risks during live-fire training.
- Fuel selection and placement remain critical factors in managing chemical exposures in firefighter training environments.
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