Artificial Trees and Fire Performance

Transcription

1 2017 NFPA Conference & Expo Artificial Trees and Fire Performance Presented by: Dwayne Sloan Manager, Principal Engineers Building Materials & Suppression UL LLC Learning Objectives Frame the Fire Problem Artificial Christmas Trees Review the fire-safety approach used to develop new testing methods Summarize UL research that led to requirements Provide and overview of UL 2358, Outline of Investigation for Fire Tests of Pre-Lit Artificial Seasonal Use Trees and Other Seasonal Decorative Items Explain UL's new certification program 2 Growing Use of Artificial Christmas Trees According to data from the National Christmas Tree Association app. 13 millionartificial trees were purchased in 2015 Represents app. 32 percent of the total number of Christmas trees purchased Artificial trees accounted for $854 million in sales, app. 40 percent of the total retail market value of all Christmas trees sold in 2015 ($2.2 billion) Accessed May

2 Growing Use of Artificial Christmas Trees CHRISTMAS TREE PURCHASE FIGURES SINCE 2008 (in millions) WHAT THE NUMBERS MEAN Percent of Artificial Christmas Trees Accessed May 2017 Christmas Tree Fire Statistics NFPA Report of Home Fires Involving Christmas Trees : 210 fires per year 6 deaths, 16 injuries per year $16.2 million property damage Jan 2015 Annapolis: Christmas Tree Fire On average, one of every 34 reported home Christmas tree fires resulted in a death, compared to an average of one death per 142 total reported home fires : Accessed May 2017 Christmas Tree Fire Statistics NFPA Report of Home Fires Involving Christmas Trees : Although Christmas tree fires are not common, when they do occur, they are much more likely to be deadly than most other fires. In one-quarter (26%) of the Christmas tree fires and 80% of the deaths, some type of heat source, such as a candle or equipment, was too close to the tree. Data reporting system does not distinguish between natural or artificial 2

3 Christmas Tree Safety Message Need For Test & Certification CONSIDERATIONS: Many years of research has shown that trees (natural and artificial) can contribute significantly to a room fire decreasing the time for occupants to escape. Artificial tree packaging and documentation often state that the trees are flame retardant, flame resistant, or made from flame retardant / resistant materials. However, when these assembled products are exposed to open flame sources, their contribution to fire growth can be comparable to a natural dried out tree. Previously, third party listing programs using only UL588 were limited to trees less than 30 inches in height primarily due to the fire concern Need For Test & Certification 3

4 Need For Test & Certification Need For Test & Certification OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: Based on these and other considerations, Retailers and fire experts identified a need to evaluate (differentiate) the fire performance of artificial trees over 30 inches In addition, recently there has been an overall focus on investigating the drastically changing housing environment towards synthetic materials pre-lit trees is one aspect Past UL Outline of Investigation Subject UL 411 Outline of Investigation for Artificial Christmas Trees UL Classified certification program for fire growth Ignition Source - 1 lb of shredded newspaper distributed under the base of the tree Performance Criteria - Flames < 4 above the height of the tree 12 4

5 The Fire Protection Approach 13 Fire Safety Objective NFPA 550 Guide to the Fire Safety Concepts Tree used as an overall structure. First line of mitigation -prevention, education, etc. Abnormal conditions resulting in open flames will occur Manage fire Controlling the combustion process Control fire by construction Fire Safety Objective Prevent Ignition Manage Fire Impact Control Heat / Energy Source Control Source / Fuel Intersection Control Fuel Manage Fire Manage Exposure Electrical Open Flame Control Combustion Suppress Control Fire by Construction Limit Area Exposed Safeguard Exposed UL Demonstration Test 15 5

6 Heat Release & Flashover Average fire service response time in NA for house fires is 6-7 (2-15 min. in urban settings). A typical value for heat release (HRR) for flashover (full room involvement) is 1000 kw Well understood heat release value associated with wellwatered trees in 100 kw (NFPA 1, IFC) Consistent with other thresholds for heat release, (telecommunications equipment, furnishings, etc) UL Research To better define the fire event several scenarios variations were considered: Ignition Conditions: Tree as the first item ignited by a small open flame Tree as the second item ignited by another fuel sources such as packages (various sizes) Fuel: Tree not decorated Tree fully decorated Ventilation: Tree branches compressed Tree branches dressed out ( fully fluffed ) 17 UL Research Task 1 Select and Acquire Samples Task 2 Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the First Item Ignited Task 3 Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the Second Item Ignited Task 4 Influence of Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Tree Dressing & Ventilation on Fire Performance 18 6

7 Task 1 Acquire Samples Task 1 Select and Acquire Samples Available in the marketplace Representative of similar tree heights and sizes Representative of varying branch materials (PVC / PE) 19 Task 2 Tree as First Item Ignited Task 2 Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the First Item Ignited Susceptibility of a tree to ignition from a small open flame Skip to Task 3 20 Task 3 Tree as Second Item Ignited Scoping flammability tests were conducted, determine a relative flammability ranking of the four trees. The results were then used in additional tests to determine the influence of variables. NFPA Standard Method of Fire Test for Individual Fuel Packages 7

8 Task 3 - Three basic levels of performance near 40 kw under 100 kw near 1000 kw A B C Task 2 Tree as First Item Ignited Back to Task 2 Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the First Item Ignited Susceptibility of a tree to ignition from a small open flame Sample C was used for these experiments: Needle Flame per EC TS 6244 Accidentally Caused Candle Flame Ignition For Audio/Video, Communication and Information Technology Equipment Tea Candle mm diameter tea candle with a wick diameter of 1.8 mm 23 Task 2 Tree as First Item Ignited Task 2 Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees as the First Item Ignited Susceptibility of a tree to ignition from a small open flame Multiple attempts to ignite the tree with the needle flame or candle resulted in momentary ignition (< 10 secs). In all trials there was no significant fire growth from the ignition sources and no measurable heat released by the calorimeter. The results showed that commercial trees selected in this investigation did not create a fire hazard as the first item ignited from a small open flame source. 24 8

9 Task 3 Tree as Second Item Ignited DON T OPEN TILL DECEMBER 25!! Determine the HRR of various items typically found under a Christmas tree: Tree skirt on carpeting Package with a 100 % polyester robe Plastic geometry in a cardboard box dump truck Doll in a package 1 - lb of shredded news paper, Sub Household electronic device w/ significant packaging printer Task 4 Effects of Fuel & Ventilation Tests were conducted to determine the increase in flammability due to: the addition of decorations on the tree, differences in dressing or fluffing of the tree branches Video Comparison Remove this text box and insert the quad video here. 27 9

10 NEW CERTIFICATION OFFERING On November 23, UL announced a New Certification Program UL Outline of Investigation for Fire Tests of Pre-lit Artificial Seasonal Use Trees and Other Seasonal Decorative Items Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Trees from 30 inches to 12 feet in height Pre-Lit Artificial Wreaths larger than 48 inches in diameter UL Subject 2358 OBJECTIVE - to limit the extent to which a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree contributes to a flashover fire condition, and the potential for a building structural fire. SAMPLES Based on family of products PROCEDURE - An ignition source is placed below the bottom branches of the sample in a worst case position of greatest material concentration. Triplicate tests are conducted. 29 UL Subject 2358 HEAT RELEASE CALCULATIONS - The measurement of the peak Heat Release Rate and Total Heat Released (ASTM E2067, Standard Practice for Full-Scale Oxygen Consumption Calorimetry Fire Test.) ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: Peak HRR of each specimen cannot exceed 100 kw The total heat released measured during the test shall be 15 MJ or less Sample cannot lose its structural integrity as a result of the test 30 10

11 Final R&D Task Growth & Decay 15 minute test duration (NFPA 289) ineffective in differentiating tree performance Propane fueled sand burner - growth & decay 20 kw max at 2.5 minutes 5 min total exposure 31 Second Edition of UL UL 588 UL Seasonal and Holiday Decorative Products (October 2015) 1.6 Christmas trees exceeding 30 in (762 mm) in height but not exceeding 12 ft (3.7 m) in height, as measured from the top of the tree to the bottom of the base of the tree and provided with simulated branches and needles, products in the shape of, or in resemblance to, a wreath exceeding 48 in (1219 mm) in outer diameter and provided with simulated branches and needles, or other similar seasonal-use decorative outfits shall additionally be investigated to the Outline of Investigation for Fire Tests of Pre-Lit Artificial Seasonal Use Trees and Other Seasonal Decorative Items, UL

12 UL Subject 2358 a little more context These threshold and measured values are the result of both individual and collaborative research by UL, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Method is consistent with NFPA 289 Thresholds are consistent with NFPA 1 and International Fire Code 34 New Certification Offering FOLLOW UP Large Scale Flammability Tests will be required on an annual basis Analytical Tests on an annual basis (Infrared Analysis; Thermogravimetrical Analysis; Differential Scanning Calorimetry) New Certification Offering DGYT Pre-lit Artificial Christmas Trees and Wreaths 12

13 White Paper Happy Holidays -in June! THANK YOU Dwayne Sloan (919)

14 2017 NFPA Conference & Expo CEUs: To receive CEUs for this session, scan your badge at the back of the room before leaving Evaluation: Complete a session evaluation on the mobile app. (Search app store for NFPA 2017 C&E. ) Handouts: Handouts will be available via the mobile app and at nfpa.org/conference Recordings: Audio recordings of all sessions will be available free of charge via NFPA Xchange. 14