Document M2zyXB1ZyoBw5zYbwbVjaBjz

//$ LAf^ Recent studies on the flammability of coxerclsl carpeting are discussed within Che framework of smoke iteration, toxicity of combustloo produces and flame recardancy. A maker of different formulation# including PVC have been evaluated. Although there la presently coaeiderabie concern about snake end toxic gas generation during a tire, the major actuals must be toward ocw concepts In flane retardation. In addition new aecbods of assuring and evaluating toxl? gases are needed. The tremendous need for new flame retardant materials which also afford smoke and toxic gas retardation presents a challenge to the vinyl Industry that can not be Ignored. Stricter federal legislation in the area of flexibility, toxic gas and smoke generation makes this challenge all the ore urgent. To meet this challenge, a program dealing with the various aspects of flame retardation is now being formulated. The following exerpts were extracted from an article published in the Plain Dealer (2/9/70) with regards to tbe Marietta hurting Home fire. '"The carpeting and backing throughout the facility were burned away; it appeared that heavy, dense acrid smoke was generated from the smoldering or burning of this carpeting, creating the deadly atmosphere.** `The fire spread very rapidly, and it is the feeling of the investigators that the carpeting sod rubber backing... contributed to the spread of the fire sod was the cause of the heavy, dense, black smoke.** This fire has initiated a series of Senate hearings into tbe adequacy of the Flammable Fabrics Act of 1967. The carpeting in the Marietta Home (reportedly of Hylon/SBH composition) met the minimum requirements under the ITA. The fact that all carpeting material will undergo increased scrutiny with respect to flexibility, toxic comubstion products and smoke generation has prompted a rumfeer of questions about \*nyl carpet becking. How does it compere with SSft sod other materials with respect to the above considerations? BFG08460 0S77001 -2- Is vinyl carpeelng potentially wore dangerous than oeher ntcrlili since it releases a stoIchlows trie amount of HCl during cowbuatlon? Is there toxicological synergies with HCl and carbon eonoxlde (ss with HCN and CO)? How doss vinyl carpet backlog coepare with other neterlals with respect to saoke generation? What effect doas haat generation, during a fire, hava on toxic gas and snoke ganaratlon? Tha objacclva of thla papar la to anawar sons of thaaa quastIons within ttoa fraaavork of racaot government aponsgrad atudlaa sod to show the oaad for further atudlaa lo tha area of toxlelty, flans ratardaocy and snoke gem rat Ion. Ihla oaad la duo not only to tha fact that there will be future federal laglalatloo In thla area but alao due to tha fact that ouch of tha work in tha paat (aapaclally with raapact to tonicity) la totally inadequate for todayfa naada. Prlamr Causes of Oaath U a Fire At a recant ayapoalia on the flaamablllty of synthetic materials,^) Prof. I. Einborn, synpoaiuw chairmen, related that la hla dlacuaalona with people la the fire prevention business, the causes of death in a fire (la order of decreasing l^orteace) ere: 1. eaphixletlon due to oxygen depletion 2. effecte of superheated elr 3. Impairment of visibility by saoka 4. toxic affect of gases 3. heat frow cha flra and 6. varying degrees of 1-3 Thus la aost fires asphlxlatloo due to oxygen depletion (or dense smoke) la the nejor causa of death. BFG08461 ZUOLLGQ,