NASP 2008 Annual Conference Subro Goes Hollywood! SUBRO GOES HOLLYWOOD NASP 2008 Annual Conference

The Revolution in Building Materials Plastics - Innovation or Ignition?

Outline The Use of Plastics Regulatory Oversight Flammability Testing Flame Retardants Steps for Successful Subrogation

Plastics Organic substances of large molecular weight Many shapes and combinations Wide range of uses – Appliances – Building materials – Insulators – Automotive – Textiles – Furniture

Growth in Plastic Use Maybe you have a better example of this that dates farther back

Regulatory Oversight Initial investigations focus on health, environmental, and mechanical performance Fire performance of plastic materials is secondary – Various government agencies Federal (CPSC) State and local (Fire Marshal) – Various Approval Agencies Underwriters Laboratory (UL) National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) – Decentralized enforcement of fire performance – Rapidly evolving uses not contemplated – Reactive regulations

Historic Fire Events Involving Interior Finish Boston Cocoanut Grove Nightclub – Nov. 28, 1942, 492 deaths La Salle Street Hotel in Chicago – Jun. 5, 1946, 62 deaths Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta – Dec. 7, 1946, 119 deaths Source: Boston Globe, The Cocoanut Grove Inferno, Nov. 22, 1992; Jazz Age Chicago, Dec. 13, 1997; “Peachtree Burning”,

The Start of Building Construction Regulation Incidents prompted development and adoption of Building and Fire codes – Regulated construction methods, materials, interior finish, furnishings – Required life safety and egress features – Required fire sprinkler protection Standardized fire testing of interior finish, building materials, and furnishings

U.S. Fire Problem A Snapshot of 2005 Estimated 511,00 structure fires $10 billion in direct property loss (excluding indirect loss and not adjusted for inflation) 80% of fires occur in residential properties (1- and 2-family dwellings and apartments) A structure fire occurs at a rate of 1 per minute 3675 civilian fire deaths Source: National Fire Protection Association, “Fire Loss in the U.S. 2005”, September 2006.

Station Night Club Fire A fire at The Station Nightclub (West Warwick, RI) on February 20, 2003, killed 100 people. Fire broke through the roof in less than 5 minutes 1. Incident brought attention to acoustical foam flammability. Highlights effects of interior finishes on fire growth. 1

Station Night Club - NIST

Means for Enforcement Building and Fire Codes Congress promulgates fire safety regulation authority to agencies - OSHA, CPSC, HHS Building and Fire Codes adopted by State legislation – Authorizes regulatory enforcement at county/municipal level through locally adopted ordinances (which are date specific) Requirements for building materials, construction methods, and safety features – Material flammability standards adopted by reference

Early Model Code Organization Building Officials Code Administrators (East) – BOCA National Building Code International Conference of Building Officials (West) – Uniform Building Code, Uniform Fire Code… Southern Building Code Congress International (South) – Standard Building Code, Standard Fire Code…

Current Model Code Organization International Code Council (currently adopted in 47 of 50 states) – International Building Code, International Fire Code Source: National Fire Protection Association – NFPA 1-Uniform Fire Code, NFPA 101-Life Safety Code

Regulation of Plastics Flammability End-use not contemplated by manufacturer or regulators Lack of meaningful fire test methods for all materials Voluntary standards not enforceable by law

Fire Test Standards (I) Fire Test Standards (I) NFPA Standard Methods of Tests of Fire Resistance of Building Construction and Material NFPA Standard Methods of Tests of Fire Resistance of Building Construction and Material NFPA Standard Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source NFPA Standard Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Floor Covering Systems Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source NFPA Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (UL 263/ASTM E 84) NFPA Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (UL 263/ASTM E 84) NFPA Standard Test Method for Potential Heat of Building Materials NFPA Standard Test Method for Potential Heat of Building Materials NFPA Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Coverings on Full Height Panels and Walls NFPA Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Room Fire Growth Contribution of Textile Coverings on Full Height Panels and Walls NFPA Standard Method of Test for the Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components NFPA Standard Method of Test for the Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components NFPA Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth NFPA Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth

Fire Test Standards (II) ASTM E84 - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (NFPA 255/UL 263) ASTM E84 - Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (NFPA 255/UL 263) ASTM E108 - Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings ASTM E108 - Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Roof Coverings ASTM E119 - Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials ASTM E119 - Standard Test Methods for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials ASTM E136 - Standard Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750 °C ASTM E136 - Standard Test Method for Behavior of Materials in a Vertical Tube Furnace at 750 °C ASTM E162 - Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Energy Source ASTM E162 - Standard Test Method for Surface Flammability of Materials Using a Radiant Energy Source ASTM E970 - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source ASTM E970 - Standard Test Method for Critical Radiant Flux of Exposed Attic Floor Insulation Using a Radiant Heat Energy Source ASTM D Standard Test Method for Measuring the Minimum Oxygen Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index) ASTM D Standard Test Method for Measuring the Minimum Oxygen Concentration to Support Candle-Like Combustion of Plastics (Oxygen Index)

Fire Test Standards (III) UL Standard for Fire Tests for Foamed Plastics Used for Decorative Purposes UL Standard for Fire Tests for Foamed Plastics Used for Decorative Purposes UL Fire Test of Insulated Wall Construction UL Fire Test of Insulated Wall Construction UL Fire Test of Interior Finish Material UL Fire Test of Interior Finish Material Uniform Building Code – Material, Testing and Installation Standards Uniform Building Code – Material, Testing and Installation Standards

Typical Fire Test Properties Ease of Ignition Ease of Ignition – Ignition temperature – Time to ignition or flame time – Critical heat flux for ignition (kW/m 2 ) Flash Point Flash Point Fire Point Fire Point Specimen Behavior Specimen Behavior – Sustained burning, dripping, melting Flame Spread Index Flame Spread Index

Small Scale Fire Tests Appropriate for screening Appropriate for screening Small scale fire tests may not be representative of full scale fire environments Small scale fire tests may not be representative of full scale fire environments – Fire exposure condition – Orientation – Assembly method – Size and geometry – Ventilation – Relative performance index Balancing cost of full-scale tests Balancing cost of full-scale tests

Real World Fire Performance Morgan, A. and Bundy, M., “Cone Calorimeter Analysis of UL-94 V-rated Plastics”, Fire and Materials, 2007; 31:

Factory Wall Panel Fire Spread Fire at meat packing facility in Quebec Fire at meat packing facility in Quebec Fire department unable to extinguish fire and building total loss Fire department unable to extinguish fire and building total loss Investigators unable to determine cause of fire Investigators unable to determine cause of fire Insulated wall material did not meet code Insulated wall material did not meet code Recovery of damages against panel manufacturer Recovery of damages against panel manufacturer

Testing of Wall Panel Fire Spread

Pharmaceutical Facility HVAC Equipment Insulation

Vinyl Siding Types of siding Chemical composition Ignition temperature – Is vinyl siding capable of spontaneous combustion? Real loss scenarios

Bathtubs/Shower Surrounds Composition Ignition temperature Real loss scenarios – New Jersey Apartment fire.

PLASTIC PLUMBING MATERIALS Plumbing lines – Polybutylene (“PB”) – Acetal a/k/a Delrin Real loss examples

Building EIFS Exterior Insulating Finishing System – Purpose – Problems – Real loss examples

Exposed Reflective Insulation Tested/Listed product for specific application Cause of fire unconnected to material Contributed for fire spread Recovery successful

Improving Flammability Behavior Flammability – def. “Subject to easy ignition and rapid flaming combustion. 1 ” Flammability – def. “Subject to easy ignition and rapid flaming combustion. 1 ” Improve flammability by breaking the Improve flammability by breaking the Fire Tetrahedron – Reduce fuel content/heat release rate Change material, fillers, change geometrical form Change material, fillers, change geometrical form – Make more difficult to ignite Change of materials, fillers, flame retardant, geometrical form Change of materials, fillers, flame retardant, geometrical form – Quench uninhibited chemical chain reaction Addition of flame retardant Addition of flame retardant 1 ASTM E 176, “Standard for Terminology of Fire Standards” Oxidizer Fuel Ignition Source Uninhibited Chemical Chain Reaction COMBUSTION

Production of Toxic Gases Individual part tests – HVAC unit Individual part tests – HVAC unit MVFRI Technical Report - Project ID Volume I Post Collision Motor Vehicle Fires By A. Tewarson et al. (2005)

Full Scale Test Docket Number: 3588, Document Number: NHTSA , August 12, 2002

Fire Retardant Effectiveness Adverse health and environmental impacts – Fire retardant additive toxicity (use and production) Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) additive now banned PolyBrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE) found to be toxic Adversely affect mechanical properties Increased production of carbon monoxide and other toxic gases upon burning Effectiveness is limited based on fire exposure condition May not impact performance in full scale fire

DECK FIRES Residential fire developed after use of a chimnea on the deck Chronology Was there unusual fire spread? New possible testing standards – MS/WK15509.htm MS/WK15509.htm

Plastic Composite Decking

STRUCTURED INSULATED PANELS What are SIPS? What is its fire performance? – Fire rating? – Exposure? Real loss scenarios

TIPS FOR SUCCESS Look Beyond Ignition Source and Material First Ignited Look Beyond Ignition Source and Material First Ignited Did the fire spread quickly? Did the fire spread quickly? Prepare chronology of events Prepare chronology of events Consult Police and Fire Department records Consult Police and Fire Department records Document fuel load Document fuel load Consider presence, location and impact of fire suppression equipment Consider presence, location and impact of fire suppression equipment What do the product’s warnings say? What do the product’s warnings say?

Conclusion Plastics are increasingly used throughout structures Plastics are increasingly used throughout structures Regulatory process is reactive in addressing fire hazards Regulatory process is reactive in addressing fire hazards Many standards for flammability of plastics in various exposures/environments Many standards for flammability of plastics in various exposures/environments Flammability properties versus tradeoffs Flammability properties versus tradeoffs Screening tests are inadequate to describe real world performance Screening tests are inadequate to describe real world performance Behavior of materials in an actual fire can be different than predicted by small scale tests Behavior of materials in an actual fire can be different than predicted by small scale tests Preserve evidence/document fire scenes Preserve evidence/document fire scenes