Fire and PVC - Poly Vinyl Chloride

Smoldering

resists smoldering

Ignition (735 F flash)

resists ignition

ignition temperature 200deg. higher than Douglas Fir

Flash Fire Propensity (none)

none

Limiting Oxygen Index (40-45%)

PVC will not burn by itself (wood 20%)

Flame Spread (21)

less than half that of wood

Fuel Contribution (9000btu/lb)

close to wood at 8,300 btu/lb. and about half that of other plastics ie. ABS(16,000+)

Heat Release (20 btu/sq.ft/min)

less than 10% that of common wood products, pvc chars, (plywood 400-600)

Ease of Extinguishment

Class A, remove heat PVC extinguishes

Smoke Evolution (smolder 300, flame 600 optical density)

PVC produces more smoke in the flaming mode than wood (~350) and about the same in the smoldering mode

Toxic Gas in Combustion (16min)

mice live 2 minutes longer (16min) in PVC smoke than wood smoke

PVC can contribute dense smoke which hinders visibility in a fire, however the toxic gases primaily HCL (hydrogen chloride) are similar to those generated in a wood fire.

Fakta Om Plast , Plast-Sammenslutningen, Köbenhavn, DK

PVC and Fire, Vinyl Council of Canada, Rexdale, ON Canada

To Plastmo Introductory page.