Assessment Methodology for the Fire Performance of School Bus Interior Components.

Published

July 8, 1991

Author(s)

E Braun, J H. Klote, S Davis, Barbara C. Levin, Richard G. Gann, M Paabo

Abstract

A full-scale fire performance protocol for the evaluation of school bus seat assemblies was developed. This protocol is based on the results of full-scale testing of end-use seat assemblies and computer fire modeling of the ignition source and burning item(s) in a single compartment enclosure. Tenability criteria were applied to the results of the full-scale tests and computer fire model calculations. The results showed that temperature is a suitable criterion for this application. Toxicity of the decomposition products plays a secondary role in determining occupant survivability. Occupant tenability limits are exceeded for ignition sources over 300 kW, independent of the type of seat assembly. Based on the full-scale test data, computer simulations were conducted to determine which tenability criteria were exceeded in the full-scale tests.

Proceedings Title

International Association for Fire Safety Science. Fire Safety Science. Proceedings. 3rd International Symposium.

Conference Dates

July 8-12, 1991

Conference Location

Edinburgh,

Conference Title

Elsevier Applied Science

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

fire research, fire safety, fire science, buses, combustion products, tenability limits, toxicity, seats, large scale fire tests, fire models, ignition source

Citation

Braun, E. , Klote, J. , Davis, S. , Levin, B. , Gann, R. and Paabo, M. (1991), Assessment Methodology for the Fire Performance of School Bus Interior Components., International Association for Fire Safety Science. Fire Safety Science. Proceedings. 3rd International Symposium., Edinburgh, , [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=916727 (Accessed October 11, 2025)