Heat Release Rate Tests of Plastic Trash Containers

Published

April 24, 2003

Author(s)

D W. Stroup, Daniel M. Madrzykowski

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to characterize the potential hazard from ignition of nominal 136 L (30 gal) trash containers made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and loaded with cellulosic debris. Heat release rate was measured as a function of time from ignition using a furniture scale oxygen consumption calorimeter. In addition, total heat flux was measured at a location approximately 1 m from the trash container centerline. The two trash containers were observed to burn in a different manner due to the way the containers melted. In the first test, the container opened up from the top down and had a peak heat release rate of approximately 300 kW. In the second case, the trash container melted and opened from the midpoint in the container down. This resulted in a container that tended to close up instead of open up and yielded a peak heat release rate of approximately 150 kW. Heat release rate and heat flux time histories and photographs are presented for both experiments.

Citation

Heat Release Rate Tests of Plastic Trash Containers

Pub Type

Others

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Keywords

fire data, fire models, fire tests, heat flux, heat release rate

Citation

Stroup, D. and Madrzykowski, D. (2003), Heat Release Rate Tests of Plastic Trash Containers, Heat Release Rate Tests of Plastic Trash Containers, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=861237 (Accessed December 13, 2024)