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Search Publications by: Rick D. Davis (Fed)

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Displaying 26 - 50 of 91

Assessing the Thermal Protective Performance of Fire Blocking Barrier Fabrics for Residential Upholstered Furniture: Report to Consumer Product Safety Commission for Interagency Agreement CPSC-I-13-0022

September 17, 2015
Author(s)
Shonali Nazare, John R. Shields, Szabolcs Matko, Rick D. Davis
Fire behavior of five barrier fabrics has been evaluated both, as an individual component and as a part of composite samples, using different test methods. The quantitative component test methods selected to characterize fire behavior of barrier fabrics

Results of barrier fabrics tested in an inverted configuration

August 5, 2015
Author(s)
Rick D. Davis, Shonali Nazare, Szabolcs Matko, William M. Pitts, Mauro Zammarano
The document will be used to facilitate discussions between California Bureau of Electronics and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings, and Thermal Insulation (CBEARHFTI) and us (Fire Research Division (FRD) at the National Institute of Standards and

Evaluating smoldering behavior of fire-blocking barrier fabrics

January 29, 2015
Author(s)
Shonali Nazare, William M. Pitts, Szabolcs Matko, Rick D. Davis
This study reports on the smoldering propensity of commercially available barrier fabrics (BFs) in a small-scale mock-up configuration. Most BFs are smolder resistant when tested alone over a standard flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF). However, when

Evaluating Smoldering Behavior of Fire-Blocking Barrier Fabrics

January 29, 2015
Author(s)
Shonali Nazare, William M. Pitts, Szabolcs Matko, Rick D. Davis
This study reports on the smoldering propensity of commercially available barrier fabrics (BFs) in a small-scale upholstered seating mock-up configuration. Most commercially available BFs are smolder resistant when tested alone over a standard flexible

DNA-based Nanocomposite Bio-Coatings for Fire Retarding Polyurethane Foam

May 2, 2014
Author(s)
Yu-Chin Li, Yeon S. Kim, John R. Shields, Rick D. Davis
Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembled multilayer thin films of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), chitosan (CHI), and montmorillonite (MMT), were studied in an effort to produce fully renewable, bio-based fire retardant coatings for flexible polyurethane foam. The PUF

Reducing the Risk of Fire in Buildings and Communities

January 1, 2014
Author(s)
Anthony Hamins, Jason D. Averill, Nelson P. Bryner, David Butry, Richard Gann, Rick D. Davis, Daniel M. Madrzykowski, Alexander Maranghides, Jiann C. Yang, Matthew Bundy, Samuel Manzello, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Francine K. Amon, William E. Mell
Fire costs and losses are a significant life safety and economic burden on society comprising about two percent of the United States gross domestic product. This paper presents the results of a roadmap developed by the National Institute of Standards and

Evaluating Fire Blocking Performance of Barrier Fabrics

October 15, 2013
Author(s)
Shonali Nazare, William M. Pitts, Shaun M. Flynn, John R. Shields, Rick D. Davis
The purpose of fire blocking barrier materials is to reduce the flammability of soft furnishings ( mattresses and upholstered furniture) by preventing or delaying direct flame impingement from open flames and/or heat transfer from smoldering ignition

Nanoparticles in Flame-Retardant Coatings for Flexible Polyurethane Foams: Effects on Flammability and Nanoparticle Release

May 15, 2013
Author(s)
Mauro Zammarano, Rick D. Davis, Yeon S. Kim, Richard H. Harris Jr., Marc R. Nyden, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Nasir M. Uddin
Nanoparticles can effectively reduce polymer flammability; however, the impact of nanoparticles on environmental and health safety is still unclear. The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to develop and investigate the effect of nanoparticle-rich

Impact of Test and Foam Design on Smoldering

May 14, 2013
Author(s)
Mauro Zammarano, Szabolcs Matko, Rick D. Davis
Smoldering propensity of fabrics used in upholstered furniture can be assessed using foam mockups according to the CPSC proposed regulation. This approach requires a polyurethane flexible foam with reproducible and well- characterized smoldering. The

Guidelines for Evaluating Fire Blocking Barrier Fabrics

April 18, 2013
Author(s)
Shonali Nazare, William M. Pitts, Shaun M. Flynn, Rick D. Davis, John R. Shields
This document provides guidelines to quantify fire performance properties of fire blocking barrier materials used in soft furnishings. In an attempt to enable a priori selection of fire barrier materials such that the final upholstered product complies

Thermal and Burning Properties of Poly(lactic acid) Composites Using Cellulose-Based Intumescing Flame Retardants

December 21, 2012
Author(s)
Douglas M. Fox, Srilatha Temburni, Melissa Novy, Laura Flynn, Mauro Zammarano, Yeon S. Kim, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Rick D. Davis
Poly(lactic acid) was flame retarded using cellulose-based intumescing flame retardants. Cellulose was an excellent carbon source in combination with ammonium polyphosphate (APP), exhibiting good thermal stabilities and UL-94 ratings of V-0

Smoldering in Flexible Polyurethane Foams: the Effect of Foam Morphology

December 18, 2012
Author(s)
Mauro Zammarano, Szabolcs Matko, Roland H. Kraemer, Rick D. Davis, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Li Piin Sung, Douglas M. Fox, Shivani N. Mehta
Smoldering is a self-sustaining heterogeneous oxidation reaction that induces a slow, low temperature, flameless combustion. Flexible polyurethane foams (PUF) are prone to smoldering due to their high air permeability, low density and high specific surface

Standard Operating Procedures for Smolder Ignition Testing of Upholstery Fabrics

December 11, 2012
Author(s)
Rick D. Davis, Mauro Zammarano, Szabolcs Matko, Roland H. Kraemer
This manuscript describes a methodology to measure the influence of an upholstery cover fabric to promote smoldering mass loss of a small-scale mock-up. The primary test metric is total mock-up mass loss after 45 min exposure to the smoldering ignition

Factors Influencing the Smoldering Performance of Polyurethane Foam

September 26, 2012
Author(s)
Mauro Zammarano, Szabolcs Matko, Roland H. Kraemer, Rick D. Davis, Jeffrey W. Gilman, Shivani N. Mehta
The objective of this study was to evaluate whether polyurethane foam (PUF) could be produced as a standard reference material for ultimate use in a standard test intended to ensure the smoldering performance of commercially available upholstered furniture

Assessment of Factors Affecting Fire Performance of Mattresses: A Review

September 3, 2012
Author(s)
Rick D. Davis, Shonali Nazare, Kathryn M. Butler
An in-depth analysis of U.S. residential fire statistics shows that although the total number of fires and deaths due to mattress fires has dropped as a result of several regulatory approaches, the mattress/bedding fires continue to account for one of the