Technical Support for the Consumer Product Safety Commission 1979 Interim Standards for Cellulose Insulation

Published

March 2, 1981

Author(s)

D. D. Evans

Abstract

The attic floor radiant panel test (AFRPT) and smoldering combustion test are two fire performance tests required by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as part of a mandatory standard for loose fill cellulosic home insulation. In providing technical support to CPSC, the sensitivity to variations in parameters of each test method were studied. Specimen density was found to have no effect on critical radiant flux values when measured with the AFRPT for two paper-based cellulosic insulations tested at densities below 48 kg/m3. A low flux exposure profile, ranging from 0.04 to 0.35 W/cm2, was developed to extend the range of the AFRPT about the region of greatest interest. The critical radiant flux measured using the low flux profile was found to be sensitive to changes in preheat time from the prescribed two minute specimen preheat. Large scale attic fire tests verified the predictive ability of AFRPT measurements. Results from the smoldering combustion test were shown to be sensitive to test room humidity conditions over the range of 39 to 84% RH.

Citation

NBSIR 81-2213

Pub Type

Others

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Keywords

attict floor radiant panel test, cellulose insulation, smoldering, fire test, flame spread, HH-I-515D

Citation

Evans, D. (1981), Technical Support for the Consumer Product Safety Commission 1979 Interim Standards for Cellulose Insulation, NBSIR 81-2213, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=910187 (Accessed May 19, 2026)

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