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CE 190 – Seminar and Research Methods in Civil Engineering (Proposal) 21 October 2010

Final Presentation of Research Proposal Structural Engineering Group

Operation of the Toxicity Chamber: Measurement of the Effluents of


Common Construction Materials
MARICON MAE HAMTIG
Undergraduate Student, B.S. Civil Engineering Program
Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman
E-mail: mariconhamtig@yahoo.com

Advisers:
Dr. Norbert S. Que
Associate Professor, Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman
Dr. Benito M. Pacheco
Professor, Institute of Civil Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman

Abstract: Measurements of the toxic potency of fire effluents are required for fire-safety engineering and fire-hazard assessments. Toxic
potency values may be generated using chemical analysis and/or experimentation. The toxicity of fire effluents is not a material property but
a function of both the material and the fire environment. This study will be dealing with bench-scale tests, wherein reactions are minimized
due to the closed environment within the toxicity chamber. Existing Protocols were revised to provide a detailed and complete guideline on
the usage of the equipment.

1. INTRODUCTION 1.2 Statement of the Problem


Structural Engineering has developed methods of
ensuring not just the integrity but also the safety of The toxicity of fire effluents is not a material property
structures when exposed to fire. This gave birth to but a function of both the material and the fire
Fire Safety engineering, which became significant environment. Large-scale fire scenarios produce fatal
due to the inevitable risks and hazards of fire. effects because of the reaction of effluent gases with
the immediate surroundings. This study will be
Fire Safety Engineering can be defined as the dealing with bench-scale tests, wherein reactions are
application of scientific and engineering principles to minimized due to the closed environment within the
the effects of fire in order to reduce the loss of life toxicity chamber.
and damage to property by quantifying the risks and
hazards involved and provide an optimal solution to In the Philippines, comprehensive protocols intended
the application of protective or preventive measures. for experiments involving fires have not yet been
established. Methods of generating fire effluents and
1.1 Background of Research standards have not yet been tested locally due to lack
of knowledge on equipments such as a toxicity
Victims of fire perish due to toxic gas inhalation, not chamber. If there is any protocol available, it does not
only due to burns, generalized trauma, or other include a complete and detailed guideline on the
causes. A need to provide methods for the assessment proper usage of Toxicity Chamber. This research will
of life safety hazards and understanding of the effects revolve around:
of smoke, heat and toxic effluents arise. UP ICE 1. Refinement of Testing Protocols on Usage
responds to this call by conducting studies on the of Toxicity Chamber
usage of a Toxicity Chamber. 2. Done simultaneous with Experiments,
Measuring the Toxic Effluents of
Toxicity is defined as the quality, relative degree, Combustible Construction Materials
or specific degree of being toxic or poisonous.
Previous studies on toxicity of materials were able to 1.3 Significance of the Study
provide a theoretical background and fundamental Fire-risk assessments and fire-safety engineering are
study about the topic. But, it is inevitable that increasingly used in the design and improvement of
different methods yield inconsistent data due to enclosures. One essential input for these is a measure
different fire scenarios, material flammability and of the toxic potency of fire effluents. Required data
concentrations of different specimens. may be generated using chemical analysis or
experimentations.

Standards regarding the use of toxicity chamber are


needed for fire-related experiments hereafter. Foreign
standards will be studied to become appropriate for 4. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
the locally fabricated apparatus. The main areas to
FIRE
consider include time, dimensions or amount of
samples, pre-combustion and pre-ignition
conditioning or cleaning and the handling and Structural Non Structural Fixture and
components Components Furnishings
disposal of smoke.

Fire Behavior Test Protocol

2. OBJECTIVES
Mechanical
Toxic effluents
The main objective of this study is to come up with a Properties

complete and proper procedure on the usage of


Toxicity Chamber through experiments on
combustible construction materials. Although foreign
5. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
standards are available regarding the use of a toxicity
5.1 DEF STAN 02-713
chamber, there would still be a difference when a
This is a simple and straight-forward method
locally fabricated one is used in the university.
developed by the British from the Ministry of
Second, this study aims to refine and validate the
Defence. This method consists of burning
existing protocols made for the toxicity chamber.
small samples of predetermined mass using a
DEF STAN 02-713 is the main standard to be used as Bunsen burner in a toxicity chamber. The
pattern for this series of experiments. Additional and chamber atmosphere is then subsequently
optional objective is to develop both general and
analyzed for toxicity.
specific testing protocols for different groups of
This method determines the toxicity index of
material. This may be done when more than three
the products of combustions from small
categories of materials were tested in the apparatus,
samples of materials. The specimen, typically
in order to differentiate the usage among the 1 g, is held on wire gauze and immersed and
categories based on the general properties of
burned in a premixed gas/air flame within a
specimens.
closed chamber of volume not less than
0.7m3.
3. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
5.2 Toxic Levels of Gases
According to the National Institute for
Toxicity is a wide concept which includes many areas
Occupational Safety and Health in the U.S.,
of study. This research will focus on the usage of a
here are the concentration of a gas that is
fabricated toxicity chamber made for local use.
“likely to cause death or immediate or
Experiments on the toxicity chamber include
delayed permanent adverse health effects or
considerations such as availability of published fire prevent escape from such an environment.”
effluent toxicity tests.
Table 1. Some Immediately Dangerous for
This study will contain, but will not focus on, the
Life and Health values for toxic gases
determination of the composition of the fire effluents
found in fire effluents.
of construction materials commonly used in the
Gas IDLH (ppm)
Philippines. Identification of the toxic components of
Carbon Dioxide 40,000
the materials was already done by previous studies
and published references, which may be verified Carbon Monoxide 1,200
during experiments on the chamber. Hydrogen Sulfide 100
Ammonia 300
Safety precautions and clothing recommendations Formaldehyde 20
during experiments will be provided by the end of Hydrogen Chloride 50
this study. This research will also review the Sulfur Dioxide 100
guidelines on proper conditioning of materials before
use. On the other hand, this will not focus on
determining the level of toxicity and classifying each 5.3 Bench-Scale Assessment of Combustion
material whether they would be fatal or not. Toxicity—A Critical Analysis of Current
Protocols
This journal is so far the most similar to the
experiment this study will conduct. A
chamber was used in its experiments,
although it doesn’t resemble the chamber
fabricated for the UP Institute of Civil
Engineering. It provided general reviews of
the foreign standards on Fire-related tests and
gave the application of fire-smoke toxicity 1. METHODOLOGY
data. Further study on these foreign standards The methodology of this study consists of these 9
will be helpful in improving the existing test general steps.
protocol for the toxicity chamber. a) Research and Review existing protocols on
Toxicity Chamber (ex. DEF STAN, ASTM)
5.4 Specifications of the Toxicity Chamber b) Study Paroginog, J.K. 2010. “Development of
These are the specifications of the pre- Toxicity Chamber Apparatus and Test Protocol
fabricated toxicity chamber currently for Residential Materials Subjected to Fire”.
procured by the UP Institute of Civil Check Gaps. Know the Apparatus by heart.
Engineering. (Source: Asian Tech c) Look for published journals which will be used as
Equipments (ISO 9001:2001 Certified reference in validation of experiments done.
company) d) Survey Combustible Construction Materials based
Product Description: on materials used in the published journals and
- Accessories: Gas Detection Tubes (10 availability in the local market.
sets), Pump for Gas Detection Tubes e) Conduct experiments using Toxic Chamber
- Methane gas, air supply, and its regulator f) Go back to protocols used, compare with those
and gas valve, 220V from published journals.
Its internal volume will be 0.81 m3, airtight g) Revise or refine these existing protocols
enclosure. Walls will have an inner lining of h) Give recommendations on the Proper Usage of
polypropylene, while the windows will be made Toxicity Chamber
of polycarbonate. The mixing fan is placed at
the roof level, centrally and horizontally placed 2.PROPOSED MATERIALS
to ensure rapid mixing of combustion products. Materials to be used in the experiments are based on
those used in the published journals. These published
A central burner is provided with a flame of 100 journals will serve as validation for the testing
mm in height. It has a provision made for protocols. It is for the purpose of repeating the same
igniting and extinguishing burner. Its specimen experiments stated in the journals, in order to
support has a tennis racket appearance with 10 calibrate the fabricated equipment.
cm overall diameter which has a 7.5 cm hole.
The specimen support has temperature resisting Sample materials include ordinary plywood, fiber
wires and all parts are either polished or painted board, gypsum board and hardiflex. Another category
to give the corrosion resistance long life will be on the common residential cable wires such as
copper. Fiber glass may be included if proven
combustible.

Once the reference journals are finalized, materials


will be specified as well.

3.EXPECTED OUTPUT
By the end of this study, it is expected that a complete
and detailed testing protocol for the use of the
fabricated toxicity chamber for the UP Institute of
Civil Engineering will be provided. Everything a
student needs to operate and conduct thorough
experiments using the equipment will be made clear.

Figure 1. Sample Toxicity Chamber Safety guidelines will be specified since these are
crucial not just in the success of experiments to be
5.5 Gas Sampling Method conducted and the safety of the user as well.
UP National Engineering Center – Building Calibration of the equipment will also be finished by
Research Services suggests the use of the end of this research, to make sure that the results
Colorimetric Tubes to detect a certain gas obtained are reliable. The common gases which are
effluent after burning a sample of material. A expected to be present in the effluents of common
chemical reaction in the tube causes a change in construction materials will be verified.
color when a certain gas is detected. The length
of color change in the tube is directly After this research, anyone who wishes to conduct
proportional to the concentration of gas, and experiments using the toxicity chamber should not
readings are taken from the graduations on the have any difficulty in handling the equipment.
tube.
4. WORK SCHEDULE

5. REFERENCES
1. Paroginog, J.K. 2010. Development of Toxicity
Chamber Apparatus and Test Protocol for
Residential Materials Subjected to Fire.

2. Manaid, James Allen Toxicity of Gases Produced


During Exposure of Construction Materials to
High Temperatures.

3. Babrauskas, V; Gann, R. A Methodology for


Obtaining and Using Toxic Potency Data for Fire
Hazard Analysis.

4. Hull,R; Paul, K.T. 2006. Bench-scale assessment of


combustion toxicity—A critical analysis of current
protocols[pdf]

5. DEF STAN 02-713 Determination of the Toxicity


Index of the Products of Combustion from Small
Specimens of Materials. 2006

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