2009 Volume 58 Issue 9 Pages 747-752
A study was conducted on the combustion product gases generated when polyurethane, other polymeric materials, and wood are burnt, and their safety. Compared to other materials, the ignition and combustion times of PU were short, which showed that it is a highly combustible material. Regarding its toxicity during combustion, CO and HCN etc. of isocyanate group origin are particularly viewed as problematic. From the results of the examination of the risk factors during fires, the lengths of time for the most influential risk factor in each sample to reach the fatal dose were in the order of PU foam, wood, PA66, PP, PC, and PU. In the case of PU, the emission of CO and HCN, which are considered particularly problematic during fires, was not great even when compared to PP, PC, and PA66 etc. often used in daily life. However, the risk increases when it is in the state of foam because the combustion speed is faster.
