Hazards of EVs in car parks and fire-fighting

Hazards of EVs in car parks and fire-fighting

EVs do not pose greater fire risks than internal combustion cars, but different risks and fire-fighting challenges. Victoria Hutchison, US Fire Protection Research Foundation (NFPA), at FiVE April 2023, summarised current understanding on vehicle fire risks in car...
Review of car park fires

Review of car park fires

Summary of four major fires and eight research fire tests, concludes risks are increasing and fire spread accelerating. Car park fires analysed include Liverpool (2017), Cork (2019), Stavanger airport (2020), Märsta (2021), along with published full-scale fire tests...
Testing heat release from car fires

Testing heat release from car fires

Full scale burn tests on modern diesel engine car shows similar heat release to comparable model from the 1990’s. Two test burns of Renault Talisman vehicles were carried out, one with empty fuel tank, one 2/3 full of diesel. Results were compared to a 1990’s test of...
Phosphorus PIN FRs for safer bus interiors

Phosphorus PIN FRs for safer bus interiors

Tests show phosphorus flame retardants reduce heat release and smoke compared to non-FR or halogenated FR ABS. Neat ABS polymer, a material widely used in bus and coach interiors, was compared to ABS with halogenated and with phosphorus PIN flame retardants (PFRs). 26...
Tests show fire danger of materials in buses

Tests show fire danger of materials in buses

Bus seat, floor and interior trim materials as used in buses and coaches were tested for fire behaviour and smoke emission, concluding that they “lead to very limited times for escape and rescue in case of fire in a bus cabin”. Materials tested, supplied by...