System of grading building materials by combustion products toxicity to assess conditions for safe evacuation of people in case of fire

Purpose. The aim of the study is to develop and substantiate a new system of grading building materials by combustion products toxicity level in case of fire based on a new criterion of toxicogenic hazard, which takes into account fire characteristics of materials and estimated evacuation time. Methods. Experimental method for studying toxicity of building materials combustion products in a small-scale experimental setup. Method of experimental and analytical research for grading building materials using a new criterion for toxicogenic hazard of building materials based on fulfilling the condition of safe evacuation of people under fire conditions. Findings. The results of experiments on determining qualitative and quantitative composition of polymeric materials combustion products are presented. It was found that a highly toxic mixture of gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, phosgene, acrolein and nitrogen monoxide is formed. A new criterion for the toxicogenic hazard of building materials is calculated. A system for grading building materials by their toxicity level in case of fire and on its basis determining possibility of using building materials on evacuation routes is proposed. It was shown that using the current method for determining building materials toxicity group does not allow assessing fulfillment of the condition for safe evacuation of people. Research application field. The results of the study can be used in classifying building materials by combustion products toxicity, as well as to ensure conditions for safe evacuation of people in case of fire. Conclusions. The proposed gradation of building materials by toxicity level of their combustion products allows assessing possibility of using building materials on evacuation routes, taking into account their fire characteristics and estimated evacuation time in case of fire.