Testing products and materials for their contribution to flashover in rooms

Abstract The first part of the paper describes briefly the calculation of the rate of heat release required to cause flashover in a compartment. It is possible from theory to suggest that the thermal feedback which controls the supply of gaseous fuel from a given area of combustibles may be generally less important than that which controls the extension of the area, although eigher can cause the rapid transition of flashover in the absence of the other. In the second part of the paper some implications for the testing of products and linings are explored and some suggestions are made for the way in which test data can be used to predict the behaviour of fires in rooms. Suggestions are made for the way in which test data can be used to predict the behaviour of fires in rooms. Suggestions are made for the development of test having a more direct meaning, in terms of both hazard and quantitative theory.