• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2023

To evaluate the fire risk of combustible materials, Chung's equations VII, VIII, and IX were newly established. The fire risk index-IX (FRI-IX) and fire risk rating (FRR) were calculated. Ginkgo, dawn redwood, toona, lime, walnut, and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were selected as test specimens. The combustion characteristics were evaluated using a cone calorimeter according to ISO 5660-1. After combustion, the fire performance index-VII (FPI-VII) of the specimens, varied between 15.15 and 182.53 s²/kW, as determined by Chung's equations, and the fire growth index-VII (FGI-VII) varied between 0.0023 and 0.0165 kW/s². The fire performance index-VIII (FPI-VIII) based on PMMA varied between 0.29 and 3.45, and the fire growth index-VIII (FGI-VIII) varied between 2.88 and 20.63. The FRI-IX, which is the fire risk rating, showed dawn redwood has a very high fire risk, with FRI-IX values of 71.14 (fire risk rating: G). Therefore, wood with a large amount of volatile organic compounds and a low bulk density showed a high value of FRI-IX by lowering FPI-VII and FPI-VIII and increasing FGI-VII and FGI-VIII.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.200-208
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• 2024

Chung's equations-IX and Chung's equation-XII were utilized to predict the fire risk and evaluate fire risk ratings for four types of wood: camphor, cherry, rubber, and elm trees. The combustion tests were conducted using a cone calorimeter test method by ISO 5660-1 standards. The fire risk and fire risk rating (FRR) were compared for Fire Risk Index-IX (FRI-IX) and Fire Risk Index-XII (FRI-XII). The results yielded Fire Performance Index-XI (FPI-XI) ranging from 0.08 to 11.48 and Fire Growth Index-XI (FGI-XI) ranging from 0.67 to 111.89. The Fire Risk Index-XII (FRI-XII), indicating fire risk rating, exhibited an increasing order of cherry (0.45): Grade A (Ranking 5) < PMMA (1): Grade A (Ranking 4) < elm (1.23): Grade A (Ranking 3) < rubber (1.56): Grade A (Ranking 2) << camphor (148.23): Grade G (Ranking 1). Additionally, the fire risk index-IX (FRI-IX) was cherry (0): Grade A (Ranking 3) ≈ rubber (0): Grade A (Ranking 3) ≈ elm tree (0): Grade A (Ranking 3) < PMMA (1): Grade A (Ranking 2) << camphor tree (66.67): Grade G (Ranking 1). In general, camphor was found to have the highest fire risk. In conclusion, although the expression of the index is different as shown based on the standards of FRI-IX and FRI-XII, predictions based on fire risk assessment of combustible materials showed similar trends.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.388-396
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• 2023

The evaluation of fire risk for combustible materials was carried out using Chung's equations-X, Chung's equations-XI, and Chung's equation-XII, which were newly established. The fire risk index-XII (FRI-XII) and fire risk rating (FRR) were calculated for specimens including camphor tree, cherry, rubber tree, and elm. The combustion characteristics were determined using a cone calorimeter according to ISO 5660-1. Chung's equations caculated the fire performance index-X (FPI-X) and fire growth index-X (FGI-X) values ranged from 89.34 to 1696.75 s² /kW and from 0.0006 to 0.0107 kW/s² , respectively. In addition, the fire performance index-XI (FPI-XI) and fire growth index-XI (FGI-XI) varied from 0.08 to 1.48 and from 0.67 to 11.89, respectively. The fire risk index-XII (FRI-XII), which is an indicator of fire risk, showed that camphor tree had a value of 148.63 (fire risk rating: G), indicating a very high fire risk. This suggests that combustible materials with a high concentration of volatile organic compounds have lower FPI-X and FPI-XI values, higher FGI-X and FGI-XI values, and consequently higher FRI-XII values, indicating an increased fire risk.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2024

The fire risk and fire safety of four types of wood were comprehensively evaluated according to Chung's equation-XII. White ash, willow, fraxinus mandshurica, and sagent cherry trees were selected as test specimens. A cone calorimetery (ISO 5660-1) was used to examine the combustion characteristics of the test piece, and finally, the fire risk rating (FRR) was predicted using the fire risk index-XII (FRI-XII). The predicted fire performance index-X (FPI-X) and fire growth index-X (FGI-X) ranged from 469.03 to 1109.73 s²/kW and 0.0009 to 0.0280 kW/s², respectively. Additionally, the fire performance index-XI (FPI-XI) and fire growth index-XI (FGI-XI) ranged from 0.41 to 0.97 and 1.11 to 3.11, respectively. The fire risk index-XII (FRI-XII), representing a fire risk rating, showed that the fire risk of frasxinus mandsurica tree (FM) was very high at 7.60 (fire risk rating: D). And it was compared with Chung's equation-IX, fire risk index-IX (FRI-IX). The fire risk ratings according to FRI-IX and FRI-XII were generally high for willow and frasxinus mandsurica trees. Additionally, the results of FRI-XII and FRI-IX had a similar relationship, and the size of each fire safety rating closely matched each other.