Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

This paper describes an experimental investigation into the piloted ignition of four species of wood, under radiant heat fluxes of 15 - 32 kW/m². The surface temperature of horizontal samples at the firepoint (the onset of sustained ignition) was measured by means of a surface mounted thermocouple. The time to ignition was also recorded . The ignition temperature could be measured with some degree of precision, although at the lower heat fluxes, the surface temperature first reached a plateau before increasing to the firepoint. The apparent firepoint temperature at the lower irradiances is much higher than the values obtained at 24 kW/m² and above. An explanation for this phenomenon is suggested and its implications for assigning a "firepoint temperature" to wood is discussed .