Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

An investigation of the smouldering of jute has been made with particular regard to the development of fires involving this material, such as storage fires. The rates of propagation of smouldering in several types of jute cloth have been measured and were found to depend chiefly upon the weave and condition of the material, direction of propagation, and number of layers of cloth undergoing combustion. It was also found that smouldering could easily be initiated by a glowing cigarette end or a similar small source of ignition. Practical applications of these results are discussed.